What is Svargadvareshwar Mahadev in Ujjain?
Svargadvareshwar Mahadev is the ninth of the 84 Mahadev lingas of Ujjain. Its story is in the Skanda Purana, Avantya Khanda, Chaturashiti Linga Mahatmya, chapter 9. According to the text, worship of this linga opened the closed gate of heaven, and the opening verse calls it a destroyer of sin that gives heaven and liberation.
The text's form of the name is Svargadvareshvara. Some local lists write Swarnadwarpaleshwar. In Roman letters it also appears as Svargadvareshwar or Swargdwareshwar.
Local accounts place the temple in the Naliyabakhal area, behind the Khandar mohalla.
At a glance
- Parvati was not invited to Daksha's yajna, and on hearing her sisters she gave up her life through yogic power.
- Shiva's ganas ruined the yajna, and Virabhadra faced the gods in battle.
- Shiva posted a gana at the gate of heaven to stop every god from entering.
- On Brahma's advice the gods worshipped this linga in Mahakalavana, and the gate opened.
What are the main facts about Svargadvareshwar Mahadev?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Basis of the name | Shiva took this name after heaven's gate was opened |
| Deity | Shiva, in linga form |
| Source text | Skanda Purana 5.2.9 (Avantya Khanda, Chaturashiti Linga Mahatmya, chapter 9) |
| Position among the 84 | Ninth (by chapter order) |
| Characters | Shiva, Parvati, Daksha, her sisters Ashvini and others, Virabhadra, Indra, Vishnu, Brahma |
| Location in the text | Mahakalavana, east of Kapaleshwar |
| Narrator | Shiva (Shri Rudra), speaking to Parvati |
The popular Daksha story has Sati jump into the fire. In the Svargadvareshwar chapter Parvati leaves her body through yogic power. Tagare's introduction notes that the author of the 84-linga Mahatmya reshapes well-known Puranic stories to suit his purpose, so the Daksha tale of the Shiva Purana or the Bhagavata should not be poured into this one.
What is the Skanda Purana story of Svargadvareshwar Mahadev?
Shiva tells the story to Parvati. The chapter opens by naming the ninth deity after the eighth: know Svargadvareshwar as the remover of sin and the giver of heaven and liberation.
Daksha's yajna and the sisters' news
Daksha held a yajna but did not invite Parvati. Her sisters, Ashvini and others, came to Kailasa and told her about the invitations, which surprised her.
One verse of this episode is on the Sanskrit page (Skanda Purana 5.2.9.7):
तच्छ्रुत्वा दारुणं वाक्यं दक्षो नोवाच किंचन ॥
Meaning: hearing that harsh word, Daksha said nothing in reply.
Parvati gives up her life
After her sisters' words Parvati gave up her life through yogic power. Shiva then sent his ganas to destroy the yajna.
Virabhadra against the gods
Among the ganas, Virabhadra took on the gods. He struck Indra's chest with a spear, hit Airavata, and swallowed Vishnu's Sudarshana discus. Vishnu hit him with a mace, but Virabhadra survived through a boon from Shiva.
Indra fell unconscious. When Shiva himself appeared with his trident, Indra fled with the other gods. Vishnu, furious at the gods' defeat, rushed in with the Sudarshana, but drew back at the sight of Shiva armed with the trident.
A guard at the gate of heaven
Shiva then posted a gana at the entrance of heaven and ordered him to let no god in and to kill anyone who tried. The gods were shut out of Svarga.
Brahma's advice
The gods went to Brahmaloka. Brahma told them to propitiate Mahadeva, and to go to Mahakalavana, where the Svargadvara linga stands east of Kapaleshwar.
Worship, the gate opens, and the name
The gods worshipped that linga, and the gate of heaven opened. Shiva then became famous as Svargadvareshwar, the giver of heaven.
What fruit does the Skanda Purana promise for seeing Svargadvareshwar Mahadev?
The phalashruti of the chapter lists these fruits:
- Darshan on the ashtami, the chaturdashi or a Monday carries special merit.
- The fruit of worship is said to exceed that of a thousand horse sacrifices.
- Adoring this linga is said to equal worshipping ten thousand crore lingas.
- One who has darshan daily goes to heaven, and the sins of many births are destroyed.
- Even one who sees it by chance has nothing to fear.
