With the arrival of monsoon, people in the State start to wait for holy Sawan month. Boasted with world famous Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, devotees are curious to know about upcoming ‘Ujjain’s Maharaja Shai Sawari’ grand procession of Lord Shri Mahakaleshwar. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Pt Mahesh Shukla said that as per the Hindu calendar the Sawan month in 2025 will begin on July 11 and end on August 9. The First Sawari will be taken out on July 14 this year. People from different parts of the country make visit to the temple in this month and wants to be a part of procession.

 

The procession holds spiritual significance. The grand procession starts with ‘Guard of Honour’ at the temple gate. Due to Shri Mahakal Maharaj’s presence in this city, there were belief that Chief Minister do not stay at night in Ujjain as two kings can’t stay in a town. This myth was broken by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav who also hails from this town. He said “he is people’s servant not the king. There is only one king in Ujjain that is Shri Baba Mahakaleshwar.” Schedule for rest of the Sawari are July 21 and 28.

 

Extended to August month. It will be carried out on August 4, 11 and 18. Route will be Gudri Square, Bakshi Bazaar, Kaharwadi, bank of Kshipra river Ramghat, Ramanujkot, Modh Ki Dharamshala, Kartik, Khati temple, Satyanarayan temple, Chhatri Chowk, famous Shri Gopal Mandir, Patni Bazaar, Gudri Market and then back to the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple.

 

These procession is believed to bestow immense spiritual merit upon the participants and through this practice Lord Shiva, himself, come to the ground to know the well-being of their people as Lord Mahakal, who is as a king. Idol of Mahakaleshwar here is known to be ‘Dakshinamurthi’ (south facing). This is a unique feature, upheld by the tantric Shivnetra tradition to be found only in Shri Mahakaleshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas.