Mahakala Shivanavratri festival in the temple – Photo: Amar Ujala Expansion
Mahashivaratri festival across the country 12 will be celebrated on Feb. Special events will be organized in Shiva temples on this festival. Mahakaleshwar Temple is the only Jyotirlinga among the country’s 233 Jyotirlingas. Where the nine-day festival of Shiva Navratri is celebrated. During this, Lord Mahakal appears to the devotees in different forms for nine days. Priest of Mahakal temple Pt. Abhishek Sharma Bala Guru told that there is a belief about Mahashivaratri festival. That on this day Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. Shiva Navratri is the festival before this marriage. This festival is celebrated only in the Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain, which starts nine days before Mahashivratri. In these nine days, sandalwood paste and henna are applied to Lord Mahakal. Along with this, worship, abhishek and rituals are also performed for nine days along with the attractive makeup of Lord Mahakal. According to Pt. Abhishek Sharma Bala Guru, Lord Mahakal on the last day of Shiva Navratri festival i.e. Mahashivaratri He is decorated as a bridegroom and is made to wear Sehra weighing several quintals. This form of Lord Mahakal is seen only once in a year, so devotees queue up to see it. Foreign flowers are also used to make Sehra of Lord Mahakal, which are specially ordered. makeup is done for nine days On the first day of Shiva Navratri festival, Lord Mahakal’s sandalwood Shringar is done and turmeric is offered on the reservoir. Lord Mahakal will be decorated as Sheshnag on the second day. On the third day of Shiv Navratri, Lord Mahakal’s overcast makeup will be done. Lord Mahakaleshwar’s image will be decorated on the fourth day . Lord Mahakal will give darshan to the devotees in the form of Holkar on the fifth day of Shiva Navratri. Mahakal will appear in Manmahesh form on the sixth day. Goddess Parvat with Lord Shiva on the seventh day of Shiva Navratri Will also appear. This is called Uma-Mahesh Shringar. On the eighth day, the makeup of Mahakal will be in the form of Shiva Tandav. On the last day of Shiva Navratri i.e. Mahashivaratri, Lord Mahakal appears as the groom. Which is called Sehra Darshan.