Vishveshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in
Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. It
is believed that worshipping Vishveshwar Form of Shiva will help in destroying
and cleansing of sins of seven births.
The temple dedicated to Vishveshwar Mahadev is located at Khatikwada
near Chote Teliwada.
This form of Shiva is associated with King Vishvesh.
Vishveshwar Mahadev is counted among the
84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 53rd temple
visited during the parikarama of Shiavalayas here.
Story of Vishveshwar Mahadev
Once there lived a king named Vidhut. He ruled the kingdom
of Vidarm. Once while during a hunting expedition, the king killed a pious man
who was in the disguise of an animal. Due to this sin, the king had to be
reborn 11 times in various forms.
In his 11th birth, he was born as a human but he became a
thief. Once he was caught in Avantika (Ujjain), beaten up, and left to die. While
he was lying in a pool of blood and waiting for this death, he happened to have
the darshan of a Shivling located to the north of Shooleshwar.
He was again reborn on earth but once again as the king of Vidarm
city. The king had retained the memory of his previous birth.
When he remembered about his previous birth, he reached the
Shivling at Avantika in Ujjain. He performed puja and meditation here. Pleased
with him, Shiva appeared before him and gave him a boon. The king asked Shiva
that nobody should suffer like him and Shiva should be known as Vishveshwar
Mahadev.
The Shivling thus came to be known as Vishveshwar Mahadev.
People offer prayers here for redemption of sin.