Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Madhya Pradesh

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Omkareshwar MP – Important Information

Temple / Deity	Omkareshwar (Lord Shiva)
Type of Deity	Jyotirlinga
Address	District Khandwa, Tehsil Punasa, Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh 450554
Darshan Timings	5:00 AM to 9:30 PM (All days of the week)
Aarti Timing	Gupt Arti 5.30 am to 6.00 am, Bhog 12.30 Noon to 1.00 pm, 5:45 pm to 6:15 pm closed due to cleaning of the temple complex, and Evening Aarti 7.00 pm.
Poojas	Maharudrabhisek, Laghurudrabhisek
Best Time to Visit	October to March
Festivals	Shravan and Shivratri
Nearest Airport	Indore Airport, which is around 85 km away from the temple.
Nearest Railway Station	Omkareshwar Mortakka Railway Station, The temple is located at a distance of about approx 12 km from the railway station.
Nearest Bus Stand	Mortakka Bus Stand, The temple is located at a distance of about approx 12 km from the bus stand.

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Omkareshwar temple is located in Mandhata, near the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is situated on an island called Mandhata (also called Shivapuri), near Khandwa city in the Narmada River in the Khandwa district, and the shape of the island is said to be like the OM (ॐ) symbol.

Here, there are two main temples of Lord Shiva – one is Omkareshwar, whose name means “Lord of Omkara or the Lord of the Om sound” and is situated on the island. Another is Mamleshwar (ancient name Amareshwaror) whose name means “Immortal Lord” or “lord of the Immortals” and is located on the south bank of Narmada River on the mainland.

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Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga | Omkareshwar Mandhata

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Shrine, popularly known as ‘Omkar Mandhata’ is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India. This holy place is located on the meeting point of the Narmada and Kaveri Rivers, making it a must-visit pilgrimage destination for Lord Shiva devotees.

The entire area of this holy place is bordered by mountains, making an enchanting view for travelers. If you’re here you must take a Parikrama around the island as it is considered to be very religious and you’ll feel relaxed and peaceful.

Legends About Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

There are different stories associated with this temple. As per the Shiva Puran, Narada visited the Vindhya mountains. It is believed that while the Vindhyas is the highest peak, Narada claimed that Mount Sumeru was superior to the Vindhyas since the Gods were always present there. So, the Vindhyas prayed to Lord Shiva to be at par with Sumeru. Lord Shiva then appeared before the Vindhya mountains. Thus, the Omkareshwar temple came into existence.

According to another story, there ensued a great war between the Devas and Danavas (Gods and Demons), in which the Danavas won. This was a major setback for the Devas who then prayed to Lord Shiva. Pleased with their prayer, Lord Shiva emerged in the form of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and defeated the Danavas. 

History Of Omkareshwar Temple

The original date of construction of this historic temple is not known. However, the earliest evidence states that in 1063, King Udayaditya installed four stone inscriptions each with Sanskrit Stotras. In 1195, Raja Bharat Singh Chauhan renovated the temple and built a palace near it. The temple is a beautiful, three-story construction sustained by large pillars made up of engraved granite stone.

In the medieval period, Mandhata Omkareshwar was ruled by the aboriginal Bhil chieftains under the suzerainty of the Parmars of Dhar, the sultans of Malwa, the Scindia of Gwalior, who in turn handed over Mandhata to the British in 1824. The last Bhil chieftain Natthu Bhil fell out with Daryao Gosai a powerful priest of the place. The latter approached the king of Jaipur to set right Natthu Bhil.

