Kal Bhairav Temple,Ujjain

One of the most famous temples in Ujjain, this temple adds to the similarity of Ujjain and Kashi. As at Kashi, Kal Bhairav is the Kshetrapal, or the guardian deity of the city, and it is the custom to leave the keys with the deity when the temple is closed at night, in the belief that he takes care of the temple and its properties. However, this temple is famous, not for its origins or its importance in the scheme of temples, but for its deity who guzzles wine by the gallons. Yes, the main offering to the deity is wine, and this is also the only Prasad given to the devotees. People flock to this temple, all carrying bottles of wine as an offering. Liquor is available 365 days a year outside the temple.




Our driver had an interesting tale to tell regarding this custom. According to him (let me make it very clear to anyone wishing to argue about the veracity of this tale, that this is completely his version of the story!!!!), when Indira Gandhi was the PM, some doubts were raised about the use of the wine which was offered to the deity. There were some who believed that the liquor offered to the deity was later sold by the pujaris. The priests took offence at such an allegation and wrote to the PM, offering to submit to further investigation if they were assured of availability of wine all through the year, if they were proven innocent. Apparently, or so the tale goes, the offer was accepted and investigations carried out over a period of almost a year, but nothing was ever proved against the priests, and they had their demand met. Today, no matter whether it is a festival or a dry day, liquor is available all through the year at the temple, but only as an offering. An interesting story, wouldn’t you say?




The temple is built inside what looks like a fortress, and the present temple is said to have been built by the Marathas. There are supposed to be some good paintings in the Malwa style inside, but they are barely visible, and in any case, no one at the temple seems inclined to draw attention towards them. All eyes are on the deity, into whose mouth liquor is poured!












The vehicle of Kal Bhairav is a dog, and the life-like statue of the one outside the sanctum is accompanied by many of its companions of flesh and blood.







It is said that as at Kashi, there are 8 temples to the various Bhairavs (collectively known as Ashta Bhairavs) near this one. In fact, I even read of an underground temple to Patal Bhairav within the same compound. However, not much seems to be known about these temples, and in any case, there are few who want to visit such out of the way temples, and we were unable to collect any more information. If you happen to know more details, please do let me know.




A view of the Shipra from the temple......
and
A cremation in process on the opposite bank






Comments

  1. Offering wine to the deity that's is unheard of in these part of India. here in Bairavar temples we offer only kollu , til and light only milagu lamps.

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  2. Jai Mahakaal,
    It is very much true that there exists a "Patal Bhairavi " temple under the Kaal Bhairav temple.
    I have even learnt that the "ash/basham" used in Mahakaal Bhasham Aarti used to be collected from cremation ground near Kaal Bhairav temple.
    Nearby this temple , there is a very old temple in the forest where King Vikramaditya gained "Baital Sidhhi". Not many people visit this temple.

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  3. @ BULL : thanks a lot for the info... But how do you go to the Patal Bhairavi Temple? When we asked, no one had even heard about this temple....

    and the other temple also, do you have any info about how to get there? I would certainly like to go to such less known temples.. and the info would be useful for other travellers as well....

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  4. I have visited the Patal Bhairavi temple, it is on the left side of the main kaal bhairav temple.

    there is a very small window like enterance which leads to this dark cave like temple, there is a small Shivling in the temple.

    About other temples in Ujjain, a must visit is the temple of Mangalnath. This temple is on the way towards the Kaal Bhairav Temple.

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  5. @ Amit: thanks a lot for the info..... I have mentioned the mangalnath temple in another post

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  6. om hreem bam batukaye aapad uddhaahrnaye kuru kuru batukaye hreem om , jai baba bhairav, jai baba batuk bhairav jai baba kaal bhairav.

