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Ujjain उज्जैनAvantika
Metropolis
The Holy City of Ujjain
Mahakal temple at Ujjain
Nickname: The City of Temples
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
Region	Malwa
District	Ujjain
Government
• Body	Ujjain Municipal Corporation
• Mayor	Rameshwar Akhand (BJP)
• Municipal Commissioner	Sonu Gehlot
Area
• Total	152 km (59 sq mi)
Elevation	492.252  m (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding ft)
Population
• Total	515,215
• Density	3,400/km (8,800/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi,
• Other	Malavi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	456001
Telephone code	0734
Vehicle registration	MP-13
Climate	Cfa (Köppen)
Precipitation	900 millimetres (35 in)
Avg. annual temperature	24.0 °C (75.2 °F)
Avg. summer temperature	31 °C (88 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	17 °C (63 °F)
Website	ujjain.nic.in

Ujjain /uːˈdʒeɪn/ listen (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantika, Avantikapuri), is an ancient city situated on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River (Hindi: क्षिप्रा) in the Malwa region of central India. The city is today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh, and it is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division. It is fifth-largest city in the state, by population. Capital of ancient kingdom of Avanti (India), city is one of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It rose to prominence in ca 700 BC as capital of Avanti during India's second wave of urbanization and has been continously inhabited since 800 BC.

In the ancient times known by the names of Ujjaini and Avantika. City was also the center of Hindu Astronomy and Jai Singh II built the famous observatory called Jantar Mantar here. During the British Raj it was under Scindia rulers of the Gwalior State, today city and the region is a major wheat and soyabean producer and a major railway junction of the Western Railway.

Known as the City of Temples, it is located on the central portion of the Malwa Plateau and about 750 kilometres (470 mi) from Delhi, the capital city of India. Due to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and the Kumbh Mela organised every 12 years on the bank of river Shipra, it is one of the biggest Hindu pilgrimage sites in India.

History

Avanti (Template:Lang-sa) was an ancient Indian janapada (realm), roughly corresponded to the present day Malwa region. According to the Buddhist text, the Anguttara Nikaya, Avanti was one of the solasa mahajanapadas (sixteen great realms) of the 6th century BCE. The janapada was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas, the northern part had its capital at Ujjayini and the southern part had its centre at Mahishmati.

The Avantis, the ancient people belonging to this realm were described as mahavala (very powerful) in the Udyoga Parva (19.24) of the Mahabharata. According to the Vishnu Purana (II.3), the Bhagavata Purana (XII.I.36) and the Brahma Purana (XIX.17), the Avantis were associated with the Malava, the Saurashtras, the Abhiras, the Suras, the Karushas and the Arbudas and were described as dwelling along the Pariyatra (or Paripatra) mountains (a western branch of the Vindhyas).

The Haihayas of Mahishmati

According to the Puranic accounts, the Haihayas were the earliest rulers of Avanti, who captured the region from the Nagas. Initially, they ruled from Mahishmati. Later the whole janapada was divided into two parts with the capitals at Mahishmati and Ujjayini. The Haihayas were a confederation of five clans, the Vitihotras, the Bhojas, the Avantis, the Tundikeras and the Sharyatas. Later, the Haihayas were better known by their dominant clan - the Vitihotras. Ripunjaya, the last Vitihotra ruler of Ujjayini was overthrown by his amatya (minister) Pulika, who placed his son, Pradyota on the throne. Some accounts place Ujjayini as the capital of Avanti.

The Mahagovindasuttanta of the Dighanikaya mentions about an Avanti king Vessabhu (Vishvabhu) and his capital Mahissati (Mahishmati). Probably he was a Vitihotra ruler.

Pradyota dynasty

Pradyota was contemporary to Gautama Buddha. He was also known as Chandapradyota Mahasena. Pradyota captured the Vatsa king Udayana but later he married Pradyota’s daughter Vasavadatta. The Mahavagga described him as cruel and according to the Majjhima Nikaya, Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha fortified Rajagriha to protect it from an invasion led by Pradyota. He also waged war on Pushkarasarin, king of Takshashila Pradyota’s chief queen Gopalamata (mother of prince Gopala) was a disciple of Buddhist monk Mahakatyayana and constructed a stupa in Ujjayini.

