Why Mahadev Became Mahakal ?

When the darkness of unrighteousness started spreading over the sacred land of Avantika, then Dushan, a demon, arose whom people started calling Kaal. Full of pride and intoxicated with blessings, he set out with the dream of making the entire universe bow at his feet. But Dushan had forgotten. No matter how terrible the time is, its end is written by the hands of Mahakaal only and when the devotees are attacked, Mahadev himself incarnates as Mahakaal. Millions of years ago, during the Satyayuga, there was Avantika, which we know today as Ujjain. Near that holy city, in a deep dark cave amidst the hard rocks of Ratnamal mountain, lived an Asura named Dushan, but despite being a demon, his powers were limited. For this reason his dominance and wrath never extended beyond the boundaries of Ratnamala mountain. As if nature itself had drawn an invisible boundary to curb his ego. But Dushan’s mind was not confined within the boundaries of Ratnamal. Day and night he dreamt of expanding his kingdom not only to Avantika but to the entire earth. Like other powerful demons, he too had desires. To rule the entire world and enjoy nature in one’s ego. But he knew very well the consequences of the past audacity of the demons. Still his ambition was not going to be quenched. To attain an extraordinary and unmatched power, he decided to perform severe penance to Lord Brahma. Then Dushan became engrossed in the penance of Lord Brahma in the dense forests of Ratnamal mountain. He remained steadfast for years. Neither wind, sun nor rain could break his meditation. Decades passed. But Lord Brahma did not appear. Still Dushan did not lose courage. His determination, his intense penance became even stronger with time. Then one day that moment finally came. When Brahmadev became pleased with Dushan, he appeared on Ratnamal mountain and woke Dushan from severe penance and asked him to ask for the boon of his choice, after which Dushan bowed to Brahmadev and politely but earnestly asked him to grant him the boon of his choice. Hearing this, Lord Brahma was compelled and promised to grant Dushan his desired boon. On hearing this, Dushan asked Lord Brahma for a boon to become as powerful as the Trinity. Brahmadev was stunned to hear his words. Surprised and a little bit disturbed. He immediately said that it was impossible to grant such a boon. Hearing this Dushman started appealing to Lord Brahma about the promise he had made. Brahmadev became lost in deep thoughts. After thinking for a long time, he finally blessed Dushan to be as powerful as the Trinity. But he also gave a stern warning. Never misuse your power on Shiva devotees.

Dushan said arrogantly that now he did not need any advice. He kept laughing at his new power and Brahmadev just smiled at his behavior. Then he disappeared from Ratnamala mountain. After this, Dushan returned to his cave and using the powers acquired through penance, transformed that dark and terrifying cave into a grand palace in a moment. Then, full of pride, he sat on the golden throne. And then expanded his illusory powers in Dushan. In a moment he began to create thousands of demonic warriors from darkness. As if a new demon army is being born on earth. Taking that huge demonic army with him, Dushan attacked the city of Avantika. And then the surrounding states also started one after another with horrific attacks. His terror grew with each blow. As if he wants to include the entire earth in his kingdom. During his fierce attacks, Dushan killed countless kings and their countless soldiers with such cruelty that even the land trembled with his atrocities. He showed no mercy. Nor did anyone give any warning. He would just leave destruction behind and move ahead. His wrath was so terrible that within a very short time many kingdoms and tribes including Avantika fell under his control. Impressed by his immense powers and frightened by his terror, many demons of the underworld were forced to make a treaty with him. With time, the influence and power of pollution had become so terrible that whichever kingdom it cast its sight on. The kings there would tremble with fear even before the war. Many kings, without raising a single weapon, surrendered their kingdoms at the feet of Dushan and fled to far off places to save their lives, and those who did not have the courage to do so. Dushan would defeat them in battle and kill them mercilessly. Not only this, he would establish his authority not only over their kingdoms but also over their queens. Dushan’s rule had become a symbol not only of victory but also of humiliation and oppression. Due to this cruelty of Dushan, now the whole world started knowing him by only one name. Wherever Kaal goes, death follows him.