The king sent his brother Bharat Singh Chauhan, then Subedar of Jhalarapatan on the border of Malwa. Finally, the entire tussle ended with the marriage of Bharatsingh and the only daughter of Natthu Bhil. Bhagat Singh, along with some of the Rajput associates who also married other Bhil girls, settled in Mandhata in 1165 A.D. Their progeny are called Bhilalas. Bharat Singh’s descendants have ruled Omkareshwar since then. During British rule, the Rajas (officially known as Raos) had Jagir rights to Mandhata Omkareshwar, which have now been abolished. (Reference: http://omkareshwar.org/)

Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Poojas

You can perform the below sevas and poojas at Omkareshwar Temple:

• Maha Rudrabhishek: This Abhishekam is performed by reciting Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and the Atharva Veda in front of the Linga.
• Laghu Rudrabhishekham: Devotees believe that by doing this Pooja, one can overcome health-related issues.
• Narmada Aarti: Every evening a Maha Aarti takes place on the banks of River Narmada which is spectacular to view.
• Mundan (Tonsure): Devotees also perform a Mundan at temple premises or the river bank.
• Bhagavan Bhog: During this, devotees present lord Shiva with a Naivedyam Bhog in the evening every day. The Bhog (food) is made of pure Ghee, Sugar, and Rice.

Omkareshwar Temple Timings

Omkareshwar Mandir Timing – The temple opens on all days of the week at 5 AM and closes at 10 PM. Darshan is between 5:30 AM to 12:20 PM and 4 PM to 8:30 PM. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals, such as the morning, afternoon, and evening aarti.

Things to Do and See in Omkareshwar

• Visit the Omkareshwar Temple, one of the most famous holy places situated at the meeting point of the Narmada and Kaveri Rivers. You’ll get charmed by the stunning architecture and striking mural paintings & carvings of the place.
• Head towards the left from Shri Omkar Mandhata and walk up 287 steps to the 11th-century temple of Gaudi Somnath from where you can go down the hill to the northern part of the island. Else, you can go up the narrow, inner staircase of the temple or sit and encounter the play of langur and monkeys.
• Don’t miss to explore the elegant sculpted Siddhanatha Temple in Omkareshwar, which is embellished with wonderful elephant carvings around its base.
• Other notable shrines of Omkareshwar include the Mamaleshwar temple, Satmatrika temple, Ranmukteshwar temple, Gauri Somnath temple, Kedareshwar temple, and many more.

How To Reach Omkareshwar MP

You can get to Omkareshwar Temple using any of the three options, depending on your time, budget, and needs.

• By Air: The nearest domestic airdrome is Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore which is about 85 Km away from the Omkareshwar Mandir and it takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Omkareshwar. The other nearest international airdrome is Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal which is located at a distance of approx 264 km from Omkareshwar. Many flights to various national and international destinations take off from this international airport.

• By Rail: Omkareshwar Railway Station (Approx 12 km) is the nearest railhead from the city, which is located on the Ratlam-Khandwa railway line. Another major junction is Khandwa Junction, which is about 70 km away from the temple. It is linked with major cities of India like New Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Lucknow, Kanyakumari, Puri, Jaipur, Ratlam, etc.

• By Road: There are several state government and private buses that connect Omkareshwar to major cities like Khandwa (73 km), Indore (86 Km), Dewas (114 Km), Ujjain (133 Km), Jalgaon (222 Km), Bhopal (268 Km), Vadodara (376 km), Nagpur (446 Km), and Mumbai (576 km).

Where To Stay In Omkareshwar

There are plenty of Dharmashalas available in Omkareshwar to stay in. Most of them are newly constructed and equipped with modern amenities. There are no Dharmashalas or Ashrams run by the temple administration. Some of the popular places to stay are Shri Gajanan Mahajan Sansthan and the MP Narmada tourist bungalows.

There are also plenty of budget accommodation options available, ranging from luxury resorts to budget hotels. All the hotels are well-furnished and laced with modern amenities.

Some of the major hotels to stay at in Omkareshwar are:

• Shri Radhe Krishna Resort
• Hotel Geeta  Shri & Restaurant
• Hotel Devansh  Palace
• Hotel Aashirwad
• Prasadam Restaurant
• Hotel Om Shiva
• Maa Kanchan Guest House

Omkareshwar Temple Contact Details

Address: Markandeya Ashram Rd, District Khandwa, Tehsil Punasa, Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh 450554

Phone: 07280-271228

Official Website: https://shriomkareshwar.org/

Location of Google Maps: Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

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FAQs – Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

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Also Read:

• 12 Jyotirlinga Shrine in India
• Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple