Manu Bhaker visits Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, fulfils long-held wish
Synopsis
Fresh from making Olympic history in Paris, shooter Manu Bhaker made a quieter kind of pilgrimage — to Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple, the only south-facing Jyotirlinga in India. The double-bronze medallist called the visit the fulfilment of a long-held personal wish, offering a glimpse of the faith behind the champion.
Key Takeaways
Manu Bhaker visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh , on 20 August .
The visit fulfilled a long-standing personal wish to seek blessings at one of India's 12 Jyotirlingas .
Bhaker praised the temple administration for its management and the spiritual atmosphere of the shrine.
She won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics — in the women's 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh .
She is the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games .
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday, 20 August, fulfilling what she described as a long-standing personal wish to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva at one of India's most revered shrines. The 22-year-old shooter, who made history at the Paris Olympics as the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single Games edition, took time from her schedule to offer prayers at the ancient Jyotirlinga.
Bhaker's Visit and Reaction
Speaking after the darshan, Bhaker expressed deep satisfaction at having fulfilled the wish. 'I have had a wish for a very long time to visit Mahakaleshwar Ji Temple in Ujjain, and today that wish has finally come true,' she said. 'We were able to come here, although we had very little time. But seeing the devotion of the devotees here and the arrangements made by the temple authorities and everyone involved, who work so hard, made me very happy,' she added.
Bhaker also praised the temple administration for its seamless management of the sacred premises and lauded the spiritual atmosphere she encountered during her brief visit.
About Mahakaleshwar Temple
The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas in India and is notable for being the only south-facing Jyotirlinga among them. Situated in the ancient city of Ujjain, it holds a place of singular importance in Hindu tradition — the people of Ujjain have venerated Lord Mahakal as their king and protector for centuries. The temple's origins trace back to prehistoric times, though its precise date of construction remains unknown.
The sacred Mahakal Jyotirlinga is enshrined at the lowest level of the temple structure. The Omkareshwar Shivalinga occupies the middle tier, while the topmost level houses the Nagchandreshwar shrine, which opens to the public only once a year on Nag Panchami.
Bhaker's Historic Paris Olympics Achievement
Bhaker shot to national prominence after winning bronze medals in two events at the Paris Olympics — the women's 10m air pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. The double-medal feat placed her in a class of her own in Indian Olympic history, making her the first athlete since independence to achieve the milestone at a single edition of the Games.
This comes amid growing public interest in Bhaker's off-field journey, as the young champion continues to balance sporting commitments with personal milestones. Her Ujjain visit is a reminder that behind the medals lies a grounded individual shaped by faith and humility.
Point of View
But it signals something more deliberate — a young champion carefully shaping her public identity beyond the shooting range. In a media environment hungry for relatable sports personalities, Bhaker's combination of record-breaking performance and visible personal faith positions her as one of India's most marketable athletes heading into the next Olympic cycle. The more pressing question the visit sidesteps is what institutional support Indian shooting will receive to build on the Paris momentum before Los Angeles 2028.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manu Bhaker visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain?
Manu Bhaker visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple on 20 August to fulfil a long-standing personal wish to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. She described the visit as a deeply meaningful experience and praised the temple's management and spiritual atmosphere.
What is the Mahakaleshwar Temple and why is it significant?
The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas in India and the only one that faces south. It is among the most revered Hindu shrines, with origins tracing back to prehistoric times. The temple has three tiers, with the Nagchandreshwar shrine at the top opening to the public only once a year on Nag Panchami.
What did Manu Bhaker achieve at the Paris Olympics?
Manu Bhaker won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics — in the women's 10m air pistol event and the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh. She became the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games.
How old is Manu Bhaker?
Manu Bhaker is 22 years old. Despite her age, she has already become one of India's most celebrated athletes following her historic double-medal performance at the Paris Olympics.
What did Manu Bhaker say about her Ujjain visit?
Bhaker said she had wished to visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple for a very long time and was overjoyed that the wish came true. She noted that despite having limited time, the devotion of fellow pilgrims and the hard work of the temple authorities made her very happy.
