Shiveshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in
Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. It
is believed that those worshipping Shiveshwar form of Shiva will help in getting
redemption and attaining moksha.
The temple dedicated to Shiveshwar Mahadev is located in the
Ram Janardan temple complex.
This form of Shiva is associated with King Ripujaya.
Shiveshwar Mahadev is counted among the
84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 37th temple
visited during the parikarama of Shiavalayas here.
Story of Shiveshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain
There once lived a good king named Ripujaya. He was an
ardent devotee of Vishnu. But he neglected Shiva. One day Shiva asked a Gana to
go to Ujjain and perform prayers to a Shivling there.
The Gana there went in the form of a priest and started
worshipping the Shivling. People began going to the priest as they god their
problems solved. Childless couples were blessed with children, desires were
fulfilled and diseases were cured.
But King Ripujaya did not visit the Shivling and offer
prayers.
Bahula Devi, the queen of Ripujaya, did not have any
children. A friend of the queen asked her to visit the Shivling and offer
prayers.
But queen was not ready to offer prayers alone. He wanted
king to accompany her.
The king was not ready in the beginning to visit the Shivling
but later relented seeing the sad state of affairs.
The king and the queen offered prayers to the Shivling.
Shiva then appeared before them and blessed them with healthy and intelligent
children.
Later the Shiva Gana who was disguised as the priest merged
in the Shivling.
The Shivling came to be known as Shiveshwar.
People offer prayers here for wish fulfillment and health
children.