UJJAINI MAHAAKALI TEMPLE IN SECUNDERABAD (ANDHRA PRADESH), INDIA

[Guest guest]

Hello All,Ujjaini Mahakaali temple is a very famous temple in Secunderabad, one

of the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh, dedicated to

Goddess MahaaKali of Ujjain. SRI UJJAINI MAHAKALI TEMPLE

Facts to File

 

How far :2 km from Secunderabad station How to go : By auto.Where to stay :

Hyderabad / Secunderabad

Tucked away in the busy General Bazaar bylane in Secunderabad is the famous

historical temple of Ujjaini Mahakali.

 

LEGEND

 

As the legend goes, in 1813 Surabhi Appa Rao of Secunderabad, working in the

military was transferred to Ujjain. When cholera broke out there, he went with

his friends to a Mahakali temple and prayed to the Goddess to save the people

from the epidemic, pledging to build a temple in Secunderabad in Her name.

Cholera abated and thousands of people were saved due to the grace of the

Goddess.

 

Three years later, Surabhi Appayya and his friends kept their pledge by

installing a woodden statue of Mahakali, where the present temple is situated,

with pooja facilities provided for. As per the story, the present bustling place

was once a thick dense forest with mountains. There was a big well in the area

and while they were getting it repaired, an idol of Manikyala Devi was found,

which was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to the right of

Mahakali.In 1864 the woodden idols were replaced with the present statues and

regularly worshipped ever since. The temple was taken over by the Endowments

Department in 1953 and many events are celebrated there.

 

BONALU

One very important celebration is the Ashada Jathara, starting on 20th July of

every year. This is popularly known as `Bonalu'. On the first day, the Goddess

is placed on a pot and taken to each and every house in the area to enable even

the old and the handicapped to get a view of the deity.

 

On the first day of the Jathara, women take headbath and wear festive clothes.

Food (bonam) is cooked as per the pledge taken by them. It is placed in a vessel

decorated with neem leaves and a Jyothi (an oil lamp in a shallow earthen dish)

on top. Women go to the temple carrying it on their heads and offer the bonam to

the deity. Hence the Jathara acquired the name `Bonalu'- plural of bonam. Some

women fill the vessels with water mixed with turmeric powder and offer it to the

Goddess along with neem branches. This is called `Saka'.

 

People make choicest of eatables as an offering to the deity. Outstation people

come on decorated carts to make their offerings to the Goddess. During the

Jathara week the city wears a festive look. Here and there one comes across

`Potharajus' (men), with turmeric powder paste smeared all over their body,

holding a yellow lemon between the teeth, sporting black mascara for the eyes

and a big red dot on the forehead, wearing anklets with bells on the ankles

dancing to the sound of heavy drum beats. Thousands of these Potharajus

literally dance their way to the temple followed by thousands of cheering

people. All these processions culminating at the temple is a sight worth

watching.

 

The second day's festivities are called `Rangam' or stage festivities. In the

sanctum sanctorum, a twenty seven - year old unmarried girl, standing on a raw

pot in front of the idol looking straight into the Goddess' eyes, is possessed

by Mahakali, portends the general trend of things to come and important events.

Large number of people gather to witness this event which starts early in the

morning and continues till 8.30 A.M.. After this she goes to many other temples

and repeats this prophesy. Whoever does this `Rangam' act remains unmarried for

life.

 

A little later, two Potharajus dancing ferociously to the heavy drum beats go

round the temple. Many devotees gather to witness this. Around 10 A.M. a heavily

decorated Mahakali's photo placed on an elephant accompanied by music band is

first taken around the temple and later through the streets of the city. It is

accompanied by the Potharajus and lots of devotees.

 

SRI UJJAINI MAHAKALI TEMPLE

Facts to File

How far : 2 km from Secunderabad station

How to go : By auto.

Where to stay : Hyderabad / Secunderabad

 

Tucked away in the busy General Bazaar bylane in Secunderabad is the famous

historical temple of Ujjaini Mahakali.

BONALU

One very important celebration is the Ashada Jathara, starting on 20th July of

every year. This is popularly known as 'Bonalu'. On the first day, the Goddess

is placed on a pot and taken to each and every house in the area to enable even

the old and the handicapped to get a view of the deity.

 

On the first day of the Jathara, women take headbath and wear festive clothes.

