And while the ‘Bhasm’ used is made from burning organic things like tree barks, cow dung, and the likes, it is said that a long time ago the Bhasm aarti was done with ash from the cremation grounds.
Who is Mahakaleshwar?
Mahakaal, the name itself is grand and majestic and is used to refer to someone who has the power to change and adjust the way of time, and so it makes for the perfect name for Lord Shiva. And the way he is covered with ash during the Bhasm aarti is like a symbol about how he has conquered the fear of death, death itself, and how his devotees too can do the same.
Mahakaleshwar (Image: @ravisen0734/X)
The world’s Adiyogi and ultimate ascetic has no fear of death or what comes with it, and so, in Mahakaleshwar he faces the door of death!
How? Read on to know.
The direction of death
The most unique feature of the Mahakaleshwar temple is that it has a south-facing Shivalinga, the only one of its kind among all the Jyotirlingas.
In Hindu tradition, the south direction is associated with Yama, the god of death, and is generally considered inauspicious. But, the south-facing Shivalinga at Mahakaleshwar defies this belief, and is seen and respected as Shiva’s mastery over death. This is why it is said that Shiva is the one who conquers death and its fear, and protects his devotees from untimely death.
Bhasm aarti (Image: @ujjain_live/X)
In Hinduism, the south direction is called ‘Dakshin’ and is the direction one faces during funeral rites and ceremonies related to death. Yamraj, the lord of death, is believed to reside in the south, and takes care of the afterlife and the fate of the souls who pass through.
But in Mahakaleshwar, Lord Shiva looks in the South direction, right at Yamraj, the one who controls life after death.
The conqueror of death
And as the only Jyotirlinga that faces South, Mahakaleshwar becomes unique and distinct, offering people a glimmer of hope against ‘death’. When people have grown hearing that ‘death is inevitable’ and ‘death can come at any time’, visiting the Mahakaleshwar temple is like a sense of protection from untimely death, freedom from the fear of death, and blessings for a peaceful departure from this world. Many also believe that by worshipping at Mahakaleshwar, they can remove the negative effects of planetary positions and other astrological influences, which are thought to be governed by Shiva as the lord of time, the Mahakal.
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