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INTRODUCTION
Legend his it that the God-like
king Shiva of Avanti commemorated his victory over the
demon-ruler of Tripura of Triputi on the banks of the
Narmada by changing the name of his capital avantipura,
to Ujjain.
Modern Ujjain is situated on the
banks of the Shipra, regarded since times immemorial as
sacred. The belief in the sacredness of the Shipra has
its origins in the ancient Hindu mythologicaltal tale
of the churning of the ocean by the gods and the
demons, with Vasuki the serpent as the rope. The ocean
bed first yielded fourteen gems, then Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth, and finally the coveted vessel of
nectar. Then began the wild scramble for immortality,
with the demons chasing the gods across the skies. In
the process, a few drops were spilt, and fell skies. In
the process, a few drops were spilt and fell at
Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjayni. Hence the sanctity
of the waters of the Shipra.
The magnificence and the awesome
spectacle of the bathing ritual at the simhastha defy
description. Beginning on the full moon day in Chaitra
(April), it continues into Vaishakha (May), until the
next full moon day. Ujjain turns, amidst a riot of
colours, into an India in miniature.
PLACE OF TOURIST
INTEREST
MAHAKALESHWAR
The presiding deity of time,
Shiva, in all his splendour, reigns, eternal in Ujjain.
The temple of Mahakaleshwar, its shikhara soaring into
the skies, an imposing facaded against the skyline,
evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty.
The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its
people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern
preoccupations, and provides an unbreakable link with
past traditions.
CHINTAMAN GANESH
This temple is built across the
Shipra on the Fatehabad railway line. The Ganesh idol
enshrined |
General Section
