Mahakaleshwar Temple

About Mahakaleshwar Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Location: It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• The temple is situated on the banks of the holy river, Shipra.
• It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. 
• The real establishment date/period of the temple cannot be ascertained, but the earliest references to the Mahakal are from the 6th century BC. The temple, in its present form, was reconstructed in 18th century AD.
• It is also known as one of the seven 'Mukti Sthal' or sacred places of liberation in India.
• Architecture:
  • It is a five-storied establishment. The main shrine is located underground.
  • The temple complex comes with a spacious courtyard that is adorned with finest sculptures that are believed to be influenced by Chalukya, Maratha, and Bhumija styles of structural design. 
  • The foundation and platform are built of stones. Most of the upper structure rests on the strong and well-designed pillars and plasters.
  • It is complete with impressive lingam sculptures of Mahakaleshwar.
  • The images of Ganesh, Parvati, and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north, and east of the sanctum sanctorum. 
  • The temple also houses a tank constructed in the sarvatobhadra style.

Q1: What are Jyotirlingas?

A Jyotirlinga is a shrine where Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of a Jyotirlingam. There are currently 12 main Jyotirlingas in India. The 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India take the name of the presiding deity. Each considered a different manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Source: Two dead as wall near Ujjain's Mahakal temple collapses due to heavy rain