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The Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga, fourth among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. It holds incredible spiritual and astrological significance, attracting devotees worldwide. If you are a spiritual seeker, read to know its spiritual, astrological, and other interesting facts in detail!
‘Omkareshwar’ means the Lord of OM sound. It is also known as Shree Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Shri Omkar Nath Temple, Shivpuri, and Mandhata. The Hindus believe that when a person worships Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, he completes the Panch Kedar and Kedarnath. Many couples visit Omkareshwar Mandir, performing rituals to seek Mahadev's blessings for a Child.
Also, the Parikrama (clockwise circulation) around the temple helps in spiritual purification, removing one’s sins, forgiving one, and giving one Moksha (liberation) after death. It can also provide a boon, leading a person towards a better future. Most people come here at the Mahashivaratri celebrations.
The Omkareshwar Mandir in Madhya Pradesh has spiritual and astrological mysteries surrounding it. Let’s read to know about these:
The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga temple is the fourth among the 12 Jyotirlingas representing Shiva's manifestation. The divine energy of the Jyotirlinga guides you on your path of self-realisation. Also, apart from Skanda Purana, its religious importance is found in Vayu and Shiva Purana.
Many festivals like Maha Shivaratri, Diwali, Makar Sankranti, Kartik Poornima, etc., are celebrated yearly at Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga. Also, visiting this place relieves you from the cycle of life and death. Your desires get fulfilled, and Lord Shiva grants you his blessings.
Another cultural legend tells about Omkarshwar and Mamleshwar (also known as Amleshwar). In the Vedic Times, Lord Shiva manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga pleased by the Tapasya of Vindhya (The God of the Vindhya Mountain Range). As a result, Lord Shiva split himself into the two sides of the Narmada river, the Omkareshwar in the North and Mamleshwar on the South side.
This is also a reason the Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga is also called the Parthivlinga. It is said that a pilgrimage to the Omkareshwar is always incomplete without a visit to Mamleshwar. The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is known as the 12 Jyotirlingas because the devotees consider it the main temple on Mandhata island.
As every Jyotirlinga is associated with each zodiac, the Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga is astrologically associated with the zodiac sign Cancer. The Planet Jupiter is always exalted and attains exaltation in this sign in the Temple.
The Cancer zodiac is the sign of care and knowledge, and the Omkar Nath Temple represents ‘OM’, which means self-knowledge and divine insight. So, Cancerians can visit here to sharpen their knowledge and wisdom.
Rituals Performed at Omkar Nath Temple
They can also perform Abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Shiva Lingam with Panchamrit (a mixture of yoghurt, ghee, sugar, and honey) and chant the mantra ‘OM NAMAH SHIVAYA’. This ritual represents the Jal Tattwa, one of the five Tattwas( air, water, fire, air, and aether).
The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Homam (Havan)
The Omkareshwar Homam, a fire ritual called Havan, helps remove the ill effects of Mars from the horoscope. This improves one love relationship and gives one success and a happy married life.
The Omkareshwar temple history is divine, making one curious to know more about it! Let’s read this one by one:
Once, Narad Muni visited the Vindhyachal mountain and kept talking about Mount Meru as it was taller, and the sun shines at its peak. Listening to this, Vindhya got upset and started to meditate with devotion to Lord Shiva to grow taller.
Pleased with Vindhya’s tough penance, Lord Shiva blessed him, saying he would stay as Pranava Linga on his mountain named ’Omkareshwar’. But it grew taller daily, and Agastya Rishi asked the hill to slow down. Vindhya obeyed his order and bowed down, stopping its growth.
The King Mandhata of the Ishavaku clan (Ancestor of Ram) worshipped Lord Shiva here. His sons Ambarish and Muchchkund were Mahadev's devotees and worshipped him. Lord Shiva gave him a Darshan and manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga in this Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga. This Mandir was named Mandhata only because of his devotion to Lord Shiva.
The other story is about a war between the Devas (Gods) and Danavas ( Demons) that was won by the demons. The Gods were scared, so they went to Lord Shiva and prayed to him to save them. Listening to their prayers, Lord Shiva defeated the demons emerging as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga.
This story tells about the deep devotion of the river Narmada at Omkar Nath. She performed hard penance to get close to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, pleased by her tough penance, granted her a boon that he would reside in the form of Jyotirlinga on the island of the Narmada River.
By this, the island became known as Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. Nowadays, devotees do a Parikrama to seek the blessings of Goddess Narmada and Lord Shiva. Also, Devi Narmada's deity is kept on Mandhata island.
Mughal invaders destroyed the temple in the 13th century. However, Omkareshwar was the only temple in the region that was not much damaged. Also, the temple was under the Chauhan kings during Mughal rule, but no renovation was done then.
The temple was rebuilt and restored during Holkar's rule. The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India), with the help of the Khandwa administration, currently preserves the Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga.
Let’s learn about the beautiful Architecture of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga:
The Architecture of Omkareshwar Temple Jyotirlinga is an example of Nagara-style architecture. It is built in the North Indian style. The deity of Lord Shiva is placed at the top of the Mandir. This style of architecture comprises a long, pointed tower, beautiful walls and ceilings, and paintings.
Several verandas are in different shapes, such as polygons, circles, and squares. The Mandir has five stories comprising the deities of not only Omkareshwar but also Mahakaleshwar, Gupteshwar and the idol of Dhwajadhari Shikhar. The Shrines of Lord Krishna, Shani Dev, Devi Narmada, Maa Annapoorna and Panchamukhi Ganesh are present in the complex of the Temple.
Yakshini Figurine Pillars
The temple has a spacious mandapa, which is 14 feet high, and a stunning wall with 40 massive pillars decorated with Yakshi figures. The Mandir was built using soft stones, which makes the carvings unique. The sanctum of the temple, built in an older style, shows a small temple, and its dome is made of stone layers. This small temple on the southern side faces north, and the newly built part of this mandir faces south.
The Omkareshwar temple jyotirlinga is installed on the ground-floor sanctorum. It is a black, roundish stone that is partially immersed in water. It is unique to this temple; it is not under the temple's Shikhara but on the side.
Also, above the Jyotirlinga, a silver figure of Maa Parvati is kept. The Mandir has six pilgrimages and thirty-three deities.
Read About Other Jyotirlingas
