Shri Chaubis Khamba Mata Temple

A Gate That Tested Kings

There is a gate in Ujjain that people say decided who was a good king and who was not. This gate is not a story. It is a stone entrance where kings had to prove they were honest before they could walk through. This is Shri Chaubis Khamba Mata Temple. It is near Mahakaleshwar Temple. Most people walk right past it without looking.

I almost did the thing. I had planned to spend five minutes here. I ended up staying for almost forty minutes. I stayed because of the pillars and the priest who talked to me. He would not stop talking once he knew I was listening.

So what is special about this temple?

The name Chaubis Khamba means twenty-four pillars in Hindi. This tells you what the temple is like. It is a building with twenty-four stone columns. Some pillars are still standing near the front. Others are on the side, half-buried in the ground. You can easily miss them if you are not looking.

Here are a few things you should know:

* The temple is near Ram Ghat and Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.

* Historians think it was built in the 10th century.

* It is connected to King Vikramaditya’s rule. The Paramara dynasty rebuilt parts of it later.

* Two goddesses, Chhoti Mata and Badi Mata, are worshipped here. Mahalaya and Mahamaya guard the entrance.

The Real Story That Most People Do Not Know

This is what really interested me. A long time ago, the Mahakal Temple was not open like it is now. It was deep in a forest called Mahakalavana. This gate was one of four ways to enter.

The story goes that Mahalaya and Mahamaya would not let just anyone through. Every king who wanted to enter had to pass a test. They had to prove they were honest and fair. If they failed, they could not enter. King Vikramaditya passed the test. I do not know if this is true or just a story. It is a good story.

There is also a part to this story. The gate was once decorated with gemstones.. The Mughals came and took the gemstones. They damaged the structure. That is why it looks old now.