Prodyota had two sons, Gopala and Palaka. He was succeeded by Palaka. According to Jaina accounts Palaka ascended to the throne on the day of passing away of Mahavira. According to the Kathasaritsagara and the Avashyaka Kathanaka, the kingdom of Vatsa was already a part of Avanti during the reign of Palaka and a prince of the royal family was the governor of Kaushambi. In the Mricchakatika, Palaka was described as a tyrant who was overthrown by a popular revolt. This revolt placed Aryaka on the throne of Ujjayini. The Puranas place Nadivardhana or Vartivardhana after Aryaka. But these names are probably corruptions of Avantivardhana, the name of the son of Palaka according to the Kathasaritsagara or the son of Gopala according to the Nepali Brihatkatha. He was defeated by Shishunaga, the king of Magadha.

Avanti under Magadhan rule

Avanti was a part of the Magadha empire during the rule of the Shaishunaga and the Nanda dynasties. During the Mauryan dynasty rule, Avanti became the Avantirāṭṭha or the western province of the empire, with its capital at Ujjayini. The Junagarh Rock inscription of Rudradaman I (150 CE) mentions Pushyagupta as the governor of the western province during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. During the reign of the next ruler Bindusara, prince Ashoka was the provincial governor.Emperor Ashoka also played a significant role as the Viceroy of Ujjain in enhancing its importance. He ruled for three decades between 268 and 233 BC started his career in Taxila (now in Pakistan) in the north west by subduing a revolt. After the fall of the Mauryas, at the time of Pushyamitra Sunga, his son Agnimitra was the Magadhan viceroy at Vidisha, but he ruled independent of Magadha for all practical purposes.

The Golden Age

With Ashoka’s death in 232 B.C., his huge empire started falling apart, making way for Indo-Greek and Scythian rule on Indian soil. The 2nd century B.C. saw one of the many streams of the Sakas entering Madhya Pradesh and founding the line of the Kshatrapa princes in Ujjain. The Kshatrapas of Ujjain traced their descent from Lord Chastana who was related to Ptolemy, the Greek mathematician and astrologer. The Indo-Greek influence spread as far as Mathura and Ujjain, until the establishment of the Gupta dynasty from a.d. 320 to about a.d. 540.The Western Satraps are thought to have started with the rather short-lived Kshaharata dynasty (also called Chaharada, Khaharata or Khakharata depending on sources). The term Kshaharata is also known from the 6 CE Taxila copper plate inscription, in which it qualifies the Indo-Scytian ruler Liaka Kusulaka. The Nasik inscription of the 19th year of Sri Pulamavi also mentions the Khakharatavasa, or Kshaharata race.

Nahapana succeeded to him, and became a very powerful ruler. He occupied portions of the Satavahana empire in western and central India. Nahapana held sway over Malwa, Southern Gujarat, and Northern Konkan, from Broach to Sopara and the Nasik and Poona districts. His son-in-law, the Saka Ushavadata (married to his daughter Dakshamitra), is known from inscriptions in Nasik and Karle to have been viceroy of Nahapana, ruling over the southern part of his territory.

Goods were also brought down in quantity from Ujjain, the capital of the Western Satraps:

48. Inland from this place and to the east, is the city called Ozene, formerly a royal capital; from this place are brought down all things needed for the welfare of the country about Barygaza, and many things for our trade : agate and carnelian, Indian muslins and mallow cloth, and much ordinary cloth.

— Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 48.

