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Mukteshwar Mahadev in Ujjain – Story of Mukteshwar Form of Shiva – 25th Shiva Temple in Ujjain

Mukteshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Mukteshwar Mahadev is offered prayers for sin redemption.

The temple dedicated to Mukteshwar Mahadev is located at Khatriwada (near Nagwale)) in Ujjain.
This form of Shiva is associated with a pious Brahmin and king attaining moksha.

Mukteshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 25th temple visited during the parikarama of Shivalayas here.



Story of Mukteshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain
There lived a pious Brahmin in Avantikapuri. He performed intense austerities. People who came into his contact attained moksha. But he never attained liberation. One day he was chanting mantra in the middle of a river. Suddenly a tiger appeared on the bank of the river. It moved into the river and suddenly the tiger was transformed into a man.

The man then told the Brahmin that in his previous birth he was a king who was very proud of his knowledge. He was cursed by a Sant to become a tiger and roam about eating other animals. The Sant told the king that he would get back his old form when he will enter a river in which a pious Brahmin is chanting mantras.

Brahmin was happy for the king but wanted to know how he can attain moksha. The king who was highly learned told the Brahmin that he should go to Mahakaal Vana and perform intense austerities before Mukteshwar Mahadev.

The king and the Brahmin went to Mahakaal Vana (present day Ujjain) and performed prayers before Mukteshwar Mahadev. Soon they both attained moksha and were merged in the Shivling.