Time passed like this. After conquering all the kingdoms one by one, Dushan’s attention now fell on the sages and saints who were engrossed in worshipping God. Seeing those faces immersed in devotion, the fire of jealousy flared up in his heart. He thought that when the entire kingdom is under his control and he himself has become as powerful as the Trinity, then why praise God here? Only Dushan should be hailed because now he had started considering himself the master of everything. After this, Dushan ordered his demonic soldiers to immediately stop all worship of God being performed by the sages, saints and the people in all the kingdoms under his control. After this, Dushan’s demonic army attacked not only the saints but also the common people. They began to pressurize, threaten and grip the entire city with fear to immediately stop the worship of God. And whoever dared to oppose this, Dushan himself would appear before him, he would become his death and kill him in a moment. This horrific sequence continued for months and the land of Avantika continued to sink into fear and silence. Within a short time, Dushan had completely stopped the worship of God and Yagya in all the states under his control. Now his chest swelled with pride and his arrogance resounded as a roar. But on the other hand, in the city of Avantika there were four Brahmin brothers who were great devotees of Mahadev. Despite the terror of Dushan he neither gave up worship nor stopped the yajna. Be it the fear of the demonic army or the threat of Dushan himself, he continued to worship Mahadev and perform Yagya under his nose without any fear because he believed that where there is true devotion, unrighteousness cannot survive for long. Days passed like this and then one day Dushan’s spies informed him about the continuous worship and yagya of Mahadev by four Brahmin brothers. On hearing this, Dushan’s anger flared up like fire. Then keeping in mind the condition of Brahmadev’s boon he ordered some of his demonic soldiers to immediately stop the worship and Yagya of Mahadev and give a strict warning to those four Shiva devotee brothers. After this, Dushan’s demonic soldiers came and stood in front of the four Brahmin Shiva devotee brothers. He showed some leniency and said that the worship and yagna of Mahadev should be stopped immediately and forever. But those four Brahmin brothers, being devoted to Shiva, flatly rejected this proposal. He gave orders to the demons without fear, without hesitation. He should return from his ashram immediately. After this bold refusal, the demonic soldiers of Dushan were forced to retreat from there. Towards Ratnamal mountain. And when those demonic soldiers returned unsuccessfully to Dushan and started telling him everything, Dushan’s anger knew no bounds. He became irritated. His ego started to ache with insult. At that very moment he made up his mind. Those four Shiva devotee Brahmin brothers will be put to death and hold their sharp swords. As he started to step outside the palace. Then the sky echoed. Mahadev’s voice from the sky was a harsh warning. An order not to repeat that mistake. Having said this, Mahadev disappeared. But this warning was a sign of the coming catastrophe. After the voice from the sky, Dushan was immersed in deep thought for a few moments. He stopped there. I got into thinking. But the very next moment his ego woke up again. He said to himself, when I am as powerful as the Trinity, then why fear only one Trinity? This thought was the beginning of his destruction. After which, roaring loudly, Dushan set out towards the city of Avantika and here in Avantika, the four Shiva devotee Brahmin brothers were sitting engrossed in the Yagya of Mahadev, when suddenly a very angry Dushan arrived there and started giving a stern warning to those four Brahmin brothers to stop the worship of Mahadev immediately. But in devotion to Shiva, all four Brahmin brothers stood up in unison. He said in firm words, Dushan should not move even a step forward and should immediately return from here. On hearing this, Dushan’s anger burst out breaking all the barriers of patience. Immersed in ego and madness. Holding his sharp sword, he attacked the four Brahmin brothers. As if he wanted to wipe out religion at that very moment. As soon as Dushan swings his sharp sword at a very fast speed and is about to attack the four Brahmin brothers. Then suddenly the earth trembles right in the middle of them. In a moment the earth’s chest bursts with a terrible roar. Due to that terrible shock, Dushan could not recover and he jumped and fell far away and then Mahadev himself appeared in the form of Mahakaal, tearing the chest of the earth amidst dust, fire and flames of destruction.

Then Mahakal roared so loudly that the sky trembled. The underworld trembled and time itself seemed to stop for a moment. This was not just a descent. This declared manifestation of Mahakaal started appearing on time. Dushman started trembling as soon as he saw them. His body trembled with fear. Seeing this destructive form of Mahakal, Dushan understood that this was none other than Mahadev himself. After this, Dushan took the help of his blessed powers and started revealing millions of demonic warriors, tearing through the darkness. Within a moment the battlefield was filled with the demon army. As if unrighteousness had unleashed all its power at once. After this, all the demonic warriors lay ambush and attack Mahakal together. But in front of the fierce attack of Mahakaal, even Dushan’s army of millions starts falling short in a moment. As if every power of unrighteousness was getting scattered in front of that divine light. Mahakal started attacking with his trident at a very fast speed and one by one countless demons started getting killed. With each of his fierce blows, not only the demonic army but the earth itself trembled. As if the dance of destruction had reached its peak. Seeing this scene, Dushan was both angry and frightened from within. But still he did not give up. Immersed in ego. He continued to use his blessed power again and again. He continued to reveal the demons before Mahakal. But whoever came, died at that very moment due to the fierce attack of Mahakaal. On seeing Mahakala, many demons trembled with fear and started running in different directions to save their lives. But most of the demons were killed by Mahakal. The war continued like this for a long time. But gradually all the illusory demonic armies of Dushan were completely destroyed at the hands of Mahakaal and now Dushan’s boon power also started weakening. The appearance of demons had almost stopped. But still, Dushan’s ego was still alive. When there was no other way left for him, he decided to confront Mahakaal himself and then Dushan roared and attacked Mahakaal holding his sharp sword. But Mahakal stood firm. He gave a befitting reply to every attack of Dushan with his trident. And then with one powerful blow Mahakal threw Dushan far away. And then Mahakal jumped into the air at a very high speed and fell on the ground the very next moment. Groaning, he stood before Dushan. A fierce fire of anger burned in his gaze. And with that same divine light, Mahakal started burning Dushan to ashes right there. Within a few moments, Dushan’s body was completely reduced to ashes. Mahakala wore the ashes of that unrighteousness all over his body. As if it were a declaration that ego always ends in ashes. Moments after the ashes of Dushan’s body were decorated, the furious Mahakal calmed down and started coming back in the form of Mahadev. After which all four Shiva devotee Brahmin brothers came before Mahadev and expressed their greetings and gratitude to him. Also while chanting the praises of Mahadev and Mahakal, they started praying to them to settle in Avantika city forever. The city of Avantika was frequently attacked by enemy kingdoms and with time the growing threat from the Asuras was also becoming more severe day by day. The four Brahmin brothers placed all these troubles at the feet of Mahadev and continued praying continuously. After which, Mahadev, being very pleased with his four devotees, revealed a divine Jyotirlinga before them and established it there. After this Mahadev gave assurance to Avantika city through that divine Jyotirlinga. As long as this Jyotirlinga remains here, no harm of any kind will be allowed to come to Avantika. Saying this, Mahadev disappeared from there. After this, the four Shiva devotee Brahmin brothers considered Avantika and themselves extremely fortunate. Taking along all the citizens of the city, he started worshipping that divine Jyotirlinga. With reverence, devotion and gratitude and at that very moment that divine Jyotirlinga was given a name Mahakal. Om Om