BHAGAVAN MAHAKALA OF AVANTIKA

THE DUSHANA EPISODE

The advent of Mahakaleswar here has an interesting back ground. Though this place had acquired eminence as a thirtha kshetra, the worship of Lord Maheswar as Mahakala started with the atrocities perpetrated by Dushana, a dreadful demon living in the Ratnamala Hills near Avanti, the old name with which the present Ujjain was called then. The asura was of wicked type, who not only killed the inhabitants for sadistic pleasure, but relished the flesh of the corpses - a cannibal first and last. He was appearing unexpectedly to emptying the dwellings, and disappearing afar leaving bones everywhere. People were mortally afraid of his name, why many used to breathe their last at the mention of his name even-they neither enjoyed peace, nor lived with dignity.

When they were passing through restless nights and graceless days, some among them suggested to approach a pious brahmin living in Avanti itself for help; for he was noted for his spiritual life together with practicing yoga. A quite going man as he was, he neither craved for publicity, nor longed for worldly fame. He was a hermit, although living amidst mahanagara. Meeting him, they appraised him of the asura's wicked acts and the fact of premature deaths mounting higher day after day. Moved by the accounts, he decided to put his yoga Vidya to public benefit.

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