ATMA VEERESHWAR

Atma Veereshwar

According to Kashi Khand, Chapater 82, Lord Shiva described the power ofVeereshwar Ling as under :

Once a kingdom was ruled by a very religious minded ruler named Amitrajit. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu and he made it a rule that all the citizens of his kingdom also became devotees of Lord Vishnu.  One day Narad Rishivisited his palace and was welcomed with due respect by the King.

As per the direction of Narad Rishi, King Amitrajit saved one beautiful girl calledMalayagandini from the clutches of one evil person. The King subsequently married her and they came to Kashi and were immediately happy with the beautiful surroundings.  In due course, Malayagandini was blessed with a handsome male child, who was destined to become 16 years old, immediately after birth.  However, since he was born in an inauspicious planetary combination, the Ministers of the King told the Queen that  she would have to sacrifice the child, otherwise the King would die. 

In order to save the King, she sent the child to Vikata Devi.  But no one was inclined to slay the handsome boy who had been 16 years of age by then.  The boy undertook severe penance of Lord Shiva, whereupon Lord Shiva appeared before him in form of a Ling.  This Ling was named by Lord Shiva as VeereshwarLing.

According to Lord Shiva, a person who performs Pooja, Abhishek and archanaof Veereshwar Ling attains all sort of happiness, prosperity and success.

Kashi Khand, Chapter 83, states that a person who performs pooja ofVeereshwar gets the benefit of doing pooja of three crore Lingas.

It is considered auspicious to worship this Ling during Chaturdasi nights without going to sleep or bed.  It is also considered auspicious to perform abhishek of this Ling with Panch Amritam (five ingredients namely milk, curd, honey, sugar and clarified butter) (Kashi Khand ibid).

Kashi Khand, Chapter 11, mentions  the importance of pooja/archana of AtmaVeereshwar for being blessed with a child. One Sage Vishwanar and his pious wife prayed at various places in Kashi and finally arrived at the Siddha Peeth ofAtma Veereshwar.  He performed all rituals and rites at this temple for many months, reciting a prayer called Abhilasha Ashtakam  and one day he saw a boy aged eight years standing near the Ling.  The sage started worshipping the boy with the same fervour as one would worship Lord Shiva with.

The boy was none other than Lord Shiva himself who directed his devotees to recite Abhilasha Ashtakam for one year, as was done by Sage Vishwanar, which will certainly result in progeny for childless couples.  Subsequently, the boy disappeared into the Atma Veereshwar Ling.

Though this Ling is mentioned as Veereshwar in Kashi Khand, presently, this ling is called as Atma Veereshwar or the soul of Veereshwar. 

 LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE

Atma Veereshwar temple is located at Ck-7/158, Scindia Ghat which is a famous locality in Varanasi. This place can be reached by boat through Scindia Ghat.  Alternatively one can travel in cycle rickshaw upto Chowk and walk down the gullies to reach the temple. Reciting Rudra Japa at Atma Veereshwar temple is very fruitful.

TYPES OF POOJAS

The temple is open for worship 05.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 12.30 p.m. to 9.30.  Special Aarti is held from 07.00 to 8.30 p.m.  For doing special pooja, it is advisable to consult the Poojari before hand. 

POOJARIS OF THE TEMPLE

Shri Mun Mun Guru  is one of the Poojaries of the temple and he can be contacted on his Cell number (0)9792820159 for doing any special pooja.

AGNI DHRUVESHWAR

Kashi Khand, Chapter 100 states that devotees should undertake religious tour (Yatra) of eleven Shiv Lings. This Yatra is known as Ekadasha Maha Rudra Yatra. (Ekadasha means eleven).

Agni Dhruveshwar Ling is the first Ling in the above Yatra.  This Yatra should be undertaken as often as possible.

Agni Dhruveshwar (Jageshwar)

Devotees who worship Agni Dhruveshwar will attain Rudra Padavi (equivalent to Lord Rudra – Lord Shiva).

