❀ Ujjain ❀
Ujjain is where Krishna, Balarama and Sudama received education from Sandipani. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven sacred cities (Sapta Moksha Puri) as giver of Moksha (Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwarka); Ujjain or Avantika is one among these seven sacred cities.
Ujjain is one of the four sites in India that host the Kumbh Mela (also called the Simhastha Mela), once in 12 years. On the occasion of Simhastha Kumbh Mela the divinity and spiritual aroma of Ujjain meets its highest peak when millions of pilgrims take dips and worship sacred River Kshipra.
Lord Rama, Sita and Laxmana also came to Ujjain. Lord Ramacandra performed the ‘Pind-dan’ ceremony for His father Dasaratha at the Ram Ghat on the bank of Kshipra river.
Thirty-five kilometers from Ujjain is a village named Narayana Gaon. This is the place where Krishna and Sudama spend their time on a stormy night. A small temple of Krishna Sudama is built here. Two trees of Sudama and Krishna nearby are said to be of the same wood they were each carrying for their Guru’s service. Temple has a Damodara Kunda.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has a gorgeous Temple in Ujjain with exquisitely beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, a flourishing Tulsi garden and attractive lush flower gardens, Goshala, gift shops, restaurant and a Guest House..