SC Issues Directions For Protection Of Shivlinga At Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued directions to the Temple Management Committee for the preservation of Shivling in the Mahakaleshwar Temple at Ujjain as there is erosion of Shivlinga taking place there.

The Court has directed the State Government to sanction a fund towards the comprehensive plan of necessary repairs, maintenance and improvements to the Collector immediately.

"Let the Collector prepare a comprehensive plan for this purpose with the help of the Superintendent Engineer and available Architect. The State Government shall sanction fund immediately. Let a suitable plan and estimate be prepared within four weeks, and necessary repair and maintenance work be carried out urgently" - Supreme Court

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai & Krishna Murari issued the following directions for the preservation of the Lingam after taking into account the circumstances of the Report elaborated by Expert Committee as well as the project report prepared by the Ujjain Smart City Ltd:

1) No rubbing should be done;

2) No devotees to be allowed to rub the Shivling;

3) Rubbing of Curd, Ghee & Honey should also be stopped & only pure milk should be allowed to be poured on Shivling;

"It would be appropriate that only pouring of a limited quantity of pure milk is allowed by the Committee. Whereas in the traditional puja to be done on behalf of the temple, all pure materials can be used"- Supreme Court

4) If any violations are found to be done by the Pujari's or Purohit, Temple Committee shall take action against them;

5) Temple committee shall provide pure milk from its own resources & pure water and maintain the required pH valiu;

6) The Temple Committee to ensure that the pH value of Bhasma during the Bhasma Aarti is improved and Shivalingam is preserved from further deterioration and to implement the best methodology to prevent further damage to the Lingam;

7) Weight of Mund Mala and Serpakarnahas is further reduced to preserve the Shivalingam from mechanical abrasion.

The Court also directed Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) Roorkee to if necessary, and submit a project report as per its proposal dated 17.09.2019. CBRI, Roorkee, is directed to submit a project report regarding structural stability within six months. The court has also directed the Central Government to pay the CBRIA, a sum of Rs. 41.30 Lakhs, as required.

Further to this, Ujjain Smart City Ltd. is also directed to submit before top court its detailed project "Mahakaal Rudrasagar Integrated Development Approach" report within 6 weeks.

All encroachments within 500 mtrs. of the area of the temple premises have also been directed to be removed by December 15, 2020 and a report thereto has been sought for by the top court.

The apex court has been dealing with the issue of protecting the 'Jyotirlingam', a devotional representation of Lord Shiva at the ancient Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and the directions passed today are in tune with monitoring of the compliance of the judgment and order passed on May 2, 2018.

It is pertinent to note that even though the top court had refused to interfere with the rituals being observed at the historic Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain while dealing with the issue of protecting the 'Jyotirlingam' at the ancient temple, the apex court had constituted an expert committee to survey and analyse the Jyotirlingam and prepare a report stating the rate at which the deterioration in its size was taking place and measures to prevent it.

The committee was also directed to study other structures and the temple and submit recommendations on steps for overall improvement of entire premises and its preservation. 

This Expert Team visited Ujjain on January 19 2019, after which its report indicated that there was erosion of Shivalinga after which the aforementioned directions were insinuated.

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