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Bhasma aarti which is the sacred aarti of lord Mahakaal as some specific rules.
The process starts as follows
As soon as the doors of the Mahakal Temple open, God is bathed with water, milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, etc. After the decoration, the head of the great nirvana akhara, the mahant, applies ash.
Bhasma Aarti Ticket Booking Rules
Tickets can be booked online and offline
Online Tickets booking in open 15 days in advance
Offline tickets can be booked a day prior to darshan.
One booking can have 5 people
Children under 12 years have free darshan
Govt ID proof is required for every person
If ID is not available the main booking persons Id can be used for others
Bhasm Aarti price
Bhasm Aarti’s ticket price for online booking is Rs 200 per person. Online booking starts 15 days in advance and the bhasma aarti fees has to be paid in advance during the booking process. There are 400 seats available for any given date for booking via internet.
Dress Code
The rules of Bhasma Aarti are special for witnessing the Aarti. Only the priests here will have the right to perform the Aarti, while others can only watch it. To witness this Aarti, men are required to wear only a dhoti, while women must keep their heads covered with a veil during the Aarti. Children are adviced to dress in ethnic wear. It is believed that at that time Lord Shiva is in his formless form and women are not permitted to see this form of God.
P.S The restriction on Clothing is now not strictly followed. Please take a conscious decision and try to be in ethnic wear when visiting the temple. Some ethinic wear you can try out are.
Aarti Rules
Some special facts related to the Bhasma Aarti of Mahakal:
This is the first temple where Lord Shiva’s Aarti is performed six times a day. It all begins with the Bhasma Aarti. In the morning at 4 o’clock, the Bhasma Aarti takes place, also known as Mangla Aarti.
It is said that Mahakal is pleased with the ashes. This Aarti is performed to awaken Mahakal. Only drums and trumpets are played during Mahakal’s Aarti to awaken him.
Years ago, there was a tradition of bringing ashes from the crematorium for Mahakal’s Aarti, but for the past few years, ashes made from dung of Kapila cow, along with wood from Shami, Peepal, Palash, Banyan, Amla, and Ber trees have been used.
It is believed that by accepting the ashes applied on the Jyotirlinga as prasad, one gets liberation from diseases and weaknesses. Behind Mahakal’s Bhasma Aarti, there is also a belief that Lord Shiva is the ascetic of the cremation ground.
And ash is considered his adornment and jewelry. Ash, the ultimate truth, represents the transient nature of life.
Bhasm Aarti Ladies Rules
Ladies are allowed to participate in Bhasma aarti with restrictions. At the time when Mahakaal Bhasma Aarti takes place, women put veil on their faces. The temple priests believe that Mahakaal appears in the form of Shiva during the Bhasma Aarti. When they come from their formless form to their physical form, ashes are applied on them. Women are not allowed to see the Abhyang Snan of Mahakaal during this period. This is the reason why they are not allowed to have direct darshan of Bhasma Aarti and need to cover themselves.
Women’s Participation in Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple
Earlier, due to historical and cultural reasons, women were barred from participating in the Bhasma Aarti, but the situation has changed. Today, women can participate in this sacred ritual at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. The tradition has evolved over time, and the temple’s practices reflect this transformation. Here are some important points to consider:
Historical Restrictions
Initially, women were not allowed to attend the Bhasma Aarti because it involved using cremation ashes from human bodies. In Hindu culture, women, as symbols of life and creation, were not permitted to participate in rituals associated with death.
Shift in Ritual Practices
In recent years, the temple has shifted from using human cremation ashes to ashes derived from cow dung, wood, or the remains of sacred fires from rituals like Havan and Yagnas. This has transformed the Aarti into a more Sattvik (pure) form, moving away from its earlier Tantric roots, making it more inclusive.
No Separate Lines for Worship
To maintain order and respect during the ritual, there are no separate lines for men and women. In some cases, women are even allowed to move forward during the Aarti, ensuring a structured and reverent experience for all devotees. Families do not need to be worried of getting separated in queue.
Women’s Priority
In the past, when devotees were allowed inside the Garbh-grih (sanctum sanctorum), women were often given priority for worship. This demonstrates the temple’s long-standing respect and honor for women.
Space Limitations in the Garbh-Grih
Currently, neither men nor women are allowed inside the Garbh-grih during the Aarti due to space limitations. Devotees must witness the ritual from outside the small chamber where the Shiva Lingam is housed.
No Gender Discrimination in Sanatan Dharma
While some temples in India may have specific restrictions on women’s participation, Sanatan Dharma itself does not endorse gender discrimination. Women are free to worship Lord Shiva, including participating in the Bhasma Aarti at the Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Cultural Variations
Although women are now allowed to participate in this ritual at Ujjain, other regions or temples may have different customs and practices. However, such variations are exceptions rather than the rule, as most temples promote inclusivity in spiritual practices.
Timing Rules
The bhasma aarti timings rules are from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM in morning. The queue rules asks devotees to come and line up between 1:00 AM and 3:AM.
Why Bhasma Aarti is done in afternoon once a year?
There is one specific occasion each year when it is held in the afternoon: the day after Maha Shivaratri.
The reason for this shift in timing is due to Lord Mahakal being adorned as a groom. The intense rituals and continuous worship that take place during the Maha Shivaratri festival. If the Bhasma Aarti, which is performed at 4 AM, were to be done over this adornment, then Lord Mahakal would have to be brought back to a formless state (without decors) . Since Lord Mahakal is appearing as a groom, and the Bhasma Aarti involves applying ash, which makes him formless, this Bhasma Aarti is performed only once a year, after Shivratri.
After the groom’s appearance and the midday Bhasma Aarti around 12 noon, Lord Mahakal will remain in his formless state. Therefore, the ash bath can only be given to him in his formless state, not in the form of a groom. This is a tradition that has been followed for years.
Points to Note:
- Special Bhasma Aarti: The Bhasma Aarti performed after Shivratri is unique because it’s done at noon and after Lord Mahakal has been adorned as a groom.
- Reason for timing: If the Bhasma Aarti were done earlier, it would disrupt the groom’s adornment and require Lord Mahakal to be returned to his formless state.
- Tradition: This practice is based on the temple’s tradition and the belief that Lord Mahakal can only be given an ash bath in his formless state.
Bhasma Aarti Darshan
Bhasma aarti darshan is only possible by booking a bhasma aarti ticket either online or offline. The bhasma aarti darshan happens from 4:00 am in morning to 6:00 am.