Mahashivratri at Mahakaleshwar

Ujjain, MP, Feb 16 (UNI) The spirit of Shiva, the three-eyed destroyer god of the Hindu pantheon, seemed to pervade this ancient temple town on the occasion of Mahashivratri and right from the wee hours devotees thronged the Mahakaleshwar shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas.

Besides the Mahakaleshwar and the Chaurasi Mahadev temples, this town -- on the banks of the Kshipra -- is dotted with hundreds of small shrines devoted to Shiva. In Ujjain, this day is celebrated as the god's wedding anniversary.

The immense precincts of the Mahakaleshwar temple, which is open round-the-clock today, are decked up like a marriage venue. For nine days, 11 priests adorn shivlings in various forms.

A bhasmarti ritual using cremation ash will take place tomorrow afternoon.

In Bhopal, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Mayor Sunil Sood and several eminent citizens took part in the celebrations. At the world-renowned tourist destination Khajuraho, the faithful thronged the Matangeshwar Mahadev shrine.

UNI