Kardamaka dynasty, family of Castana (1st–4th century)

A new dynasty, called the Bhadramukhas or Kardamaka dynasty, was established by the "Satrap" Castana. The date of Castana is not certain, but many believe his reign started in the year 78 CE, thus making him the founder of the Saka era. This is consistent with the fact that his descendants (who we know used the Saka era on their coins and inscriptions) would use the date of their founder as their era. Castana was satrap of Ujjain during that period. A statue found in Mathura together with statues of the Kushan king Kanishka and Vima Taktu, and bearing the name "Shastana" is often attributed to Castana himself, and suggests Castana may have been a feudatory of the Kushans. Conversely, the Rabatak inscription also claims Kushan dominion over Western Satrap territory (by mentionning Kushan control over the capital Ujjain), during the reign of Kanishka (c. 127–150 CE).

Territory under Chastana

The territory of the Western Satraps at the time of Chastana is described extensively by the geographer Ptolemy in his "Geographia", where he qualifies them as "Indo-Scythians". He describes this territory as starting from Patalene in the West, to Ujjain in the east ("Ozena-Regia Tiastani", "Ozene, capital of king Chastana"), and beyond Barigaza in the south.

Moreover the region which is next to the western part of India, is called Indoscythia. A part of this region around the (Indus) river mouth is Patalena, above which is Abiria. That which is about the mouth of the Indus and the Canthicolpus bay is called Syrastrena. (...) In the island formed by this river are the cities Pantala, Barbaria. (...) The Larica region of Indoscythia is located eastward from the swamp near the sea, in which on the west of the Namadus river is the interior city of Barygaza emporium. On the east side of the river (...) Ozena-Regia Tiastani (...) Minnagara".

— Ptolemy Geographia, Book Seven, Chapter I

The Kshatrapa dynasty seems to have reached a high level of prosperity under the rule of Rudrasena II (256–278), 19th ruler of Kshatrapa.

A new family took control under Rudrasimha III. A fragment from the Natya-darpana mentions that the Gupta king Ramagupta, the elder brother of Chandragupta II, decided to expand his kingdom by attacking the Western Satraps in Gujarat.

The campaign soon took a turn for the worse and the Gupta army was trapped. The Saka king, Rudrasimha III, demanded that Ramagupta hand over his wife Dhruvadevi in exchange for peace. To avoid the ignominy the Guptas decide to send Madhavasena, a courtesan and a beloved of Chandragupta, disguised as the queen. However, Chandragupta changes the plan and himself goes to the Saka King disguised as the queen. He then kills Rudrasimha and later his own brother, Ramagupta. Dhruvadevi is then married to Chandragupta.

The Western Satraps were eventually conquered by emperor Chandragupta II. This brought an end to the rule of the Shakas on the subcontinent.

Under the Chadragupta II

According to the Gupta records, amongst his manns, Samudragupta nominated prince Chandra Gupta II, born of queen Dattadevi, as his successor. Chandra Gupta II, Vikramaditya (the Sun of Power), ruled from 375 until 415. Chandra Gupta II also married to a Kadamba princess of Kuntala region and a princess of Naga lineage (Nāgakulotpannnā), Kuberanaga. His daughter Prabhavatigupta from this Naga queen was married to Rudrasena II, the Vakataka ruler of Deccan. His son Kumaragupta I was married to Kadamba princess of Karnataka region. Emperor Chandra Gupta II expanded his realm westwards, defeating the Saka Western Kshatrapas of Malwa, Gujarat and Saurashtra in a campaign lasting until 409, but with his main opponent Rudrasimha III defeated by 395, and crushing the Bengal (Vanga) chiefdoms. This extended his control from coast-to-coast, established a second capital at Ujjain and was the high point of the empire.

Despite the creation of the empire through war, the reign is remembered for its very influential style of Hindu art, literature, culture and science, especially during the reign of Chandra Gupta II. Some excellent works of Hindu art such as the panels at the Dashavatara Temple in Deogarh serve to illustrate the magnificence of Gupta art. Above all it was the synthesis of elements that gave Gupta art its distinctive flavour. During this period, the Guptas were supportive of thriving Buddhist and Jain cultures as well, and for this reason there is also a long history of non-Hindu Gupta period art. In particular, Gupta period Buddhist art was to be influential in most of East and Southeast Asia. Many advances were recorded by the Chinese scholar and traveller Faxian (Fa-hien) in his diary and published afterwards.