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  7. рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ - рднрдЧрд╡ाрди् рд╢ंрдХрд░ рдХे рдкूрд░्рдгाрд╡рддाрд░

    рджेрд╡рд░ाрдЬрд╕ेрд╡्рдпрдоाрдирдкाрд╡рдиाрдЩ्рдШ्рд░िрдкрдЩ्рдХрдЬं рд╡्рдпाрд▓рдпрдЬ्рдЮрд╕ूрдд्рд░рдоिрди्рджूрд╢ेрдЦрд░ं рдХृрдкाрдХрд░рдо् ।
    рдиाрд░рджाрджिрдпोрдЧिрд╡ृрди्рджрд╡рди्рджिрддं рджिрдЧрдо्рдмрд░ं рдХाрд╢िрдХाрдкुрд░ाрдзिрдиाрде-рдХाрд▓-рднैрд░рд╡ं рднрдЬे ।।

    рджेрд╡рд░ाрдЬ рдЗрди्рдж्рд░ рдЬिрдирдХे рдкाрд╡рди рдЪрд░рдг-рдХрдорд▓ों рдХी рднрдХ्рддि-рдкूрд░्рд╡рдХ рдиिрд░рди्рддрд░ рд╕ेрд╡ा рдХрд░рддे рд╣ैं, рдЬिрдирдХे рд╡्рдпाрд▓-рд░ुрдкी рд╡िрдХрд░ाрд▓ рдпрдЬ्рдЮ-рд╕ूрдд्рд░ рдзाрд░рдг рдХрд░рдиे рд╡ाрд▓े рд╣ैं, рдЬिрдирдХे рд▓рд▓ाрдЯ рдкрд░ рдЪрди्рдж्рд░рдоा рд╢ोрднाрдпрдоाрди рд╣ै, рдЬो рджिрдЧрдо्рдмрд░-рд╕्рд╡рд░ुрдк-рдзाрд░ी рд╣ैं, рдХृрдкा рдХी рдоूрд░्рддि рд╣ैं, рдиाрд░рджाрджि рд╕िрдж्рдз рдпोрдЧि-рд╡ृрди्рдж рдЬिрдирдХी рд╕ेрд╡ा рдоें рд▓рдЧे рд░рд╣рддे рд╣ैं, рдЙрди рдХाрд╢ी-рдкुрд░ी рдХे рдЕрднिрд░рдХ्рд╖рдХ рд╕्рд╡ाрдоी рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ рдХी рдоैं рдЪрд░рдг-рд╡рди्рджрдиा рдХрд░рддा рд╣ूँ

    рднाрдиुрдХोрдЯिрднाрд╕्рд╡рд░ं рднрд╡ाрдм्рдзिрддाрд░рдХं рдкрд░ं рдиीрд▓рдХрдг्рдардоीрдк्рд╕िрддाрд░्рдерджाрдпрдХं рдд्рд░िрд▓ोрдЪрдирдо् ।
    рдХाрд▓рдХाрд▓рдордо्рдмुрдЬाрдХ्рд╖рд╢ूрд▓рдордХ्рд╖рд░ं рдХाрд╢िрдХाрдкुрд░ाрдзिрдиाрде-рдХाрд▓-рднैрд░рд╡ं рднрдЬे ।।


    рдЬो рдХрд░ोрдб़ों рд╕ूрд░्рдп рдХे рд╕рдоाрди рджीрдк्рддिрдоाрди् рд╣ैं, рдЬो рднрдпाрд╡рд╣ рднрд╡рд╕ाрдЧрд░ рдкाрд░ рдХрд░ाрдиे рд╡ाрд▓े рдкрд░рдо рд╕рдорд░्рде рдк्рд░рднु рд╣ैं, рдЬो рдиीрд▓े рдХрдг्рда рд╡ाрд▓े, рдЕрднीрд╖्рдЯ рд╡рд╕्рддु рдХो рджेрдиे рд╡ाрд▓े рдФрд░ рддीрди рдиेрдд्рд░ों рд╡ाрд▓े рд╣ैं, рдЬो рдХाрд▓ рдХे рднी рдХाрд▓, рдХрдорд▓ рдХे рд╕рдоाрди рд╕ुрди्рджрд░ рдирдпрдиों рд╡ाрд▓े, рдЕрдХ्рд╖рдоाрд▓ा рдФрд░ рдд्рд░िрд╢ूрд▓ рдзाрд░рдг рдХрд░рдиे рд╡ाрд▓े рдЕрдХ्рд╖рд░-рдкुрд░ुрд╖ рд╣ैं, рдЙрди рдХाрд╢ी-рдкुрд░ी рдХे рдЕрднिрд░рдХ्рд╖рдХ рд╕्рд╡ाрдоी рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ рдХी рдоैं рдЪрд░рдг-рд╡рди्рджрдиा рдХрд░рддा рд╣ूँ ।

