Pingleswar Mahadev Mandir (81/84) Maksi Rd, Pingleshwar, Pushpanjali Nagar, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
After the railway crossing, turn right and this temple is situated in village Pingleshwar, which is also the first and last stop of the Panchkroshi Yatra. Its main entrance is north facing, on entering which on our left, under a huge tamarind tree, there is a temple dedicated to Pashupatinath, On the front wall are ancient black stone statues of Shiva-Parvati, Parvati and meditating Shiva. On our right side in the courtyard, under the Peepal tree, there is a 3 feet high vermillion statue of Hanumanji.
Beyond this, after climbing 9 stairs, there is an assembly hall with 6 ancient pillars, from where one descends 3 big stairs of 1 feet each inside the 6 feet high entrance facing east and comes to the sanctum sanctorum of about 70 square feet. Here, a brass railing about one and a half feet high is installed on a 4 feet wide square brass water tank.
On the Jaladhari, a big sized snake is engraved along with 2 conch shells and the sun and moon, which is encasing a grand linga of black stone, 3 feet in circumference and 1.25 feet high, and the hood of the snake is unusually wide. On the wall of our left sanctum, there are idols of Ganesha and in the middle, there are idols of Shiva and Parvati chanting the garland, but not of Kartikeya. Outside, the ancient Nandi of black stone is seated on a 1 feet high pedestal. According to the inscription dated July 1, 2013, other development works including a big auditorium for the travelers were done by the then Chairman, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation, Dr. Mohan Yadav.
Pingleshwar is the same sacred cave, indestructible, unique, having innumerable qualities and a place that gives salvation and liberation, about which Goddess Parvati wanted to know from Mahadev in the sacred cave of Mandarachal. Mahadev says, then I took you along with me and brought you to Mahakalvan, which is more pleasant than heaven, this is what Mahadev says to Devi. Thereafter, while narrating the story of Pingleshwar, God said that Brahmin Pingal had a daughter named Pingla. The Brahmin was very sad when his wife Pingakshi died.
He went to Tapovan with the girl Pingla and one day died while taking care of the motherless girl. Pingla became extremely distressed and distraught due to the grief of her parents. She started thinking of suicide, then the sages started consoling her. At the same time, the well-wishing Dharmadev, disguised as a stable Brahmin, started consoling him in various ways.
He said that in the past you were a beautiful female prostitute, skilled in dance, song and veena playing. A virtuous Brahmin who enjoyed your company for four years was murdered by a Shudra in your house. The Brahmin’s parents cursed Pingla as the reason for the separation of their son and said that she would remain husbandless for the rest of her life.
Pingala asked Dharma disguised as a Brahmin, if I was inferior then how was I born to a Brahmin. Then the Brahmin told that you had committed the sin of freeing a sensual Brahmin from the king and had accepted his sin as your own. You started having fun with him. Due to this virtue you were born in a Brahmin clan. Pingla said, O God! Who are you and tell me the way to be free from bondage. Then Dharma sent him to Mahakalvan where Pingala, a sinner from her previous birth, got salvation by seeing a Linga. This Linga became famous by the name Pingleshwar.
Indra will be pleased with the human who sees this Linga and he will attain heaven. He will get the results of thousands of Ashvamedha Yagya.