LOCATION OF AGNI DHRUVESHWAR

Agni Dhruveshwar is also known as Jageshwar Mahadev and is located at J.66/4, Ishwar Gangi. (Reference:  Book by Pt. Kedarnath Vyas). People can reach this place by rickshaw or auto as Ishwar Gangi/Jageshwar temple is quite famous. Another landmark is Adarsh School.  Agni Dhruveshwar (Jageshwar) Ling is a very huge Ling and probably the biggest Ling ever seen. This can be judged by the height of the man standing near the Ling.

TYPES OF POOJA

The place of worship is open from 04.00 a.m. to 12.00 Noon and from 04.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Mangala Aarti is held at 05.00 a.m., Bhog Aarti at 12.00 p.m. and evening aarti at 07.00 p.m.

POOJARIES FO THE TEMPLE

Shri Vimal Kumar Pandey is available in the temple premises and he can be contacted on his Cell No. (0)9889918110 for performing any special pooja etc.

AADI MAHADEV (MAHADEV LING)

Lord Kartikeya was describing various important Shiv Lings in his narration in Kashi Khand (Chapter 68). 

Aadi Mahadev

In Satya Yug, in response to devout prayers by Devas and Rishis, one Ling emerged from the Bhoomi and manifested itself. This came to be called  Mahadev Ling.  This Ling gets the credit of making Kashi a Mukti Kshetra (region free from bondage). A person who peforms pooja and archana with sincere devotion at this temple will reach Shiva’s abode after death, even if he happens to die in any place other than Kashi.   

A devotee who sincerely prays to Lord Mahadev in Kashi, gets the punya equivalent to praying all Lings available in the entire world. A person who performs pooja at least once at Mahadev temple, will find a place in Lord Shiva’s abode after death (Kashi Khand, ibid).

Special importance is attached to the offering of Yagyopaveeth (Sacred Thread) at Mahadev temple on Chaturdasi Day after Amavasya during Shravan Month (July-August) (Kashi Khand, ibid).

Presently the temple is known as Aadi Mahadev Temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE

The temple is located at No. A-3/92, behind Trilochan Temple.  The temple is approachable from Birla hospital after Machhodari upto which place, people can travel by Auto or Cycle Rickshaw. Alternatively, they can have a boat ride upto Trilochan Ghat and climb the steps. 

TYPES OF POOJAS

The temple is open from 05.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m.   Mangala Aarti is performed at 05.00 a.m., Shringar  at 06.30 a.m., and Aarti at 07.00 a.m. The temple is open till 09.00 p.m.

POOJARIS OF THE TEMPLE

Shri Girish Chand Mehrotra is the Poojari of the temple.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Trambakeshwar Jyotirlinga

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, the powerful mantra of Lord Shiva is a call for enlightenment. Chanting of this mantra purifies the karmas of the soul at a deep level. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Mantra of Great Victory Over Death) is one of the most ancient mantras well known in the Vedic canon.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a life-giving mantra (sanjivini mantra). It is a mantra that is said to rejuvenate, bestow health, wealth, long life, peace, prosperity and contentment. It wards off death and accidents of all descriptions. Besides, it has a great curative power. It is also known as Moksha mantra.

"om tryambhakam yajamahe, sugandhim pushtivardhanam,
urvarukamiva bandhanan, mrityor mukshiya maamritat."

Rigveda Verse: mandala-7 sukt-59 mantra-12 | Rishi: Vashistha | Mantra Devata: Rudra

“O praise to the Three-Eyed One, who increases prosperity, who has a sweet fragrance, who frees the world from all disease and death – liberate me, as the cucumber is easily severed from the vine. O Shiva, grant me immortality!”

 



Penance for the Mantra

The Mahamrityunjaya mantra was taught by Lord Shiva to Sukracharya, the preceptor of the demons after he succeeded in the impossible test of hanging upside down from a tree for twenty years (Vimsottari dasa period) with smoke blowing into him from a fire lit beneath. Even Brihaspati was shocked at the prospect of such a terrible penance and calmly settled to observe Sukracharya accept the challenge of Indra and succeed.