    рдоाрд░्рдЧрд╢ीрд░्рд╖ рдХृрд╖्рдг рдкрдХ्рд╖ рдХी рдЕрд╖्рдЯрдоी рдХे рджिрди рдордз्рдпाрд╣्рди-рдХाрд▓ рдоें рднрдЧрд╡ाрди् рдХाрд▓-рднैрд░рд╡ рдХा рдЕрд╡рддрд░рдг рд╣ुрдЖ рдеा । рдЕрддः рдЗрд╕ рджिрди рднैрд░рд╡-рдЬрдпंрддी рдордиाрдИ рдЬाрдПрдЧी। рдЗрд╕ рджिрди рд╢्рд░рдж्рдзाрд▓ु рд╡्рд░рдд рд░рдЦрддे рд╣ैं।рдЗрд╕ рджिрди рдк्рд░рдд्рдпेрдХ рдк्рд░рд╣рд░ рдоें рдХाрд▓ рднैрд░рд╡ рдФрд░ рдИрд╢ाрди рдиाрдо рдХे рд╢िрд╡ рдХी рдкूрдЬा рдФрд░ рдЕрд░्рдШ्рдп рджेрдиे рдХा рд╡िрдзाрди рд╣ै । рдЖрдзी рд░ाрдд рдХे рдмाрдж рдХाрд▓ рднैрд░рд╡ рдХी рдкूрдЬा-рдЕрд░्рдЪрдиा рдХी рдЬाрддी рд╣ै। рдЗрд╕рдХे рдмाрдж рдкूрд░ी рд░ाрдд рдХा рдЬाрдЧрд░рдг рдХिрдпा рдЬाрддा рд╣ै।рдоाрди्рдпрддा рд╣ै рдХि рднрдЧрд╡ाрди рднैрд░рд╡ рдХा рд╡ाрд╣рди рдХुрдд्рддा рд╣ै । рдЗрд╕рд▓िрдП рдЗрд╕ рджिрди рдХुрдд्рддे (рд╡िрд╢ेрд╖рддрдпा рдХाрд▓े рд░ंрдЧ рдХा) рдХी рднी рдкूрдЬा рдХी рдЬाрддी рд╣ै ।рдЗрд╕ рд╡्рд░рдд рдХी рдХрдеा рдХा рдЙрд▓्рд▓ेрдЦ рд╢िрд╡ рдкुрд░ाрдг рдоें рд╡िрд╕्рддाрд░ рд╕े рдЖрдпा рд╣ै। рднैрд░рд╡ рднрдЧрд╡ाрди рд╢िрд╡ рдХे рджूрд╕рд░े рд░ूрдк рдоें рдоाрдиे рдЧрдП рд╣ैं। рдоाрди्рдпрддा рд╣ै рдХि рдЗрд╕ी рджिрди рджोрдкрд╣рд░ рдХे рд╕рдордп рд╢िрд╡ рдХे рдк्рд░िрдп рдЧрдг рднैрд░рд╡рдиाрде рдХा рдЬрди्рдо рд╣ुрдЖ рдеा। рдХрд╣ा рдЬाрддा рд╣ै рдХि рднैрд░рд╡ рд╕े рдХाрд▓ рднी рднрдпрднीрдд рд░рд╣рддा рд╣ै, рдЗрд╕рд▓िрдП рдЙрди्рд╣ें рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ рднी рдХрд╣рддे рд╣ैं। рджेрд╢ рдоें рднैрд░рд╡ рдЬी рдХे рдХрдИ рдоंрджिрд░ рд╣ैं, рдЬिрдирдоें рдХाрд╢ी рд╕्рдеिрдд рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ рдоंрджिрд░ рдХाрдлी рдк्рд░рд╕िрдж्рдз рд╣ै।
    рднрдЧрд╡ाрди рднैрд░рд╡ рдкрд░ рджूрдз рдЪрдв़ाрдпा рдЬाрддा рд╣ै, рд▓ेрдХिрди рдХिрд▓рдХाрд░ी рднैрд░рд╡ рдХे рд╡िрд╖рдп рдоें рдоाрди्рдпрддा рд╣ै рдХि рд╡рд╣ рд╢рд░ाрдм рдЪрдв़ाрдиे рдкрд░ рдк्рд░рд╕рди्рди рд╣ोрддे рд╣ैं। рдЙрдЬ्рдЬैрди рд╕्рдеिрдд рдХाрд▓-рднैрд░рд╡ рдоंрджिрд░ рдоें рд╢्рд░рдж्рдзाрд▓ु рднैрд░рд╡ рдЬी рдХो рдорджिрд░ा рдЕрд░्рдкिрдд рдХрд░рддे рд╣ैं। рдРрд╕ा рдоाрдирддे рд╣ैं рдХि рдпрд╣ рд╡्рд░рдд рдЧрдгेрд╢, рд╡िрд╖्рдгु, рдпрдо, рдЪंрдж्рд░рдоा, рдХुрдмेрд░ рдЖрджि рдиे рднी рдХिрдпा рдеा рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ी рд╡्рд░рдд рдХे рдк्рд░рднाрд╡ рд╕े рднрдЧрд╡ाрди рд╡िрд╖्рдгु рд▓рдХ्рд╖्рдоीрдкрддि рдмрдиे, рдЕрдк्рд╕рд░ाрдУं рдХो рд╕ौрднाрдЧ्рдп рдоिрд▓ा рдФрд░ рдХрдИ рд░ाрдЬा рдЪрдХ्рд░рд╡рд░्рддी рдмрдиे। рдпрд╣ рд╕рднी рдХाрдордиाрдУं рдХी рдкूрд░्рддि рдХрд░рдиे рд╡ाрд▓ा рд╡्рд░рдд рдХрд╣ा рдЧрдпा рд╣ै।
