Ujjain: Special Prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Mission Success

Ujjain: Special Prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Mission Success (image: ANI)

UJJAIN (Madhya Pradesh), June 26: In a spiritual gesture filled with patriotic pride, special prayers were performed at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain on Thursday for the successful space mission of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to journey into space. As part of India’s growing presence in international space exploration, the offering of prayers at one of the most sacred Shiva temples in India added a divine touch to this historic event.

During the auspicious Bhasma Aarti, a daily pre-dawn ritual at the Mahakaleshwar Temple, members of the Hari Om Bhakt Mandal held a photograph of Group Captain Shukla while seeking blessings from Lord Mahakal. They prayed for the success of his mission, which is being carried out under Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) — a landmark private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), made history by becoming only the second Indian to travel into space. He follows in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who in 1984 became the first Indian to fly in space aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft. Sharma’s historic flight lasted seven days aboard the Salyut 7 space station.

Now, four decades later, Group Captain Shukla carries forward India’s space legacy with his journey aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched as part of the Axiom Space Mission 4.

Mahakaleshwar Temple Rituals 

The special prayer ceremony in Ujjain began with the Panchamrit Puja Abhishek, followed by the sacred Maha Vijaya Snan, and the traditional Bhasma Aarti — a spiritual sequence unique to the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Thousands of devotees, who regularly attend the Brahma Muhurat Aarti, joined in collective prayers, highlighting the deep spiritual connection between ancient Indian traditions and modern achievements like space missions.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Axiom-4 marks the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS and was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 am ET (12:00 noon IST) on Wednesday. The mission features a diverse international crew led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space.

Joining her are Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The team is scheduled to dock with the ISS around 7:00 am ET (4:00 pm IST) on June 26 and will stay aboard for up to 14 days. Their mission includes scientific research, space outreach, and commercial activities, highlighting the evolving role of private players in space exploration.

India’s Spiritual & Scientific Blend on Global Stage

This unique confluence of India’s spiritual heritage and scientific progress stands as a powerful reminder of how faith and technology continue to move hand-in-hand. From the sacred banks of the Kshipra River in Ujjain to the cutting-edge labs of NASA and Axiom Space, India’s reach spans both the heavens and the Earth.

As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla orbits the planet, the prayers offered at Mahakaleshwar Temple symbolise a nation's hopes — grounded in faith, lifted by science.

Credit: ANI