The court of Chandragupta was made even more illustrious by the fact that it was graced by the Navaratna (Nine Jewels), a group of nine who excelled in the literary arts in his court at Ujjain, particularly noted for its poets and scholars. Amongst these men was the immortal Kālidāsa whose works dwarfed the works of many other literary geniuses, not only in his own age but in the ages to come. Kalidasa was particularly known for his fine exploitation of the shringara (romantic) element in his verse, the author the immortal drama, Abhijñānaśākuntalam. As a poet, Kalidas was not impervious to Ujjain’s beauty. Another Sanskrit poet felt that Ujjain was “the very home of the golden age; paved with jewels, full of romance, with dancing girls in the temples and love in everyone’s hearts.” Vikramaditya was also responsible for starting the Hindu Vikram Samvat era, beginning 57 years before Anno Domini (a.d.: the Christian era).

From 9th Century Onwards

The earliest known epigraphic record of the Paramaras, the Harsola Granth, issued at the beginning of the 10th century AD, maintains that the kings of the Paramara dynasty were born in the family of the Rastrakutas in the Deccan. The early Paramara chiefs of Malwa were probably vassals of the Rastrakutas. The Udaypur Prasati, mentions Vakpati Vakpati I as the king of Avanti and it was probably in his region that the Rastrakuta Indra III halted at Ujjain while advancing with his army against the Pratihara Mahipala I. Malwa was lost in the time of Vakpati's successor, Vairisimha II, to the invading forces of Mahipala I who avenged his defeat at the hands of Indra III by invading the empire of Rastrakuta. Mahipala and his Kalachuri confederate Bhamanadeva are said to have conquered the territory up to the banks of the Narmada including Ujjain and Dhar. The Paramara sovereignty in the Malwa ceased until AD 946 when Vairsimha II became dominant in the area. It is in his son Siyaka II's reign that the independent Paramara rule in Malwa began. It is believed that it was this time that the capital was shifted to the area of the Mahakala Vana in Ujjain. From the 9th to the 12th centuries, the Paramaras became so identified with Ujjain that subsequent tradition has converted Vikramaditya into a Paramara. The last Paramara ruler, Siladitya, was captured alive by the Sultans of Mandu, and Ujjain passed into the hands of the Muslims.

Thus began a long era of misfortune and decay and the ancient glory of Ujjayini was lost in a morass of repeated inroads of attacking hordes. The invasion of Ujjain by Iltutmish in 1234 triggered off a systematic desecration and despoiling of temples. This tide of destruction was stemmed only in the time of Baz Bahadur of Mandu. The Mughal rule heralded a new era in reconstruction. Emperor Akbar put an end to Baz Bahadur's hegemony over Malwa and had a city wall constructed for the defense of Ujjain. The Nadi Darwaza, Kaliadeh Darwaza, Sati Darwaza, Dewas Darwaza and Indore Darwaza were the various entrances to the city.

In 1658 took place a battle near Ujjain in which Aurangzeb and Murad defeated Maharaj Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur, who was fighting on behalf of Prince Dara. The actual scene of the battle is Dharmatpura, renamed Fatehbad by Aurangzeb, after the victory. The cenotaph of Raja Rattan Singh of Ratlam, who fell in the battle, still stands at the site. In the reign of Mahmud Shah, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh was made the Governor of Malwa, a great scholar of astronomy, he had the observatory at Ujjain reconstructed and built several temples. At the beginning of the 17th century, Ujjain and Malwa went through another period of seize and invasion at the hands of the Marathas, who gradually captured the entire region. The Maratha domination of Malwa gave impetus to a cultural renaissance in the region and modern Ujjain came into being. Most of the temples of Ujjain were constructed during this period.The Scindia dynasty was founded by Ranoji Scindia, who was the son of Jankojirao Scindia, the Deshmukh of Kanherkhed, a village in Satara District, Maharashtra. Peshwa Baji Rao's career saw the strengthening of the Maratha Empire. Ranoji was in charge of the Maratha conquests in Malwa in 1726. Ranoji established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. After Third Battle of Panipat, Maratha Confederacy was brocken up into many semi- autonomous states. Ujjain along with Northern Malwa and Gird came under the rule of Scindia. It was during this time that Ujjain became the meeting ground of painters of the Poona and Kangra styles. The impact of the two different styles of painting is distinctive. The examples of Maratha style are found in the temples of Ram Janardan, Kal Bhairava, Kalpeshwar and Tilakeshwar while the traditional Malwa style can be seen in the Sandipani Ashram and in many large houses of the local seths.

