ABOUT UJJAIN

Historic Perspective

History is interwoven with legend in the ancient town of Ujjain.
According to one legend, Shiva, the Destroyer of the Universe, descended to Mrityulok, the land of mortals, to get rid of Ujjain’s demon king, Tripura. Moreover, the blue god Krishna came to Ujjain to study under the great sage, Sandipani Muni, who taught the former in the Sandipani Muni Ashram. Myths apart, excavations at a site about 6km north of the town have revealed pottery and iron objects dating back to the 8th century b.c.


¤ The Great Kingdoms
Historic Perspective
The period between the 6th and the 3rd centuries b.c. witnessed the rise of ambitious potentates.
They successfully established four great kingdoms, or the Mahajanapadas in North India that included the kingdoms of Avanti, Vatsa, Kausala and Magadha. King Chandra Pradyota Mahasena ruled the kingdom of Avanti, with his capital at Ujjain. In the 4th century b.c., the first Mauryan ruler, Chandragupta I, ruled over Avanti.


¤ The Great Ruler Ashoka Turned Into A Buddhist Follower

In mid-3rd century b.c., Ashoka became the Governor of Avanti (Ujjain) as well as Taxila (presently in Pakistan) at the young age of 18, during the reign of his father, Bindusara. Ashoka ruled his domain with an iron hand and used ruthless means to annex neighbouring areas.
His tyrannical ways earned him the dishonour of being labelled as Ashoka, the Terrible. However, he became an ardent follower of Buddhism in 257 b.c. and laid the foundations of a group of stupas (domed structures that house relics of the Buddha) in Sanchi. He also constructed stupas in Ujjain, which was the first territory he ruled. Ashoka is reported to have built anything between 1,000 to 84,000 stupas, of which only a few remain today. Stone and metal statues of the Buddha have also been discovered in the district, confirming Buddhist influence in and around these areas

SANDIPANI ASHRAM

Only 2km from the ancient town of Ujjain is the famous hermitage of Sandipani Muni, the tutor of the blue god Krishna.Innumerable centres of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) across the globe are dedicated to exploring the spiritual path proposed by the Bhagwad Gitawhich was elucidated by Lord Krishna, himself a student of this hermitage at Ujjain

PEER MATSYENDRA

Pre-Islamic India held ascetics in great reverence, and the same respect was accorded to the peers and saints devoted to Allah.
Living in remote places, isolated from the rest of the community, they were believed to have attained mystic knowledge through severe penance.

NAVAGRAHA

In India, astronomy and astrology share an ancient bond. A legend recalling the birth of Moon and Mars in Ujjain indicates that they were studied here even in ancient times.
That is why we find a temple dedicated to the Navagrahas, or the nine planets of our solar system, in Ujjain.

JAMA MASJID

Although Ujjain may be known for its Hindu temples and sacred rivers making it an important Hindu pilgrimage, Muslim influences are also apparent. The Jama Masjid is a recent construction which radiates its presence in the centre of the town, not far from the Gopal Mandir.
The devotees of different religions tend to mingle well when destined to their respective temples and mosques in this bustling market area, acknowledging their faith in the supreme Power that controls this gigantic machine called Universe.

BADE GANESH JI

Situated near the tank of the Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bade Ganesha Ji Ka Mandir houses a massive statue of the elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Prosperity, Ganesha.
The head of the elephant symbolises sagacity, prudence and forethought that the Hindus attribute to divinity.

In the middle of the Ganesha temple lies a unique idol of loyalty and faith, that of the monkey-god, Hanuman. Nowhere else but in this temple Hanuman is depicted with five faces. Known as Panchamukhi (five-faced), Hanuman here symbolises courage, loyalty, devotion, strength, and righteousness. The Ganesha temple is also an important centre of learning

KALBHAIRAV TEMPLE

The city of Ujjain has numerous shrines dedicated to Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva, the Destroyer of the Universe.The Kalbhairava Temple is also believed to be associated with the cult of Tantra, an unorthodox secret cult with strong black magic overtones. Although Tantra practices on the sly are said to keep the enemy at bay, missing the target can spell doom to the practitioner.
Many sadhus or holy men with ash-smeared bodies and long matted hair may easily be spotted around this temple.