Omkareshwar Temple is situated 77 km from Indore and 20 kilometres from Mortakka in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The temple is located on the sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, 'Om’ at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri. Shri Omkar Mandhata or the Omkareshwar Temple is situated on the mountain Mandhata and is one of the 12 revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is one of the most sacred sites in central India.
Omkareshwar Temple - Legend
As per one legend two sons of king Mandhata - Ambarish and Muchkund practiced severe penance and austerities here and pleased Lord Shiva because of which the mountain is named Mandhata.
According to another mythological story, sage Narada sang the praise of Mount Meru's magnificence to Mount Vindhya. Jealous of the praise, the Vindhya Mountains practiced severe penance and impressed Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed Vindhya with the boon of perpetual growth on the condition that it would not hinder his devotes with its growth. However, Vindhya soon forgot the condition and grew so much that it hid the sun and the moon. The devotees then approached Saint Agastya for help, who tricked Vindhya into not growing any further. Sage Agastya subdued its growth by saying it should not grow till he gets back there. He never went back and hence the growth was arrested.
Subsequently, on the request of other Devtas, the Shivalinga was divided into two different parts. One part remained in the island of Omkareshwar, mainly in the temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata. While the second part of the Shivalinga was left in the region of Mamleshwar or Amareshwar.
About Omkareshwar Temple
There are two temple shrines situated here. One is the Omkareshwar whereas the other is the Amareshwar. Here the river Narmada branches into two and forms an island Mandhata or Shivapuri in the centre. The Omkareshwar Temple built using locally available soft stone displays Nagara style of architecture. The temple is characterized by a lofty shikhar which consists of 5 distinct layers, that features the image of various Hindu Gods. There are elaborate carvings in the exterior portion of the temple particularly in the form of friezes in the upper portions of the edifice. The shrine is encircled by verandas with columns which are carved in circles, polygons and squares. The white dome made of soft soap stone is also a major attraction of the temple.
Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great devotion here. During the festival Shiva is decorated in the most exquisite and elaborates manner and the entire place gets packed with pilgrims coming to seek the blessings of the lord.
How to reach Omkareshwar
The town of Omkareshwar is easily accessible from the main cities and towns of Madhya Pradesh. The nearest airport, Indore is 77 km from the shrine and is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal and Gwalior with regular flights. Omkareshwar railway station is situated at a distance of about 12 km away from Omkareshwar city centre and is well connected to many railway stations in central India. There are frequent buses to Omkareshwar from Indore, Ujjain and Khandwa.