Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 3 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated an international conference titled 'Mahakal: The Master of Time' at the Planetarium Complex in Ujjain on Friday.
CM Yadav and Union Minister Pradhan also inaugurated the Ujjain Science Centre and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects, including "Samrat Vikramaditya: The Heritage" project and 4-lane Ujjain Bypass as part of preparation for upcoming Simhastha-2028.

Addressing the conference, the CM said, "Ujjain is not only a city of religion but also a city of science, with a rich legacy of mathematics, astronomy, and cosmological studies. Ujjain historically served as a hub for time calculation, where ancient techniques such as measuring time through the sun's shadow were developed. According to ancient Indian geography, Ujjain lies on the Tropic of Cancer and was once considered the central point of the Earth."
The Chief Minister said that according to science, everything in the universe is governed by time, but Lord Shiva symbolises the infinite -- the point from which time originates and where it ends. That is why he is regarded as "Mahakal," the master of time. Science believes that time and space are inseparable, and our scriptures had expressed this scientific truth centuries ago by describing Shiva as the universal form and Mahakal.
The CM further said that it is a matter of pride that Ujjain is being developed as a Science City. For this purpose, a science centre costing more than Rs 15 crore has been inaugurated. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous support is being received from the central government. This is a strong effort to revive our scientific heritage.
He added that the upcoming Simhastha 2028 is a golden opportunity to establish Ujjain's global identity. The aim is that devotees coming to Ujjain should not only receive the spiritual benefit of Mahakal darshan but also understand the scientific significance of this centre of time calculation.