PM to inaugurate Mahakal Lok Corridor at famous Ujjain temple today

The ancient city of Ujjain has been decked up for the special occasion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to fly down to Madhya Pradesh to launch the Mahakal Lok Corridor. This is the first phase of the Mahakal Maharaj Mandir Parisar Vistar Yojana of the famous Mahakaleshwar temple in the city.

While the entire project will be developed at a cost of Rs 850 crore, an expenditure of Rs 316 crore has been incurred on the first phase.

The project is a comprehensive development plan for expansion, beautification and decongestion of the temple premises.

Envisaged as one of the largest corridors in India, its length is more than 900 metres and spread around the old Rudrasagar Lake. One of the attractions of the corridor is its two gateways – Nandi Dwar and Pinaki Dwar – leading to the Mahakaleshwar temple’s entrances. Built aesthetically, it is expected to attract a large number of devotees.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 which is said to be the most sacred abode of the God. The idol here is known to be dakshinmukhi – facing the south – a unique feature which is upheld by the Tantric Shivnetra tradition found here.

Speaking to PTI an official informed: “A majestic colonnade of 108 ornate pillars made of intricately carved sandstones, gushing fountains and a running panel of more than 50 murals depicting stories from the ‘Shiv Puran’ are among the major highlights of the Mahakal Lok.”

Slated to arrive in Madhya Pradesh today, the PM who was in Gujarat for the last two days, will leave from Ahmedabad airport at 3.35 p.m. to reach Indore in an hour. He will fly down to Ujjain in a chopper at 5 p.m. and reach the temple at 5.25 to perform puja and then dedicate the Mahakal Lok to the nation.

He will also attend a public function at the Kartik Mela Ground.

The entire city has been decked up for the PM’s visit with many large television screens installed for people to watch the proceedings and oil lamps across the railings of the 600-metre-long Hari Phatak leading to the temple being lit up.

In the temple the Omkareshwar Mahadev idol is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine while the Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north, and east of the sanctum sanctorum. In the south there is the image of Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva.

Interestingly, the Nagchandreshwar idol on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nag Panchami.

This historic temple was demolished by Sultan Shams-ud-din Iltutmish when he raided Ujjain in 1234-35 with the Jyotirlinga dismantled and thrown in the pond and Jaladhari was stolen.

The present structure was built by the Maratha General Ranoji Shinde in 1734, who was appointed by Baji Rao I to collect taxes in the Malwa region.