After the penance Lord Shiva taught the Mahamrityunjaya mantra to Sukracharya, who under very compelling circumstances had to teach this to the son of Brihaspati and that is how the devas also got the mantra. This mantra was given (sruti) to Vasistha Maharishi for the welfare of this world. The mantra and explanation given by Sukracharya to Rishi Dadhicha when the latter's body was cut and thrown by Raja Kshuva is recorded in the Shiva Purana.

What is the meaning of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?

OM

Om is the absolute reality. It is said to be "Adi Anadi", without beginning or the end and embracing all that exists. Om is beyond any limit, transcendental, and indestructible. OM represents the wholeness of the universe and the eternal vibratory sound of brahman (the universal soul) that permeates it. Indeed, Om is called shabdabrahman, the sound-form of brahman. Om is a mystical or sacred syllable. The syllable is taken to consist of three phonemes, a, u and m, variously symbolizing the Three Vedas or the Hindu Trimurti or three stages in life (birth, life and death ). A-U-M represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary aspects: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation).

In upanishads and sutra:

Om consists of the three sounds a (a-kara), u (u-kara), m (ma-kara). A-kara means form or shape like earth, trees, or any other object. U-kara means formless or shapeless like water, air or fire. Ma-kara means neither shape nor shapeless (but still exists) like the dark matter in the Universe. When we combine all three syllables we get AUM which is a combination of A-kara, U-kara, and Ma-kara.

According to the Mandukya Upanishad

Om is both atman and brahman: it is the past, the present and the future, as well as all that transcends time.

In Purana

Aum or Om is the mystic name for the Hindu Trimurti, and represents the union of the three gods, viz. a for Brahma, u for Vishnu and m for Mahadev which is another name of Shiva. The three sounds also symbolize the three Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda).

Om is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energizes whatever we say after it. That is why all mantras begin with OM. OM is also the mantra of ascent and causes our energy to rise upward into the infinite. By reciting Om, a person gains access to the powers of the universe; and meditation on Om is said to lead to enlightenment and immortality. OM is expansive and increases the fire, air and ether elements, particularly ether. It also gives strength, protection and grace.

Tryambakam

Tryambak = trya + amba = three amba

‘Three Amba' are the three Shaktis (the power) signifyin

‘'will power' (iccha shakti)

power of work’ (kriya shakti)

power of wisdom (gyana shakti).

These three shaktis are the creators of this whole world, and the one who has these three is called tryambak.

Tryambak also refers to the three eyes of shiva as 'Trya' means 'Three' and 'Ambakam' means eyes.Three eyes of shiva also refer to fire, sun and moon. Maharshi Kapil defines these eyes as sattva, raja and tamo guna. So we can say that the one who is beyond all gunas is tryambak.

According to Astrologers, past, present and future are the eyes of the mahakaal tryambak. Thus it can be said that the one who exists in past, future and present, and is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent is tryambak.
In vedanta - chitta, ego and buddhi are the three eyes of Shiva. Yogis define 'A', 'U' and 'M' as eyes of shiva. Tryambak is the father of the three worlds - bhu, bhuva and svarga lokas (planes of existence). He is the lord of the three heavens created by the dominance of the three Gunas - Rajas, Satva and Tamas.

Yajamahe

By chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra we surrender to Lord Trayambak establishing a connection with Him. Here the root yaja means to sacrifice for the communion with divinity and yajamahe means ‘performing yagya’. Yagya is the tradition that follows from the Vedas. It is the act of offering oblations to propitiate a deity. Thus Yajamahe refers to the desire to make a connection with the lord who is the origin of light, nectar and life by sacrificing and offerings (havan samagri).

Sugandhim

'Sugandhim' refers to the fragrance of the flower that spreads in all directions. Similarly, He - The Supreme God is present in all the bhutas (modes of existence), in the three Gunas (nature of creation as being Satva, Rajas or Tamas), in the ten indriyas (five gyana-indriyas or senses and five karma-indriyas or organs of action), in all the devas (33 devas are the source of all illumination and enlightenment) and the ganas (hosts of demi-gods), He exists and pervades as the illumine atma (soul) and is their essence. He is spreading His fragrance all around and making us as fragrant as He is. Fragrance refers to the joy within Him. we all are bathing in His Fragrance, the real joy. Our self is true and pure as He is. No one can deteorite the true self.

