Top 10 Reasons Why Ujjain Is Better Than Heaven Among All Pilgrimages
Prayag is the place of pilgrimage, but Ujjain, the city of Mahakal, is considered the best among all pilgrimages in the whole of India, for which there are many reasons. First of all, no other pilgrimage area has as many prominent and important places as here. Let's know the 10 main reasons out of them.
1. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
The Jyotirlinga of Mahakal Baba located in Ujjain is prominent among all the Jyotirlingas because it is written in Puranas as below
Meaning of the above sloka:
There is Tarakalinga in the sky, there is Hatkeshwarlinga in the underworld and Mahakal Jyotirlinga is situated in the land of death.
The only Mahakal Jyotirlinga on this earth is called Mahakal, the Kaal of Kaal. There is a temple of Nagchandreshwar on the top floor of the Mahakal temple. Lord Nagchandreshwar can be seen only once in a year, that is, on Nagpanchami. This is the only Jyotirlinga in the whole of India, where Bhasma Aarti is performed at 4am with fresh Chita Bhasma.
In ancient times, the standard time of the entire world was determined from this temple itself. That's why he is called Mahakal, the time of times. The imaginary Tropic of Cancer passes through the sky of Ujjain.
2. Shakthipeeth
Two Shaktipeeths are considered in Ujjain, the first is the Shaktipeeth of Harsiddhi Mata and the second is Gadkalika Mata. It is mentioned in the Puranas that the lips of Mother Bhagwati Sati fell on the Bhairav Parvat situated near the banks of the Shipra river in Ujjain.
It is said that the temple of Harsiddhi is situated where the part of Sati's body i.e., the elbow of the hand came and fell. Therefore, this place is also considered under Shaktipeeth. The description of this goddess temple is also found in Puranas.
3. Kaalbhariv
Sakshat Bhaivarnath is sitting in Bhairavgarh in Ujjain. Here, the idol of Bhairavnath drinks alcohol. There is no other such temple in the world. This temple of Kalabhairav is believed to be about six thousand years old.
4. Tapobhoomi of Siddhas
Ujjain has been the abode of many Siddhas and Gods. Here in the Garhkalika region, there is a Siddha Samadhi place of Guru Gorakhnath's Guru, Matsyendranath (Machhandranath), on the other hand, Jain Tirthankar Mahavir Swami also had a vihara in Ujjain.
Vikramaditya's brother Raja Bhartrihari had done penance in Bharthari cave. The cave belongs to Gopichand, the nephew of King Bhartrihari. In this way, there are many such places in Ujjain where sages had done penance. According to a Shrutikatha, Atri Rishi had done severe penance for three thousand years in Ujjayini. Therefore, this entire city is the land of penance.
5. Organizing Kumbh on the banks of Mokshadayini Kshipa river
There are many Siddha Kshetras of mythological times situated on the banks of Mokshadayini Shipra. Kshipra river, one of the four places of Kumbh, is the place where a drop of Amrit (divine nectar) spilled from the nectar urn. This is the reason Kumbh is organized here. The Kumbh mela here is called Simhastha. The glory of this river is described in detail in Vedas, Puranas and literature.
6. One of the five sacred banyans
Siddhavat is considered one of the four major ancient and holy Vats in Ujjain. Akshayavat, Vanshivat, Gayavat and Siddhavat are prominently described. Akshayvat in Prayag (Allahabad), Vanshivat in Mathura-Vrindavan, Gayavat in Gaya also known as Boudhvat and here in Ujjain there is the holy Siddhavat.
There are five ancient trees known as Panchavat near the cave of Sita Mata in the Panchvavati area of Nashik. Siddhavat is known as Shaktibheda Tirtha. The description of five banyan trees is found in Tirthadipika.
According to Skanda Purana, this Vat planted by Goddess Parvati is worshiped in the form of Shiva. Pind-Daan, Tarpan etc., is done at this place. After Gaya, it is also the main area of Pind-Daan.
7. Places associated with Shriram, Hanuman and Krishna
According to Puranas, the saga of Mahakal temple and Gadkalika is related to Hanumanji. According to Shrutikatha, Lord Shri Ram's feet were lying at a place called Rudrasagar. The story of Ramghat is also related to this. Thirdly, in this ashram located here in Ankpat area, Lord Krishna-Sudama and Balramji had learned 14 Vidyas and 64 arts by studying according to the Gurukul tradition in the presence of their Guru Shri Sandipani Rishi.
Shri Krishna stayed here for 64 days and used to collect wood from the forest areas here. After completing his education, he went in search of his Guru's son and later again came to Ujjain with Guru's son.
8. Shree Mangalnath Temple
In Matsya Purana, the planet Mars has been called Bhumi-putra. Mythological belief is also that the birthplace of Mars is also here. Shri Mangalnathji is often worshiped for the peace of Mars, Shiva's grace, debt relief and wealth. There is special importance of worshiping rice and performing Rudrabhishek. This place is very important from the point of view of astrology and astronomy.
9. Queen of Nagarkot
Nagarkot ki Rani is the protector deity of the south-west corner of ancient Ujjayini. Many stories of King Vikramaditya and King Bhartrihari are associated with this place. This place is associated with the tradition of the Nath sect. This place is situated on the ancient raw ramparts of the city, hence it is called the queen of Nagarkot.
10. The city of Chakraborty Emperor Vikramaditya
Chakravarti Samrat in India is called the one who ruled not only in the whole of India but in many other regions of the world. The stories of Vikram Vetal and Singhasan Battisi are related to the great emperor Vikramaditya.
According to Vikram Samvat, Vikramaditya was born 2291 years before today (2020). Emperor Vikramaditya was born in 101 BC after 3000 years of Kali period. He ruled for 100 years. -(Geeta Press, Gorakhpur Bhavishyapuran, page 245).
Here, after Vikramaditya, any king gets the right to rule only when that king is mighty and just like Vikramaditya. Some people believe that this was the reason that Raja Bhoj had to make his capital at Dhar and Bhopal. It is said that there is only one king of Avantika i.e., Ujjain and that is Mahakal Baba.
No king can stay the night here. A separate place has been appointed outside Ujjain for his stay. Legend has it that any king who stays here for the night and if he is not truthful then troubles start in his life.