Food (bonam) is cooked as per the pledge taken by them. It is placed in a vessel

decorated with neem leaves and a Jyothi (an oil lamp in a shallow earthen dish)

on top. Women go to the temple carrying it on their heads and offer the bonam to

the deity. Hence the Jathara acquired the name `Bonalu'- plural of bonam. Some

women fill the vessels with water mixed with turmeric powder and offer it to the

Goddess along with neem branches. This is called `Saka'.

 

People make choicest of eatables as an offering to the deity. Outstation people

come on decorated carts to make their offerings to the Goddess. During the

Jathara week the city wears a festive look. Here and there one comes across

`Potharajus' (men), with turmeric powder paste smeared all over their body,

holding a yellow lemon between the teeth, sporting black mascara for the eyes

and a big red dot on the forehead, wearing anklets with bells on the ankles

dancing to the sound of heavy drum beats. Thousands of these Potharajus

literally dance their way to the temple followed by thousands of cheering

people. All these processions culminating at the temple is a sight worth

watching.

 

The second day's festivities are called `Rangam' or stage festivities. In the

sanctum sanctorum, a twenty seven - year old unmarried girl, standing on a raw

pot in front of the idol looking straight into the Goddess' eyes, is possessed

by Mahakali, portends the general trend of things to come and important events.

Large number of people gather to witness this event which starts early in the

morning and continues till 8.30 A.M.. After this she goes to many other temples

and repeats this prophesy. Whoever does this `Rangam' act remains unmarried for

life.

 

A little later, two Potharajus dancing ferociously to the heavy drum beats go

round the temple. Many devotees gather to witness this. Around 10 A.M. a heavily

decorated Mahakali's photo placed on an elephant accompanied by music band is

first taken around the temple and later through the streets of the city. It is

accompanied by the Potharajus and lots of devotees.

 

LEGEND

 

As the legend goes, in 1813 Surabhi Appa Rao of Secunderabad, working in the

military was transferred to Ujjain. When cholera broke out there, he went with

his friends to a Mahakali temple and prayed to the Goddess to save the people

from the epidemic, pledging to build a temple in Secunderabad in Her name.

Cholera abated and thousands of people were saved due to the grace of the

Goddess.

 

Three years later, Surabhi Appayya and his friends kept their pledge by

installing a woodden statue of Mahakali, where the present temple is situated,

with pooja facilities provided for. As per the story, the present bustling place

was once a thick dense forest with mountains. There was a big well in the area

and while they were getting it repaired, an idol of Manikyala Devi was found,

which was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to the right of

Mahakali.In 1864 the woodden idols were replaced with the present statues and

regularly worshipped ever since. The temple was taken over by the Endowments

Department in 1953 and many events are celebrated there.

 

Twin Cities - Ashada Jatara

 

Hi-tech City is now in festive mood. The famous Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahakali

festival ('Ashada Jatara') would be held on July 8 and 9 of this year.

 

Large number of devotees participate in this colorful festival, not only from

every corner of twin Cities but also from all parts of 'Telangana' region.

Meanwhile thousand of lady devotees visit the temple on July 08, (Sunday) and

worship Goddess Mahakali with 'Bonalu'.

 

On July 09, 2001 (Monday) a woman will take part in a 'Rangam' and she will

predict future, happenings of the country.

 

After 'Rangam' an Elephant procession will be taken out with the deity's photo

followed by 'Ghatam'. Elaborate arrangements are made by various Government

departments like Police, MCH, Health and Sanitation, Water Works, Electricity

board etc., And various organisations like Deccan Manava Seva Samiti, Nallagutta

Abhivrudhi Sangam, Bharat Scouts and Guides participate in this festival.

 

Also APSRTC runs special busses from every corner of twin Cities.

 

The Ujjaini temple has 186-year old history. In the year 1813, one military

battalion in which one Surthi Appaiah, washer man (Dhobi) was transferred to

Ujjaini Tower. A few days after Appaiah said to have reached Ujjaini of Madhya

Pradesh State, 'cholera' broke out in virulent form there and thousands of

people died. Being far away from his hometown and helpless plight, he went to

the Mahakali Temple at Ujjaini and prayed that if they were saved from the

epidemic, they would install idol of Mahakali at Secunderabad.

 

After that when he returned from Ujjaini, Surathi Appaiah and his associates

installed the idol of Goddess Mahakali at Secunderbad in July 1815, exactly in

the same place where the temple is now situated.

 

It is stated that when the ground was being cleared for construction of sanction

sanctum for Goddess Mahakali a stone idol was found, which is still existing to

the south side of the 'Garbhalyam'. Simultaneously a woman devotee went into a

trance, stated that she was 'Manikyalamma' and that she would begin a place

adjacent to Goddess Mahakali.

