Devotees and Cricketer Umesh Yadav Celebrate Sawan Somvar at Mahakaleshwar Temple
On the second ‘Sawan Somvar’, many devotees visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The devotees queued up early in the morning to seek blessings and participate in the special ‘Bhasma Aarti’ ritual.
Special Guest: Umesh Yadav
Indian cricketer Umesh Yadav was also present at the temple. He was seen sitting in the Nandi hall, watching the ‘Bhasma Aarti’.
Rituals Explained
The temple priest, Ashish Sharma, explained the rituals performed before the ‘Bhasma Aarti’. Baba Mahakal was given a holy bath with water and Panchamrit Mahabhishek, which includes milk, curd, ghee, honey, and fruit juices. After the bath, Baba Mahakal was decorated with Bhang and sandalwood, and then dressed in clothes. The ‘Bhasma Aarti’ was performed with beating drums and blowing conch shells.
Significance of Sawan
‘Sawan’ is the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months. Every Monday during this period is an auspicious time to fast and seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. Sawan is believed to be the month when Lord Shiva consumed poison to save the universe, symbolizing his compassion. This year, Sawan began on July 22 and will end on August 19.
Baba Mahakal’s Ride
Every Monday during Sawan, there is a tradition of taking out Baba Mahakal’s ride in the evening. Devotees wait for hours to witness this ride, considering themselves blessed by getting a glimpse of Baba Mahakal.
Doubts Revealed
Devotees -: Devotees are people who are very dedicated to their religion and often visit temples to pray and show their respect to gods.
Umesh Yadav -: Umesh Yadav is a famous Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian national team. He is known for his fast bowling.
Sawan Somvar -: Sawan Somvar refers to the Mondays in the holy month of Sawan, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many people fast and pray on these days.
Mahakaleshwar Temple -: Mahakaleshwar Temple is a famous temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are special shrines of Shiva.
Bhasma Aarti -: Bhasma Aarti is a special ritual performed at the Mahakaleshwar Temple where ashes are used to worship Lord Shiva. It is a unique and important ceremony.
Ashish Sharma -: Ashish Sharma is the priest at the Mahakaleshwar Temple. A priest is a person who performs religious ceremonies and rituals.
Baba Mahakal -: Baba Mahakal is another name for Lord Shiva, especially in the context of the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Hindu calendar -: The Hindu calendar is a traditional calendar used in India to determine the dates of religious festivals and events. It is different from the regular calendar we use every day.
Fasting -: Fasting means not eating food for a certain period of time. People often fast to show their devotion and to purify their body and mind.
