Bhairav Parvat Shakti Peeth (Avanti)

Bhairav Parvat on the Shipra river, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

51 Shakti Peeths

Traditions differ: Bharatkosh notes a second claim: a Bhairav Parvat near Mount Girnar in Gujarat. Within Ujjain the peeth is usually identified with the Gadkalika temple (Hindi Wikipedia), while English Wikipedia's list says only 'Avanti temple, Ujjain'.

About

Ujjain, the ancient Avantika on the Shipra river, is one of India's seven holy cities and home of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. It is also counted among the Shakti Peeths: devotees believe the upper lip of Devi Sati fell on Bhairav Parvat, a hill by the Shipra. The Devi is called Avanti, after the old name of the city, and her Bhairav is Lambkarna, 'the long-eared one'. In Ujjain this peeth is usually honoured at the Gadkalika temple in the old city, where the poet Kalidas is believed to have worshipped Maa Kalika. Ujjain's Harsiddhi temple is another much-loved Devi shrine, which many link with the elbow peeth.

The story

According to the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati. Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra then divided the body, and wherever a part or an ornament fell, a Shakti Peeth arose. The Peeth Nirnaya places the upper lip of Sati on Bhairav Parvat, with the Devi Avanti and the Bhairav Lambkarna. Scholars differ on where this hill is: some point to the Bhairav Parvat by the Shipra at Ujjain, others to a Bhairav Parvat near Mount Girnar in Gujarat, and so both places are honoured. Bharatkosh feels that because the Devi bears the name Avanti, Ujjain is the more fitting place, and Hindi Wikipedia identifies the peeth with the Gadkalika temple. Tradition holds that Kalidas worshipped Maa Kalika there and that his gift for poetry grew from this devotion; a hymn to Mahakali, 'Shyamala Dandakam', is linked with his name, and before Ujjain's yearly Kalidas Samaroh the Devi is worshipped first. The temple is believed to be very old; it is said to have been repaired by King Harshavardhan and later rebuilt by the Maharaja of Gwalior. On the Shipra bank nearby stands the temple of Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Ujjain.

Visiting

October to March is the best time; Ujjain is very crowded in Shravan, at Mahashivratri and during the Simhastha Kumbh held every twelve years. The Gadkalika temple is in the old city near the Bhartrihari caves. Nearby are the Kaal Bhairav, Harsiddhi and Mangalnath temples and the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. Ujjain is a major railway junction, and Indore has the nearest airport.

Festivals

Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri, with a fair at Gadkalika
Worship of Maa Kalika before the yearly Kalidas Samaroh

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources