The Supreme Court of India has set new norms for devotees to worship at the Jyotirlinga Mahakaleshwara temple in Ujjain. Devotees would now be allowed to offer only half a litre of RO (reverse osmosis) water as 'jalabhishek'.

The Supreme Court had formed a committee of experts consisting of officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) to look into the causes that were leading to the shrinking of the Shiva lingam. The committee was formed after the apex court was petitioned by Ujjani Vidwat Parishad that claimed that the Shiva Lingam was shrinking because of excessive bhang (marijuana leaves) offerings.

The committee recently visited the temple in Ujjain. It consulted the temple managing committee and other stake holders and made the following recommendations before the Supreme Court.

Only 1.25 litre of panchamrit - a mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar and ghee - should be allowed per devotee.

Only RO water should be allowed for 'jalabhishek' and it should be limited to half a litre per devotee.

Exhaust fans should be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum.

The sanctum sanctorum should be kept dry when jalabhishek is not being done.

Jalabhishek should not be allowed throughout the day.

Sugar powder should not be allowed as offering over the Shivalingam.

Only a specified amount of 'bel patra' leaves should be allowed per devotee.

All efforts should be made to keep the Shiva Lingam clean all the time.

The committee also concluded that the Shiva Lingam was not getting damaged due to marijuana leave offerings.