Bhartrihari Caves, Ujjain – Timings, Entry Fee, History, Location

Bhartrihari Caves Ujjain

Vital Information for Visitors

Address:

Bhartrihari Caves, Barnagar Road, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Timings:

6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Entry Fees:

Nil

Duration:

Approx 1 hour

Significance:

Sage Bhirtrihari’s meditation place; Nath cult temple; Historical Eminence

Bhartrihari Caves, one of the prominent tourist attractions in Ujjain , are located near Gadhkalika Mata Temple, on the eastern bank of River Kshipra. It is said that King Bhartrihari (भर्तृहरि) meditated here and wrote great works like Niti Shatak (नीति शतक), Shringar Shatak (श्रृंगार शतक) and Vairagya Shatak (वैराग्य शतक), collectively called Trishatak (त्रिशतक - a collection of three hundred couplets). He is also credited to be author of Bhattikavya (भट्टिकाव्य), an epic, and ‘Vakyapadiya’ (वाक्यपदीय) which expatiates on Sanskrit grammar and linguistic philosophy. Vakyapadiya amply indicates that its author lived at least one generation after Patanjali's commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi (अष्टाध्यायी - Eight Chapters on Sanskrit grammar), called Mahabhashya (महाभाष्य), had come into general use. Bhartrihari was of regal descent and the step brother of Vikramaditya; that not only did he belong to a reigning family, but that he was next in succession to the crown, and that, disgusted with the world, he resigned in favour of his brother Vikram. The authorship of Trishatak has been assigned to the end of the first or to the beginning of the second century A.D.

According to the popular tradition, Bhartrihari cave is the sanctuary hallowed by the ‘yogic’ practices of the king Bhartrihari. The structural designs of the present cave are the remains of a double storied monastery of the Parmar period (10th Century AD). The interior of the cave is extremely cool, peaceful and spiritual. By fourteenth and fifteenth century, this place had grown into an important center of the Nath cult (नाथ संप्रदाय). Popular faith connects these caves with the two important preceptors of the Nath cult - Gorakhnath and Matsyendranath. Gorakhnath’s perennial fire is set aflame even today. The testimony of Shaivite and Bhairavi forms of worship is evident from the sculpture of this place. The idol of Shiva holding ‘Khatvanga’ in a dancing pose proves the contact of this seat with ‘Kapalik’ cult (कापालिक संप्रदाय) also. The eastern caves and its dedicated pillars seem to be part of an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

Bhartrihari Caves in Ujjain are historical treasure. A narrow route inside the first cave leads to the place where Bhartrihari meditated. A stone – carved statue of Sage Bhartrihari is installed at the same site. There is a small temple in the second cave. The temple is a holy shrine of the Nath community. Ruins of an eleventh century Shiva temple are also seen here.

These caves are merely four kilometer away from railway junction in Ujjain. It is recommended to preferably visit the place during day time. The entrances to the caves are quite small and extremely narrow, making the entry a tricky task. The caves, supported by stone pillars, are home to several rooms, housing smaller shines and idols of deities.