Pustivardhanam

Pushti + vardhnam = pushtivardhanam

Tantric refers pushti as Shakti, In puranic language pushti is maya-( ). Philosphers (tatva chintak) refers it as ‘Nature’. Thus, here pushti indicates the shakti- the power - the nature and the one who expands/ enhances the pushti is called pustivardhanam. The one who transforms subtle forms into gross forms and expands the nature into many new forms by his creation is God. God is the sustainer of all beings who has created the entire creation starting from mahatatva (primordial state of matter/energy) to the individual parts. He is the sustainer of the world, the father of all.

Urvarukamiv Bandhnan

We bound by many diseases (approx 100 are in vedas) influenced (negative) by three doshas (imbalance of five elements earth, space, air, water and fire), fear of death, eight type of Agyana (ignorance) and the cycle of birth and death. We are living in the falsehood and are unable to perceive the all pervading God. We are bound by shadripu, the six demons of attachment, lust, greed, ego, anger and

Mrityormukshiya Ma Amritat

O God I wish to be free from the all negativities and to be in real joy. Please take me out of all weakness and the never ending cycle of birth and death. Free me from the fear of diseases and death for the sake of immortality (Moksha, Nirvana or final emancipation from re-birth).

ma amritat means 'please give me some Amritam (life rejuvinating nectar). It means that we are praying for some 'Amrit' to get out of the death inflicting diseases as well as the cycle of re-birth. and to be one with the supreme being, Shiva in the same way as the cucumber fruit (urvaru) gets separated from its stalk.

Be like Cucumber

The cucumber is a fruit that grows on a vine, and if you’ve ever grown them, you will know that they, like other similar fruits and gourds, will not fall away from the vine on their own. They will stay on the vine until they rot. Similarly, without the moment of liberation, we too will remain attached to our ego, to this illusory world, until our bodies rot away and the seeds of our karma are planted again, to be born again into the cycle of rebirth. With this mantra we ask Lord Shiva to release us from this cycle, while still in this life. Removing the cucumber when it is ripe is very easy – you can simply pluck it from the vine – in a similar way, with sadhana (focused practice with a goal in mind), we too may easily cross from unknowing into knowing. So we ask Lord Shiva to help us, to liberate us as easily as we harvest the simple gourd.

Things become easier when done in a group or team. Team always has more power than a single person. Thus we bring the chant of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra by 21 brahmins. Brahmins are the class of educators, scholars and preachers. They chant the mantra for 108 times collectively.

"om tryambhakam yajamahe, sugandhim pushtivardhanam, urvarukamiva bandhanan, mrityor mukshiya maamritat."

It is said that power of mantra grows exponentially if chanted in groups. The vibrations created by this collective chanting is very much powerful to help a person to establish a connection with the supreme being. And make easier for the devotee to move within, creating a unique environment full of divine vibrations of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Chant with the 21 brahmins and experience the divinity and true bliss within.

Ujjain ke Maharaja...LORD MAHAKAAL.

Mahakala of Ujjain is known among the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various puranas. Starting with Kalidasa, many sanskrit poets have eulogised this temple in emotive terms. The tradition of Mahakala in minds of the people is eternal Ujjain used to be centre point of the calculation of the Indian time and Mahaklala was considered as the distinctive presiding deity of Ujjain
The main deity, shiva in the lingam form is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, facing the South.

Mahakaleshwar temple at Ujjain is located near a holy lake named Rudra Sagar; it is three storied temple.
Ancient Shri Mahakaleshwara temple was renovated in 11th century. Delhi sultan Iltutmish, 140 Years later during his attack on Ujjain demolished the temple. The present temple is considered to be that of Maratha period. The temple was renovnated by Baba Ramchandra Shenvi, the devan of Sindhia state some 250 years ago.