In the Maratha period, the art of wood work also developed. Wood carvings were done on the galleries and balconies. But many excellent examples have either been sold as junk or destroyed. Ujjain until 1810, Daulatrao Scindia founded his new capital at Gwalior, was the chief town of his dominion.

The shifting of the capital to Gwalior led to a decline in the commercial importance of Ujjain. But the opening of Ujjain-Ratlam-Godhra branch of the Bombay-Baroda line corrected the balance. A considerable volume of trade mainly with Bombay, existed in cotton, grain and opium during the British Indian period.

After the Independence of India in 1947, Ujjain became the part of Madhya Bharat state with Jivaji Rao Scindia as its Rajpramukh. On 1 November 1956, Madhya Bharat, together with the states of Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal State, was merged into Madhya Pradesh, following the States Reorganization Act.

References

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Bibliography

• Dongray, Keshav Rao Balwant (1935). Ujjain. Alijar Darbar Press, Gwalior.
• Dipak Kumar Samanta (1996). Sacred Complex of Ujjain. D.K. Printworld. ISBN 978-81-246-0078-8.
• Rahman Ali; Ashok Trivedi; Dhirendra Solanki (2004). Buddhist remains of Ujjain region: excavations at Ṣodañga. Sharada Pub. House. ISBN 978-81-88934-15-7.

