- One of the 12 jyotirlingas in India, the lingam at the Mahakal is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself) deriving currents of power (shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti.
- The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be Dakshinamurti, facing the south. This is a unique feature upheld by tantric traditions to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third story is open for darshan only on the day of Nagpanchmi
- On the day of Mahashivaratri, a huge fair is held near the temple and worship goes on through the night.
- Great poets like Ved Vyas and Kalidas lauded the river Kshipra and the city of Ujjain in their literary work.
- Loard Krishna, his brother and his friend Sudama received their education living with Maharshi Sandipani in Ujjain.
- Ashoka, the great had been here for 11 years and received his education here.
- Ujjain witnessed the victory of Vikramaditya over the foreign invader Shaks and the commencement of 'Vikram Samvatsar' 2061years ago. Today, 'Vikram Samvstsar' is the oldest calendar in the Ujjain.
- Ujjain was the capital of renowned king Vikramaditya. His brother Bhrarthari became a dicipline of guru Gorkha Nath of 'Nath Sampraday' and renounced the world and meditated in the cave.
- It is believed that there was once a majestic Sun temple at the Kalia Deh site. The Avanti-Mahatmya of the Skanda Purana has recorded a description of the Sun Temple and two tanks, the Surya Kunda and the Brahma Kunda. People from nearby villages have a ritual dip in the Surya Kunda even today. Remains of the old temple are found scattered all over this area.
- A fragmented inscription of this place records the building of the palace in 1458, in the time of Mahmud Khilji. The story goes that the tanks were constructed all around to keep the temperature very low by Sultan Nasiruddin Khilji, the Sultan of Malwa in the 16th century, because he was in the habit of taking mercury which is very injurious to health.
- As a great religious center, Ujjain ranks equal to Benaras, Gaya and Kanchi. Saivism, Vaishnavism and their various cults and sects, Jainism and Buddhism, have found a niche in this catholic city. The Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana mentions innumerable temples consecrated to Shakti and her various forms. The Siddha and the Natha cults which were offshoots of Tantricism, also flourished in Ujjain.
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