The temple is three-storeyed. In the lowest middle and uppermost parts are respectively installed the lingams of Mahakalesvara, Omkaresvara and Nagachandresvara. The pilgrims and the visitors can only have the glimse of Nagachandresvara on the festive of Naga Panchami. A very large-sized Kunda named Koti Tirtha also exists in the temple-complex. The Kunda is built in the sarvatobhadra style

Night view of the Shri Mahakaleshwar temple

The lingam of Mahakalesvara is colossus. The silver plated Naga Jaladhari and the inscribed and esoteric silver-plate covering the roof of the garbhagrha add extra grandeur to the shrine. Besides Jyotirlinga, attractive and small-sized images of Ganesa, Kartikeya and Paravati can be seen in the garbhagrha.
All around the walls classical eulogies in the praise of Lord Siva are exhibited. The Nanda Dipa always remains lit. In the exit-path, there is a wide hall in which a most attractive metalquoted stone Nandi, in the sitting humble pose may be witnessed. The courtyard just opposite to the Omkaresvara temple add much to the magnanimity of the temple-complex. Just adjoining to this temple, there are two pillared projections facing the east and adding a lot to the architecture of the temple.

History of the temple:

According to the Puranas, the city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its devotional epicenter. It was also one of the primary cities where students went to study holy scriptures. According to legend, there was a ruler of Ujjain called Vrishabhsen, who was a pious devotee of Lord Shiva and worshipped him all the time. One day, a farmer's boy named Shrikhar was walking on the grounds of the palace and heard the King chant the Lord's name and rushed to the temple to start praying with him. However, the guards removed him by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near the river Kshipra. Kings of the neighboring kingdoms decided to attack the Kingdom and take over its treasures around this time. Hearing this, Shrikhar started to pray and the news spread to a priest named Vridhi. He was shocked to hear this and upon the urgent pleas of his sons, he started to pray to Lord Shiva inside the river Kshipra. The Kings chose to attack and were successful; with the help of the powerful demon Dushan, who was blessed by Lord Brahma to be invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all the devotees of Lord Shiva.
Upon hearing the pleas of His helpless devotees, Lord Shiva appeared in his Mahakal form and destroyed the enemies of King Vrishabhsen. Upon the request of his devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Lord Shiva agreed to reside in the city and become the chief deity of the Kingdom and take care of it against its enemies and to protect all His devotees. From that day on, Lord Shiva resided in His light form as Mahakal in a Lingam that was formed on its own from the powers of the Lord and His consort, Parvati. The Lord also blessed his devotees and declared that people who worshipped Him in this form would be free from the fear of death and diseases. Also, they would be granted worldly treasures and be under the protection of the Lord himself.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Shri Mahakaleshwar is the lord or king of the earth Out of the 12 Jyotirlingas only Mahakaleshwar is known as the lord of the earth and the lord of death.
The meaning of word 'Mahakala' is taken as 'Lord of time' and also 'Lord of death

In astronomical calculations Shanku-Yantra is an important instrument. It is believed that at the center of earth Ujjain, at the place of that Shanku-Yantra the Jyotirlinga Mahakal is established. From thes place the astronomical calculations for the whole world were done.

At the navel point of the earth south facing Mahakal is situated, the only Jyotirlinga of its kind. This fact has a special significance in the Tantrik tradition. It is among the oldest Jyotirlinga, extrolled in the Puranas. Due to these considerations certainly. Shri Mahakaleshwar is the oldest referred Jyotirlinga of Puranas. From the Shivapurana reference it appears that the temple was build eight generations before Nanda, the guardian of Krishna. Perhaps at that time the Jyotirlinga was established. The Shikhar of the temple has been high and the premises been large from ancient times.

May Shree Mahakaleshwar lingam bless us all with health , wealth and prosperity

Some Other temples close to Shri Mahakaleshwar and famous temples of Ujjain Mahakali Temple Entrance
Mahakali Temple

Mahakali - May Godess Mahakali give us the will power to always do what is right.

Navagraha Temple, Triveni: Situated on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra, the temple is located away from the old site of Ujjaini town. It is dedicated to the nine planets, attracts large crowds on new moon days falling on Saturdays.

