SC sets new worship norms for Ujjain Mahakaleshwar temple

In an attempt to preserve Jyotilinga, Supreme Court on Friday ordered the use of only RO water instead of Gangajal for 'Jal abhishek' at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. 

The court approved the new worship norms of the temple after reports that the idol there was shrinking. The court has also restricted the quantity of milk for ‘dugdh abhishek’ ritual to 1.25 liters.

These recommendations came from a committee of experts formed by the court that visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain which recommended the restrictions on certain offerings by devotees to save the idol.

Ujjaini Vidwat Parishad, a group of intellectuals, claimed that the Shivalinga located in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple has shrunk due to excessive “bhang shingar” (offering of bhang) and panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, sugar, and ghee). But the expert committee formed by officials from Archeological Survey Of India and Geological Survey of India has countered the claims saying it is not the reason of shrinking.