Shri Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga Temple -

Shri Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga Temple

Located at the meeting point of Narmada and Kaveri rivers, the Omkareshwar temple is home to the fourth of the famous jyotirlingas.

“ॐ कार बिंदु संयुतम नित्यं ध्यायन्ति योगिनः। कामदं मोक्षदं चैव ॐ काराय नमो नमः॥
यह मंत्र ओंकारेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग की पूजा और ध्यान के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है। “

― Shri Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga

Kedarnath Dham is not only a spiritual retreat but also a spectacular destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. The temple is surrounded by snow-covered peaks, lush green valleys, and the flowing Mandakini River, which makes the entire region feel like a mystical paradise. The natural beauty of Kedarnath is absolutely mesmerizing, with pristine landscapes and towering mountains offering a tranquil environment for self-reflection and meditation.

History Behind the Omkareshwar Temple

The Jyotirlinga of Omkareshwar is located in Madhya Pradesh along the banks of the Narmada River. The eminent ‘Shikhara of Omkareshwar’ stands tall and proud in the sky as if overlooking the entire earth. The temple is mentioned in sacred Hindu texts like the Vedas and Puranas. The island of Omkareshwar has a total of 6 pilgrimages and 33 deities making it a must-visit place for spiritual seekers.
A symbolic manifestation of “Om” formed by the curves of Narmada makes the sacred site even more ethereal. Omkareshwar is an epitome of the years-old Hindu traditions and timeless religious influence of Shiva on his devotees. This temple is the only place where Lord Shiva appeared in an Omkara Swaroopa.
The religious importance of Omkareshwar finds mention in the Skanda Purana, the Shiv Purana, and the Vayu Purana. It is believed that whoever worships Omkareshwar with an unshakeable faith in Mahadev will attain respite from all the evils present on earth.
Many couples visit Omkareshwar temple and perform various rituals to get healthy offspring’s and lifelong happiness in blessings from Bholenath (Lord Shiva). According to the temple priests, if you do a Parikrama (circle around) of the temple, it will lead you to a promising future in life and Moksha (salvation) after death.

The Birth of the Temple

There are several stories associated with Omkareshwar, as mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. According to one, once Narad Muni (a traveling Vedic sage) visited the Vindhya Mountains and got enraged because there was no home for Lord Shiva in the region. So, the God of Vindhya Mountain started Tapasya (non-indulgence) to repent for this mistake.
He meditated on Lord Shiva in the form of the earthly lord. His faith and patience impressed Mahadev (Lord Shiva) who told the mountain god that he would reside on the island as Pranava Linga. And it would be divided into two parts- Mamleswar and Omkareswar. While Mamleswar was an earthly linga, Omkareswas was a Jyoti Linga (column of light). Since then, the place was named as Omkareswar, and a temple was built to worship the Jyotirlingam.
Another story goes that King Mandhata of the Ishvaaku dynasty (the one to which Lord Rama belonged) did extreme penance here. Impressed by his faith, Shiva blessed the king and appeared in this place in the form of a Jyotirlinga, referred to as Omkawareswar.
The third story from Hindu scriptures states that once there was a fierce war between Gods and Danavas(Demons), in which Danavas won. Fearful of the result of their victory, the Gods prayed to Lord Shiva who emerged in the form of Omkareswar Jyotirlinga and defeated the Demons.

Architectural Significance

The temple follows the Nagara style of architecture, which features high spires, elaborate frescos, and detailed sculptures. You will find large verandas encircling the shrine with huge columns carved in squares, polygons, and circles, which add to its visual appeal. The soft stone used to construct the temple has a surprising degree of detailed work, with frieze figures on the upper portion and intricately carved stone roof.

There is a spacious sabha mandapa in the temple, which is about 14 feet high and is supported by 40 massive pillars decorated with Yakshi figures. The temple has five stories in total on which different deities are installed viz; Shree Omkareshwar, Shree Mahakaleshwar, Shree Siddhanath, Shree Gupteshwar, and Dhwajdhari Shikhar Diety in the bottom to top order.

You will also find the revered shrines of Panchamukhi Ganesha and Annapoorna Devi in the temple complex. Lord Krishna, Devi Narmada, and Lord Shani are also worshipped in the temple.

The Jyotirlinga is installed in the sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, partially immersed in water. One unique feature of the Omkareshwar temple is that the Jyotirlinga is not under the Sikhara of the temple but on the side.