Karkateshwar Mahadev Temple (22/84) Danigate, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
The story of establishment of Shri Karkateshwar Mahadev is related to the glory of King Dharmamurti and his crab birth and attainment of heaven in his previous life. In the presented story, the importance of good deeds and Shivalaya has been shown.According to mythology, in ancient times there was a great king named Dharmamurthy. With the help of Devraj Indra, he killed hundreds of demons. That brilliant king was able to shape his body as per his wish and was always victorious in battle due to which his fame spread in all directions. His wife was Bhanumati, who was the best among his ten thousand queens and who was always devout. The king, who was adorned with full glory, fame and happiness, once asked his Maharishi Vashishtha that by what grace and by what virtue I have got fame and the beautiful woman Lakshmi.
In response, Sage Vashishtha said that in your previous birth you were a Shudra king and had many defects. Your wife was also of evil nature. When you left your body, you went to hell where you had to endure many tortures. After many tortures there, Yamraj gave birth to you in the form of a crab and you started living in Rudrasagar of Mahakal forest. The person who donates, chants, does penance etc. in Rudrasagar located in Mahakal forest, attains eternal virtue. You stayed there for five years, then when you came out, a crow took you in its beak and started flying in the sky. Then you kicked your feet to escape from the crow, as a result of which you escaped from its beak. Freed from the crow’s beak, you fell near a divine linga located to the east of Swargadwaraeshwar and as soon as you fell, with the influence of that divine linga, you left the body of a crab and attained a body like the divine Vidyadhar. Then when you were going towards heaven along with other Shivganas, then on the way the gods asked the Shivganas about you. Then those Shiva devotees told about your liberation from the crab vagina due to the influence of Shiva Linga, from then on the name of this divine Linga became famous as Karkateshwar Mahadev. It is because of the greatness of this Linga that you first attained heaven and then the kingdom. Hearing the words of the Maharishi, the king immediately reached the Shiva temple located east of Swargadwareshwar in the Mahakal forest and meditated there.
Darshan Benefits:
According to the belief, all the devotees who visit Shri Karkateshwar Mahadev, their sexual defects are removed and they attain Shivlok. Darshan can be done here throughout the twelve months but darshan is considered to have special significance on the days of Ashtami and Chaturdashi.The temple of Shri Karkateshwar Mahadev, one of the eighty-four Mahadevs located in Ujjaini, is located in Khatikwada.
