Rupeshwar/Rupeshwara Mahadev (62/84) Kartik Chowk, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
This very ancient temple is situated in the lane on the right side east of Kutumbeshwar Mahadev Temple while going from Magarmuha to Singhpuri. Its five and a half feet high entrance gate is made of iron and faces west. After descending three stairs and entering the sanctum sanctorum of about 100 square feet, we see many ancient and attractive statues made of black stone and white marble. Two genders are seen in the sanctum sanctorum
In one marble water tank, a 10 inch high circular linga made of white bright stone is established, while next to it, a 1 feet high linga made of black stone is established.
Before entering the sanctum sanctorum, there is an ancient idol of Shiva-Parvati on the floor, while in the niche there are ancient idols of incarnations, in the middle of the tarnished stone in front, there is a Chakra built and on the floor itself, there is an idol of Vishnu and nearby there is an idol of some goddess. On the remaining wall, there is a shield of Mahishasura Mardini Devi in the middle on a single white stone, A very artistic and attractive five and a half feet tall divine idol with weapons like bow etc. is installed on which the idols of Brahma, Vishnu etc along with Shiva family are engraved on both the sides.
While narrating the story of Padma Raja in Padma Kalpa to Goddess Parvati, Mahadev said that the king killed Sahas and wild animals while hunting. Then he entered an ashram alone in a very picturesque forest and there he saw a girl in the form of a penance. The king asked about Munivar.
She said that I consider Rishi Kanva as my father. The king proposed to make that sweet-spoken girl his wife, he asked to wait till the arrival of the sage but the girl agreed to the marriage and the king married the girl according to Gandharva method.
When sage Kanva returned, he cursed both the girl and the king for their deformity but the girl said that I myself have chosen him as my husband. To get rid of the curse, the sage sent both of them to Mahakalvan, where both of them became beautiful after seeing a beautiful Linga. This Linga became famous by the name Rupeshwar.
A person becomes beautiful just by seeing it. It is the provider of gender form, wealth, son and heaven. This Linga always provides form and liberation. This Rupeshwar is in the form of Mahadev and is auspicious.
