Avanti Shakti Peetha, also known as Ujjain Mahakali Temple, is one among the 51 Shakti Peethas and is located at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Mother Goddess is known as Avanti Maa and Maha Kalika. It is believed that the upper lip of Goddess Sati fell here. The Bhairava form of Shiva worshipped in the temple is Lambakara, one which long ears. It is believed that a devotee will be blessed with moksha or enlightenment after worshipping here.
The temple is located atop the Bhairav Parvat on the banks of Shipra River. The shrine is believed to be more than 5000 years old and is one of the Ashtadasa Shakti Peetha. The temple is also mentioned in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram of Adi Shankaracharya.
The temple is nestled inside the natural environment of Bhairava Parvati. The murti of Goddess is covered with a red garment and one can see her protruding tongue.
Legend has it that a demon named Andhakaleshwar terrorized the earth. He had got the boon from Brahma that wherever his blood would fall more Andhalakeshwars will appear. To annihilate the demon Mother Goddess Shakti took the form of Mahakali. She spread her tongue and drank all the blood that flowed from the demon and thus killed him.
It is also said the famous poet and dramatist Kalidasa was able to compose the classics due to the blessing of Goddess Avanti.