The Navagraha Temple is a small one, with nine square rooms set out in a 3X3 matrix, thus 9 big rooms with a swayambhu idol of each planet at the inner corner, the central room with an idol of Surya (Sun). The main door opens into the sanctum of Shani, and then we circumambulate the temple, viewing all the other planets through the open doors.

Shani Dev Mandir: This is another new temple, inspired by the recent TV serial dedicated to Shani Dev – the planet Saturn. In these days of blatant wrong doing, it is no surprise that the most revered deity should be the one who is said to give one the fruits of their actions – good or bad. It is no wonder that people rush to appease the lord and hope for a favourable glance from him!
The vehicle of Shani is supposed to be a crow, and so it is in all the temples of Shani but over here Shani is depicted on an elephant. According to the pujari, this temple has been built for the purpose of ridding people of financial worries, which are, of course, of prime importance today. Since the elephant is the vehicle of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Shani Dev has been depicted here with the elephant as vahana. All the other Shani temples in India have the idol of black rock. Here, it seems, the idol has been made of iron, the metal most loved by Shani, hence the idol is more powerful!

Sandipni Ashram where Lord Krishna took Tuition : The fact that ancient Ujjain apart from its political and religious importance, enjoyed the reputation of being a great seat of learning as early as the Mahabharata period is borne out by the fact that,
Lord Krishna and Sudama received regular instruction in the ashram of Guru Sandipani. The area near the ashram is known as Ankapata, popularly believed to have been the place used by Lord Krishna for washing his writing tablet. The numerals 1 to 100 found on a stone are believed to have been engraved by Guru Sandipani. The Gomti Kunda referred to in the Puranas was the source of water supply to the ashram in the olden days.

Kund dug by Krishna’s Arrow

Kal Bhairav TempleKal Bhairava: The worship of the eight Bhairavas is a part of Saivite tradition and the chief among them is Kal Bhairava, believed to have been built by King Bhadresen, on the banks of the Shipra. There is mention of a Kal Bhairva temple in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Worship of Kal Bhairava is believed to have been a part of the Kapalika and Aghora sects. Ujjain was a prominent centre of these two sects. Even today, liquor is offered as a part of the ritual to Kal Bhairava Beautiful paintings in the Malwa style once decorated the temple walls, only traces of which are visible.

Mangalnath Mandir: Another temple close to Mahakaleshwar temple is Believed to be the birthplace of Mangal – the planet Mars – and is known as the Mangalnath Mandir .

Bada Ganpati Mandir: This is a small temple right opposite the Mahakaleshwar temple, known for its huge Ganpati.
Ganesh ji Viraajmaan at Bada Ganpati Temple --- May Lord Ganesh remove all the hurdles from our life and fill our lives with love, joy, success and good health

Shivling with goddess Parvati

This holy Shivling with Parvati is located at Cave No 4 , Udayagiri Caves , Sanchi , Madhya Pradesh , India.

Gouri Somnath Mandir: Omkareshwar

Temple, containing a gigantic six feet tall shivlinga, around which as the legend goes two grow up persons embracing it cannot reach their hands unless they are a internal uncle and nephew (Mama-Bhanja). The lingam though very old of a smooth black stone with shinning polish. There is a sitting Nandi(Scared bull) of similar stone outside. As per legend if anyone looked into it he would see the figure of his next birth.

More about Gouri Somnath Mandir Emperor Aurangzaeb, the devout son of Islam and arch iconoclast, while marching to the south, on his way near by Omkareshwar he heard of the rich temples and monuments therein, so he could not resist temptation to come to a spot full od spils. He came and did spoil by multitating the figures as apparent even now. Curious to test the legend, he stood before the Lingam, and on gazing he saw a pig in it . In his rage he hurt the Lingam, and sicethe it has assumed its The properties have been lost present jet black hue and the properties have been lost col. James Tod, in his ‘Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan’ written about two centuries back, makes mention of Aurangzeb’s visit to Omkareshewar but with a different version, saying the emperor broke the idol out of which blood had gushed out.