ॐ
Harsiddhi Mata Temple, Ujjain
Goddess Harsiddhi (Annapurna / Mahamaya) • Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
Harsiddhi Mata Temple rises beside the Rudra Sagar lake in Ujjain, a Shakti Peetha where tradition holds that the elbow of Sati fell. The goddess, a benign form of Annapurna and Mahamaya, was honoured as the family deity of the legendary King Vikramaditya, and her courtyard is best known for two soaring stone lamp-towers carrying 1,011 oil flames.
A Shakti Peetha by the Rudra Sagar
The temple sits a short walk from the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, on the eastern bank of the Rudra Sagar tank in the old quarter of Ujjain. Pilgrims often pair the two darshans in a single morning, since both belong to the sacred geography that has drawn worshippers to the city for centuries.
In the Shakta tradition the spot is counted among the Shakti Peethas, the places where parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen as Vishnu’s discus cut her form. Here the legend names the elbow, and the attendant Bhairava is worshipped alongside the goddess as guardian of the seat.
The goddess of King Vikramaditya
Harsiddhi is remembered above all as the tutelary deity of Vikramaditya, the king whose court and legends are woven through Ujjain’s history. Devotees come to her as a giver of success and protection, qualities the old stories attach to her bond with the throne of Avantika.
Within the sanctum the central image is flanked by Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, so that the three together present the goddess in her aspects of strength, wealth and learning. The vermilion-coated form is treated as a living presence rather than a museum object, dressed and offered to through the day.
The lamp-towers of Navaratri
The image most associated with Harsiddhi is the pair of tall stone deepstambhas, or lamp-pillars, that stand in the courtyard. Each is studded with small niches, and together they hold 1,011 oil lamps.
On the evenings of Navaratri the lamps are kindled one by one until both columns burn as twin pillars of fire against the dark. The sight draws large crowds, and watching the lighting is, for many, the central reason to visit during the autumn festival.
- Two stone deepstambhas in the temple courtyard
- 1,011 oil lamps lit across the pair
- Kindled on Navaratri evenings as twin pillars of flame
Maratha rebuilding and the temple today
The structure that visitors see was substantially rebuilt during the Maratha period, when Ujjain came under the patronage of rulers who restored many of its shrines. The work gave the temple its present courtyard, sanctum and the framework on which the lamp-towers stand.
Reaching the temple is straightforward from anywhere in Ujjain, and it is comfortably combined with Mahakaleshwar and the riverside ghats. Mornings and the Navaratri season are the busiest, while ordinary weekday afternoons allow a quieter darshan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Harsiddhi Temple called a Shakti Peetha?
Harsiddhi is counted a Shakti Peetha because tradition holds that the elbow of Sati fell at this spot when her body was scattered. Each Shakti Peetha marks where a part of the goddess is said to have descended, and a guardian Bhairava is worshipped with the deity. This body-part legend is part of Shakta tradition rather than recorded history.
Who was Harsiddhi the deity of?
Harsiddhi was the tutelary, or family, deity of King Vikramaditya, the legendary ruler of Ujjain. Devotees still approach her as a goddess of success and protection. She is worshipped as a benign form of Annapurna and Mahamaya.
What are the lamp-towers at Harsiddhi Temple?
They are two tall stone deepstambhas, or lamp-pillars, standing in the temple courtyard, fitted with niches that together hold 1,011 oil lamps. On Navaratri evenings the lamps are lit so both columns blaze as twin pillars of flame. Watching this lighting is the temple’s most famous sight.
Where is Harsiddhi Temple located in Ujjain?
The temple stands beside the Rudra Sagar lake in the old part of Ujjain, close to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. The two shrines are within easy walking distance, so pilgrims often visit both together. It lies in Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh.
Which goddesses flank Harsiddhi in the sanctum?
The central image of Harsiddhi is flanked by Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. Together the three present the goddess in her aspects of power, wealth and learning. They are worshipped as a single seat of Shakti.
When is the best time to visit Harsiddhi Temple?
Navaratri is the most striking time, when the 1,011 lamps on the twin towers are lit on festival evenings. Mornings are good throughout the year for a calmer darshan. Weekday afternoons outside festival season are the quietest.
॥ जय माता दी ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Harsiddhi (Annapurna / Mahamaya) |
| Tradition | Shakti Peetha (elbow of Sati) |
| Location | Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh |
| Beside | Rudra Sagar lake |
| Lamp-towers | Two deepstambhas, 1,011 lamps |
| Flanked by | Mahalakshmi & Mahasaraswati |
| Royal patron | King Vikramaditya (tradition) |
| Rebuilt | Maratha period |
| Main festival | Navaratri |