Divine adornment of Lord Mahakal during Monday Bhasma Aarti:Jyotirlinga decorated with silver moon crown and Tripund Tilak at Mahakaleshwar Temple

The world-famous Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple witnessed the traditional Bhasma Aarti early Monday morning as priests performed elaborate rituals and adorned Lord Mahakal in a divine form. The temple doors were opened at 4 am, following which priests and temple seers performed rituals for all deities installed inside the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Mahakal was then bathed with holy water and worshipped with Panchamrit, prepared using milk, curd, ghee, sugar and fruit juices. The deity, worshipped in the form of a matted-haired ascetic, was adorned with a silver moon-shaped crown on the forehead along with the sacred Tripund tilak, giving Lord Mahakal a grand and divine appearance. Rituals began with temple bell and vedic chants Before the rituals commenced, the first ceremonial bell of the temple was rung and priests entered the sanctum sanctorum. After meditating upon the deity, holy water was offered with Vedic chants and mantras. Following the camphor aarti, bhang, sandalwood paste and the Tripund tilak were applied to the forehead of Lord Mahakal as part of the traditional adornment ritual. Once the adornment was completed, the Jyotirlinga was covered with cloth and sacred ash was ceremonially offered during the Bhasma ritual. Silver ornaments and floral garlands offered After the offering of sacred ash, Lord Mahakal was adorned with a silver Sheshnag crown, a silver Mundmala and Rudraksha garlands. Fragrant garlands made of mogra and rose flowers were also offered to the deity. The temple priests later presented fruits and sweets as bhog to Lord Mahakal. Large number of devotees attend Bhasma Aarti A large number of devotees attended the early morning Bhasma Aarti and sought blessings from Baba Mahakal. The sacred ash was offered to Lord Mahakal by representatives of the Maha Nirvani Akhada. According to religious belief, after the sacred ash is offered, Lord Mahakal manifests from a formless state into a visible divine form to bless devotees with darshan.