Omkareshwar is the fourth linga in the twelfth Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. It is located in Mandhata city of Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh state in India, also known as Omkareshwar. It is about 16 km from Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh. Omkareshwar is formed by the holy river Narmada. Omkar was first uttered by the creator Brahma. Vedas do not begin without Om. Omkar Swaroop Jyotirlinga Shri Omkareshwar means that Lord Shiva has appeared here in the form of Omkar. Jyotirlinga is the place where Lord Shiva himself appeared and is established in the form of light. All sins are destroyed by the darshan of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga History and Architecture
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva comes to Omkareshwar Mamleshwar Temple every day after roaming around the earth for night rest. The priests of the temple perform aarti at the place of Lord Shiva here on the basis of mythological belief. Omkareshwar is the only temple where Shayan Aarti of Lord Shiva is performed by the temple priests.
River Kaveri originates from the locks of hair of Lord Shiva. According to mythology, Dhanpati Kuber was a great devotee of Lord Kuber. Kuber performed rigorous penance to please Lord Shiva, for this he established a Shivalinga. Lord Shiva was pleased with Kuber's devotion and made Kuber the richest among the gods. Lord Shiva had created the Kaveri river from his hair for the bath of Kubera, this river then joins the Narmada. Here Kaveri circles Omkar Mountain and meets Narmada at the confluence. Which is called the confluence of Narmada and Kaveri. After the end of Chaturmas, special worship is done on Dhanteras.
The glory of Omkareshwar area is mentioned in the Puranas, Skanda Purana, Shivpuran and Vayupuran. There are total 68 shrines in Omkareshwar. 33 crore Gods and Goddesses reside here. There are 108 impressive Shivalingas in divine form here. This is the only Jyotirlinga which is situated on the northern bank of Narmada. On completion of the pilgrimage, all Hindus come to Omkareshwar and offer the holy water of Omkareshwar, only then the journey to other pilgrimages is considered complete.
The temple has a grand assembly hall which stands on about 60 huge gray stone pillars, elaborately carved with plaques of grotesque figures and sarcophagi. Many of them have broad shoulders and pensive foreheads. The temple has 5 storeys and each has a different deity. There are three regular 'pujas' in the temple. The morning ritual is performed by the temple trust, the mid ritual by the priest of Scindia state and the evening ritual by the priest of Holkar state. The temple is always crowded with pilgrims, who come after taking bath in the Narmada and carrying vessels filled with the Narmada. Water, coconut and puja materials, many of them perform abhishek or special puja through priests.
There is a beautiful form of Mother Narmada on the first floor of Mahakaleshwar temple in Omkareshwar Jyotirling. Gupteshwar and Dhwajeshwar temples are located on the third, fourth and fifth floors of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
Darshan time of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
Devotees can visit Omkareshwar throughout the week and the darshan timings are from 5 am to 9:30 pm. Timings of Mangal Aarti are 5 am, Jalabhishek at 5.30 am, Midday Bhog at 12.25 pm, Jalabhishek at 1.15 pm, Shayan Aarti at 8.20 pm, Shayan Darshan at 9.05 pm.
Major festivals of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
Maha Shivratri at Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most celebrated festivals during the month of Phalgun of the Hindu calendar. Makar Sankranti, Kartik Purnima and Narmada Jayanti are also celebrated in a grand manner.
How to reach Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga?
This temple is situated on the banks of Narmada and Kaveri rivers (a tributary of Narmada) on the island of Mandhata or Shivpuri. The island is 4 km long and 2.6 km2 in area and is accessible by boats and a bridge. The nearest railway stations are Khandwa Junction and Mhow. The nearest airport is Indore.
5 AM - 9:30 PM
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