The part of the text that was read does not say which fortnight, bright or dark, goes with the ashtami and chaturdashi.
Which popular claims about Svargadvareshwar Mahadev do not match the Purana?
Online retellings of this story carry several details that differ from the text.
| Popular claim | In the Skanda Purana | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire | Parvati gave up her life through yogic power | Differs from the text |
| Vishnu's Sudarshana destroyed the ganas, and the mace had no effect on Virabhadra | Virabhadra swallowed the Sudarshana. Vishnu struck him with a mace, but he survived through Shiva's boon | Differs from the text |
| The ganas left heaven's gate by Shiva's mere darshan | The gods worshipped the linga in Mahakalavana, and then the gate opened | Differs from the text |
| Special fruit on Ekadashi | The text has ashtami, chaturdashi and Monday, not Ekadashi | Unconfirmed |
| Swarnadwarpaleshwar is the classical name | The Purana's name is Svargadvareshwar. The other form appears only in some local lists | Local form |
| The age and builder of the temple | The text gives no date or builder for any temple structure | Unverified |
| The temple is being renovated ahead of Simhastha | No separate announcement for this temple was found, only general reports on the 84 Mahadev temples | Unconfirmed |
The Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana (chapter 94) also mentions a "Svargadvareshwar". By Tagare's footnote it is in Varanasi near the Brahma Nala lane and is separate from the Ujjain linga. Do not confuse it with the sixth linga, Svarnajwaleshwar, which is a different temple.
What else do people ask about Svargadvareshwar Mahadev?
What is the difference between Swarnadwarpaleshwar and Svargadvareshwar?
In the Skanda Purana's chapter list and tirtha list, the ninth linga is called Svargadvareshwar. Swarnadwarpaleshwar appears only in some local lists, and no authoritative source for its origin was found. It may have arisen from the sound likeness of svarga and svarna, but that is a guess, not a fact.
Why is Svargadvareshwar called the 9th when one list places it 11th?
In the chapter order of the Chaturashiti Linga Mahatmya (5.2), Svargadvareshwar is ninth, and the usual yatra order follows it. In the tirtha list of Avantikshetra Mahatmya chapter 70 it appears eleventh, after Karkotakeshwar and Siddheshwar. So "ninth" is the chapter order, not the list order.
Does the Purana use Svargadvara as a landmark too?
Yes. In Skanda Purana 5.2.75 (Vadaleshwar) Manibhadra takes his son to the place where the Lord of the gods stood "south of Svargadvara". So Svargadvara is a place marker in the text. That does not prove where today's temple stands.
Is today's temple east of Kapaleshwar?
The Purana places the linga east of Kapaleshwar. Local accounts put Kapaleshwar toward Bilotipura or Anant Peth and Svargadvareshwar in the Naliyabakhal area. The relative direction of the two has not been confirmed on a map or by a reliable source, so an exact match cannot be claimed.
What are the darshan timings of Svargadvareshwar?
No confirmed official darshan timing is available for Svargadvareshwar Mahadev. Ask a local priest for the exact timings before you go.
Where does Svargadvareshwar sit in Ujjain's 84 Mahadev tradition?
In the order of the Chaturashiti Linga Mahatmya, Agastyeshwar is first, Guheshwar second, Dhundheshwar third, Damarukeshwar fourth, Anadikalpeshwar fifth, Svarnajwaleshwar sixth, Trivishtapeshwar seventh, Kapaleshwar eighth and Svargadvareshwar ninth. The tenth is Karkoteshwar, whom local accounts place in the Harsiddhi temple complex.
The last line of the Kapaleshwar chapter is "now listen to the account of Svargadvareshwar", and this chapter follows from it. The geographic order of the yatra differs from the chapter order. In one older yatra list this shrine comes as the 39th stop, right after the lingas of the MahakalShree Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, the heart of Ujjain. area.
For the full list, see the complete guide to Ujjain's 84 Mahadev temples.
After Svargadvareshwar, which linga does the 84 Mahadev story move to?
The next chapter is about the tenth linga, Karkoteshwar. According to Tagare, the Chaturashiti Linga Mahatmya describes the 84 temples that existed in the Mahakalavana area at the time of the Purana. That points to the age of the tradition, not to the age of any building standing today.
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