 

Accordingly Goddess Mahakali and Manikyalamma are side by side now. The unique

feature of this temple is, it surrounded by four side roads.

 

Later philanthropic persons have developed the temple to some extent. In the

year 1964, a stone idol of Goddess Mahakali was installed. In the year 1953 the

Endowment Department has taken over the management of the temple. The temple is

now one of prominent temples in the Telangana region.

 

 

SRI UJJAINI MAHAKALI TEMPLE

 

Location: 2 km from Secunderabad station, in the busy General Bazaar bylane in

Secunderabad.

How to reach : Local transport available.

Where to stay : Hyderabad / Secunderabad.

Best time to visit: During Bonalu in the month of July.

 

LEGEND

 

As the legend goes, in 1813 Surabhi Appa Rao of Secunderabad, working in the

military was transferred to Ujjain. When cholera broke out there, he went with

his friends to a Mahakali temple and prayed to the Goddess to save the people

from the epidemic, pledging to build a temple in Secunderabad in Her name.

Cholera abated and thousands of people were saved due to the grace of the

Goddess.

 

Three years later, Surabhi Appayya and his friends kept their pledge by

installing a wooden statue of Mahakali, where the present temple is situated,

with pooja facilities provided for. As per the story, the present bustling place

was once a thick dense forest with mountains. There was a big well in the area

and while they were getting it repaired, an idol of Manikyala Devi was found,

which was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to the right of

Mahakali.In 1864 the woodden idols were replaced with the present statues and

regularly worshipped ever since. The temple was taken over by the Endowments

Department in 1953 and many events are celebrated there.

 

One very important celebration is the Ashada Jathara, starting on 20th July of

every year. This is popularly known as Bonalu.On the first day, the Goddess is

placed on a pot and taken to each and every house in the area to enable even the

old and the handicapped to get a view of the deity.

 

On the first day of the Jathara, women take headbath and wear festive clothes.

Food (bonam) is cooked as per the pledge taken by them. It is placed in a vessel

decorated with neem leaves and a Jyothi (an oil lamp in a shallow earthen dish)

on top. Women go to the temple carrying it on their heads and offer the bonam to

the deity. Hence the Jathara acquired the name `Bonalu'- plural of bonam. Some

women fill the vessels with water mixed with turmeric powder and offer it to the

Goddess along with neem branches. This is called `Saka'.

 

People make choicest of eatables as an offering to the deity. Outstation people

come on decorated carts to make their offerings to the Goddess. During the

Jathara week the city wears a festive look. Here and there one comes across

`Potharajus' (men), with turmeric powder paste smeared all over their body,

holding a yellow lemon between the teeth, sporting black mascara for the eyes

and a big red dot on the forehead, wearing anklets with bells on the ankles

dancing to the sound of heavy drum beats. Thousands of these Potharajus

literally dance their way to the temple followed by thousands of cheering

people. All these processions culminating at the temple is a sight worth

watching.

 

The second day's festivities are called `Rangam' or stage festivities. In the

sanctum sanctorum, a twenty seven - year old unmarried girl, standing on a raw

pot in front of the idol looking straight into the Goddess' eyes, is possessed

by Mahakali, portends the general trend of things to come and important events.

Large number of people gather to witness this event which starts early in the

morning and continues till 8.30 A.M.. After this she goes to many other temples

and repeats this prophesy. Whoever does this `Rangam' act remains unmarried for

life.

 

A little later, two Potharajus dancing ferociously to the heavy drum beats go

round the temple. Many devotees gather to witness this. Around 10 A.M. a heavily

decorated Mahakali's photo placed on an elephant accompanied by music band is

first taken around the temple and later through the streets of the city. It is

accompanied by the Potharajus and lots of devotees.

 

The sources are :-

http://www.andhratoday.com/religion/mahakali.HTM

http://www.mypurohith.com/Pilgrimages/Mahakali.asp

http://www.hydonline.com/community/ashada_jatara.htm

http://www.khojhyderabad.com/travel/places/22.htm

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/04271003.htm

http://www.aptemples.com/

http://hindusaktha.freeservers.com/mahakali.html

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/07/10/stories/0410403w.htm

http://www.mypurohith.com/Pilgrimages/AP_Temples.asp

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandeep -

 

Thank you for the article. Could you give me more details about

Mahakali? Mahakali is portrayed with a necklace of heads standing

with her feet upon another on the ground. You see her name mentioned

in regard to Yantras.

 

Any information is appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Eric Otto

Cincinnati, Ohio