External links

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v t e Hindu holy cities
India	Char Dham Badrinath Badrinath Temple Dwarka Dwarkadhish Temple Puri Jagannath Temple Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple Chota Char Dham Badrinath Badrinath Temple Gangotri Kedarnath Kedarnath Temple Yamunotri Yamunotri Temple Panch Kedar Kalpeshwar Kedarnath Madhyamaheshwar Rudranath Tungnath Pancharama Kshetras Amararama Draksharama Ksheerarama Kumararama Somarama Six Abodes of Murugan Palani Pazhamudircholai Swamimalai Thiruparankundram Thiruttani Tiruchendur Trilinga Kshetras Draksharama Kaleshwaram Srisailam Ashtavinayaka Lenyadri Girijatmaja Mahad Varadvinayaka Morgaon Mayureshwara Ozar Vighneswara Pali Ballaleshwara Ranjangaon Mahaganapati Siddhatek Siddhivinayaka Theur Chintamani Jyotirlinga Deoghar Vaidyanath Dwarka Nageshvara Ellora Caves Grishneshwar Kedarnath Kedarnath Khandwa Omkareshwar Prabhas Patan Somnath Rajgurunagar Bhimashankar Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Srisailam Mallikājuna Trimbak Trimbakeshwar Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Varanasi Kasi Vishvanath Panchabootha Lingas Annamalai (Fire) Tiruvannamalai Chidambaram (Ether) Chidambaram Ekambareswarar (Earth) Kanchipuram Jambukeswarar (Water) Thiruvanaikaval Srikalahasti (Air) Srikalahasti Pancha Sabhas Art/Chithiram, Courtallam Copper/Thamiram, Nellai Emerald/Rathinam, Thiruvalangadu Gold/Pon, Thillai Silver/Velli, Madurai Sapta Puris Avantika Ayodhya Dwaravati Kanchi Kashi Mathura Maya Shakti Peeths Vimala Temple Taratarini Temple Kamakhya Temple Kalighat Kali Temple Kukkuteswara Temple Koneswaram Temple Kamakshi Amman Temple Chamundeshwari Temple Mahalakshmi Temple Biraja Temple Alopi Devi Mandir Mangla Gauri Temple Vishalakshi Temple Others Kumbha Kshetras Haridwar Haridwar Kumbha Mela Nashik-Trimbak Nashik-Trimbak Kumbha Mela Prayagraj (Prayaga) Prayaga Kumbha Mela Ujjain Ujjain kumbha Mela Sun Temple for Chhath Puja Deo Sun Temple Umga Sun Temple Navagraha temples Suryanar Kovil Kailasanathar Temple Vaitheeswaran Koil Swetharanyeswarar Temple Apatsahayesvarar Temple Agniswarar Temple Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple Rahu Stalam Nagannathaswamy Temple Important Amarnath Aundha Gokarna Khajuraho Kudalasangama Lingaraj Paadal Petra Sthalam Thanjavur Tirupati Thiruvarur Thrissur Vaikom Samadhis Alandi Belur Math Tulsi Ghat Meherabad Shirdi Gorakhpur Panchaganga Ghat Puri Nagpur Prasanthi Nilayam Others Ahobilam Ambaji Ambalappuzha Annavaram Arunachala Basar Bhadrachalam Chidambaram Chitrakoot Chottanikkara Dakor Dakshineswar Kali Temple Deo Dharmasthala Ettumanoor Gaya Gokul Guruvayur Indraprastha Jageshwar Jajpur Kalighat Kanyakumari Katra Vaishno Devi Khatu Kollur Kumbakonam Kurukshetra Madurai Mangalagiri Mayapur Nabadwip Nashik Nathdwara Pandharpur Prayag (Triveni Sangam) Pushkar Pushpagiri Temple Complex Rishikesh Ryali Sabarimala Shakti Pitha Simhachalam Somnath Sonamukhi Sri Kurmam Sringeri Srirangam Swaminarayan Akshardham (Gandhinagar) Swaminarayan Akshardham (New Delhi) Thrippunithura Tiruchanur Tirumala Tirunavaya Udupi Velliangiri Vemulawada Vijayawada Vrindavan Yadagirigutta
Out of India	Ateshgah of Baku (Azerbaijan) Bhadreshwaram (Vietnam) Ganga Talao (Mauritius) Iraivan temple (USA) Kadhalishwaram ruins (China) Mount Kailash (Tibet) Sivan temple (Singapore) Sthūlādri (Thailand) Temple in the Sea (Trinidad and Tobago) Thewasathan Bot Phram (Sao Chingcha, Bangkok) Cambodia Angkor Wat Tribhuvanamāhesvaram Indonesia Balinese temple Besakih Temple Candi Surawana Cangkuang Ceto Temple Denpasar Dieng Plateau Gebang Gedong Songo Gianyar Gunung Kawi Jawi Temple Kidal Temple Marga Pejeng Penataran Prambanan Pura Luhur Ulu Watu Pura Penataran Sasih Pura Ulun Danu Batur Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Shivagraham Singhasari temple Sukuh Tanah Lot Tirta Empul Nepal Chataradham Janakpurdham Kathmandu Pashupatinath Pakistan Hinglaj Sharada Peeth Multan Sun Temple Katas Raj Temples Amb Temples Kalat Kali Temple Nagarparkar Temples Mansehra Shiva Temple Lava Mandir Jagannath Temple Churrio Jabal Durga Temple Sadh Belo Island Mandir Kafir Kot Sri Lanka Pancheshwarams Ketheeshwaram Koneswaram Munneshwaram Naguleshwaram Thondeshwaram Others Ati Konanayakar Kataragama Kokkadicholai Thaanthonreeswarar Pathirakali Amman Temple Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Temple Thambiluvil Sri Sivalinga Pillayar Temple Thirukkovil Temple

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