King Vikramaditya Offered His Head in Sacrifice to Goddess Harsiddhi

Not only in India but all over the world, temples dedicated to goddesses and the worship of Devi hold a special place. The glory of Goddess Durga is described in the Durga Saptashati as well as in all the Vedas and Puranas. Many temples of Goddess Harsiddhi are found across the country. Among them, the Harsiddhi Temple located in Ujjain is considered the oldest and one of the Shakti Peethas. To attain the blessings of the Goddess, King Vikramaditya himself offered his head in sacrifice twelve times here.

Located in the holy city of Ujjain, known for Lord Mahakal and Shani Dev, the temple of Goddess Harsiddhi is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. People regard it as the place of penance of King Vikramaditya. The Parmar dynasty worshiped Goddess Harsiddhi as their family deity. King Vikramaditya offered his head every 12 years in this temple.

Eleven times his head returned, but on the twelfth time, it did not. After this, his reign was considered complete. Then the Lord established the Shakti Peetha here, and since then, this place has been known by the name of the Goddess. According to belief, King Vikramaditya became an emperor from this very temple. Therefore, this temple serves as an important center for Tantric practices and Siddhi Sadhana. The Mahakal Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva stands only about 200 meters away from the temple. A sacred Yantra is installed in the temple, making it a Siddha Peetha in Tantric tradition.

Vikramaditya Attained the Power of Yantra Here

King Vikramaditya’s connection with the Harsiddhi Temple is profound. The Skanda Purana mentions that the Goddess killed a demon named Prachand Rakshas, after which she became known as Harsiddhi. According to local beliefs, Goddess Harsiddhi was the family deity of King Vikramaditya. It is believed that he pleased the Goddess here and attained the power of the Shri Yantra. From then on, he became known as a just and righteous ruler who ruled the entire nation.

1100 Lamps Are Lit Together

The 51-feet-tall grand lamp pillar in the temple complex draws the attention of devotees. Approximately 1100 lamps are lit simultaneously on this pillar. This requires about 60 liters of oil and 4 kilograms of cotton. It is believed that devotees who wish to see their desires fulfilled light these lamps. Due to this unique tradition, people sometimes have to wait a long time to perform this ritual.

No Shayan Aarti During Nine Days

The nine days of Navratri hold special significance in the Harsiddhi Temple. During this period, devotees offer special offerings of pomegranate seeds, honey, and ginger to the Goddess. It is believed that during these days, the Goddess does not sleep, so no Shayan Aarti is performed. During these nine days filled with faith and devotion, the temple atmosphere overflows with divinity and spiritual energy.