A Devotee’s Final Moments of Faith
In a poignant turn of events, 52-year-old Pawan Diwakar passed away unexpectedly on 15 February, just moments before the sacred Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. His final WhatsApp status—“This body is made from clay, and breaths are borrowed; hearts are for Mahakal, we are all tenants”—has since gone viral, serving as a hauntingly beautiful reminder of life’s impermanence and devotion’s depth.
A Tragic Morning at the Temple
Among the many devotees waiting for the pre-dawn ritual was Saurabh Raj Soni, a 47-year-old tea vendor from Ujjain’s bustling Freeganj area. Known for his unflinching devotion, he had arrived around 1:30 a.m. to witness the revered ceremony. As chants filled the air and incense wafted through the temple, Saurabh suddenly collapsed near Gate No. 1. Witnesses rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors confirmed a fatal heart attack. His passing turned what was to be a moment of divine connection into one of collective mourning.
The Humble Life of a True Devotee
Saurabh owned the Vinayak Café, a modest tea stall often frequented by devotees and temple visitors. Friends remember him as deeply spiritual — a man whose life revolved around Mahakal. His friend Dharmendra Pandya shared tearfully, “The darshan for Saurabh was everything — he always said, ‘Humara saamagriya waale upar ke baaton mein hai.’ He lived for his faith.”
Hours before his death, his WhatsApp status mirrored his soul’s surrender, reinforcing how he saw life itself as a temporary offering to the divine.
A City Mourns Its Bhakt
As news spread across Ujjain, grief-stricken devotees gathered at Mahakaleshwar Temple to offer floral tributes. Amid the sounds of conch shells and prayers, many felt that Saurabh’s spirit had merged with Lord Mahakal — a final union between the mortal and the eternal.
For a city steeped in faith, the incident was more than tragedy; it was a spiritual reflection — a divine reminder that even in death, devotion endures.
Faith, Mortality, and the Divine
The passing of both Pawan Diwakar and Saurabh Soni within the temple’s sacred precincts has left Ujjain reflective. On the eve of Diwali, when the city glows with light and life, their deaths remind us that every breath is a borrowed one — a divine gift meant to be lived in gratitude and faith.
As the bells of Mahakal continue to toll, devotees whisper prayers not of sorrow, but of peace — for those who found liberation in the Lord’s eternal presence.