    рднैрд░рд╡ рдЬी рдХे рдЙрдкрд╡ाрд╕ рдХे рд▓िрдП рдЕрд╖्рдЯрдоी рдпा рдЪрддुрд░्рджрд╢ी рдпुрдХ्рдд рд░рд╡िрд╡ाрд░ рдФрд░ рдоंрдЧрд▓рд╡ाрд░ рдЧ्рд░ाрд╣्рдп рдоाрдиे рдЧрдП рд╣ैं। рдРрд╕ी рдоाрди्рдпрддा рд╣ै рдХि рдЕрд╖्рдЯрдоी рдХे рджिрди рд╕्рдиाрди рдХे рдмाрдж рдкिрддрд░ों рдХा рд╢्рд░ाрдж्рдз рдФрд░ рддрд░्рдкрдг рдХрд░рдиे рдХे рдмाрдж рдпрджि рдХाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡ рдХी рдкूрдЬा рдХी рдЬाрдП рддो рдЙрдкाрд╕рдХ рдХे рд╕ाрд▓ рднрд░ рдХे рд╕ाрд░े рд╡िрдШ्рди рдЯрд▓ рдЬाрддे рд╣ैं। рдоाрди्рдпрддा рдпрд╣ рднी рд╣ै рдХि рдорд╣ाрдХाрд▓ рднैрд░рд╡ рдоंрджिрд░ рдоें рдЪрдв़ाрдП рдЧрдП рдХाрд▓े рдзाрдЧे рдХो рдЧрд▓े рдпा рдмाрдЬू рдоें рдмांрдзрдиे рд╕े рднूрдд-рдк्рд░ेрдд рдФрд░ рдЬाрджू-рдЯोрдиे рдХा рдЕрд╕рд░ рдирд╣ीं рд╣ोрддा рд╣ै।рд╢िрд╡-рдкुрд░ाрдг, рд╢рддрд░ुрдж्рд░-рд╕ंрд╣िрддा, рдЕрдз्рдпाрдп рео рдХे рдЕрдиुрд╕ाрд░ рднрдЧрд╡ाрди рд╢ंрдХрд░ рдиे рдЗрд╕ी рдЕрд╖्рдЯрдоी рдХो рдм्рд░рд╣्рдоा рдХे рдЕрд╣ंрдХाрд░ рдХो рдирд╖्рдЯ рдХिрдпा рдеा, рдЗрд╕рд▓िрдП рдпрд╣ рджिрди ‘рднैрд░рд╡-рдЕрд╖्рдЯрдоी’ рд╡्рд░рдд рдХे рд░ूрдк рдоें рдордиाрдпा рдЬाрдиे рд▓рдЧा।рд╡ाрд░ाрдгрд╕ी-рдкुрд░ी рдХी рдЕрд╖्рдЯ рджिрд╢ाрдУं рдоें рд╕्рдеाрдкिрдд рдЕрд╖्рдЯ-рднैрд░рд╡ों – рд░ुрд░ुрднैрд░рд╡, рдЪрдг्рдбрднैрд░рд╡, рдЕрд╕िрддांрдЧрднैрд░рд╡, рдХрдкाрд▓рднैрд░рд╡, рдХ्рд░ोрдзрднैрд░рд╡, рдЙрди्рдордд्рддрднैрд░рд╡ рддрдеा рд╕ंрд╣ाрд░рднैрд░рд╡ рдХा рджрд░्рд╢рди-рдЖрд░ाрдзрди рдЕрднीрд╖्рдЯ рдлрд▓рдк्рд░рдж рд╣ै । рд░ोрд▓ी, рд╕िрди्рджूрд░, рд░рдХ्рддрдЪрди्рджрди рдХा рдЪूрд░्рдг, рд▓ाрд▓ рдлूрд▓, рдЧुрдб़, рдЙрдб़рдж рдХा рдмрдб़ा, рдзाрди рдХा рд▓ाрд╡ा, рдИрдЦ рдХा рд░рд╕, рддिрд▓ рдХा рддेрд▓, рд▓ोрд╣рдмाрди, рд▓ाрд▓ рд╡рд╕्рдд्рд░, рднुрдиा рдХेрд▓ा, рд╕рд░рд╕ों рдХा рддेрд▓ – рдпे рднैрд░рд╡рдЬी рдХी рдк्рд░िрдп рд╡рд╕्рддुрдПँ рд╣ैं ।рдк्рд░рддिрджिрди рднैрд░рд╡рдЬी рдХी рдЖрда рдмाрд░ рдк्рд░рджрдХ्рд╖िрдгा рдХрд░рдиे рд╕े рдордиुрд╖्рдпों рдХे рд╕рд░्рд╡рд╡िрдз рдкाрдк рд╡िрдирд╖्рдЯ рд╣ो рдЬाрддे рд╣ैं ।

    рдЖрдЪाрд░्рдп рд░ाрдШрд╡рдХीрд░्рддि ( рдХाрдХाрдЧुрд░ु )
    For more details ( sadhana/anushthan/remedies )
    aacharya@mahavidya.org

    +91-9755910000

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  8. I just came back from kaalbhairav temple in ujjain.i am from Goa and had doubt about God drinking wine but when i saw what was happening there with my eyes..it was clear to my mind that God exits and kaal bhairav God is the aswer.it was his birthday when i reached there and there was a big Que standing for offering n i have to rush back as i had to catch my bus in 20 minutes..belive me i could got to him directly without wasting a minute. offered and got his blessed coconut as prasad to take home..its a miracal..jai kaalbhairav..    

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  9. I visited ujjain first time on 18 th march and had been to kaal bairav too.i was anxious to know about kaal bairav. thanks to anu ji for good photos and some details. special thanks to acharya raghav kirti ji for more details to know about the creation of kaal bairav by devon ke dev Mahadev.I have read two stories of creation of bairav by Mahadev to punish lord brahma.At visit I was offered a photo of mahakal and kaal bairav both in one by pujari ji and feel luchy to have that . kaka guru I have placed that photo in my mandir. can I? can you post more details about? thanks again.
    anilsingh0125@gmail.com

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  10. The above narrations are paradoxical. Due to surface tension, any kind of liquid use to flow along with the subject and vanish as if in thin air. The liquid may be reproduced or found either at the bottom of the deity (polished subject) or elsewhere. However, we are in myth and products of emotions and religious sentiments. The liquid is not found anywhere, hence we attribute our opinion to religion. It is much to emphasis that till date no body had gone further into the investigation either lest of repurcussions or might not have taken interest in the matter....

    still I believe, that lord kala bhairav, who is still roaming and wandering in thick jungles and in the vicinity of all shiva temples, is existing,

    vasudev konda

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  11. Madam, Your article and photos on Ujjain Kala Bhairava is interesting. Since He is my family deity, I am writing a blog on Him, exclusively on this subject, in Kannada. I'd like to quote few details and pics in my blog,and hence requesting your permission. Also kindly request you to mail me any available detail/literature/pics on this God with you. And my blog link is : http://kaalabhairava.blogspot.in

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  12. hey thanks for info
    very usefull information you shared with us..thanks again...

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