Ujjain, Aug 20 (IANS) Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker fulfilled a long-standing personal wish on Thursday as she visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Bhaker, who created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games in Paris , took time out from her schedule to offer prayers at one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas.
Expressing her joy after the visit, Manu lauded the spiritual atmosphere of the holy shrine and praised the temple administration for their seamless management.
“I have had a wish for a very long time to visit Mahakaleshwar Ji Temple in Ujjain, and today that wish has finally come true,” Bhaker told IANS. “We were able to come here, although we had very little time. But seeing the devotion of the devotees here and the arrangements made by the temple authorities and everyone involved, who work so hard, made me very happy,” she added.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, the only south‑facing Jyotirlinga among the twelve in India, is located in the ancient city of Ujjain. For centuries, the people of Ujjain have worshipped Lord Mahakal as their king and protector. The origins of the Mahakaleshwar Temple go back to prehistoric times, though its exact date of construction is unknown.
Today, the sacred Mahakal Jyotirlinga is enshrined in the lowest level of the temple. Above it stands the Omkareshwar Shivalinga, and the topmost level houses Nagchandreshwar, which opens to the public only once a year on Nag Panchami.
The 22-year-old shooter became a household name across the nation after winning bronze medals in both the women’s 10m air pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh at the Paris Olympics.
–IANS
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