Omkareshwar Templeਓਮਕਾਰੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਮੰਦਰ

The Omkareshwar Temple, on Mandhata island in Madhya Pradesh's Narmada river, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The island itself is traditionally described as shaped like the sacred syllable Om — the sound the temple's name honours, since Omkareshwar means "Lord of the Om sound".

One of the twelve Jyotirlingas

The twelve Jyotirlingas are the holiest Shiva shrines in India, believed to be the places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light — a story told in the Shiva Purana, in which Brahma and Vishnu once argued over supremacy of creation. Omkareshwar counts among these twelve, and it is one of two Jyotirlingas in Madhya Pradesh, the other being Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain, about 140 km to the north.

Within the sanctum, the jyotirlinga is described as a roundish black stone representing Shiva, with a white stone beside it representing his consort Parvati. The temple also houses shrines for Parvati and Ganapati. For more on India's great temples, see our guide to the famous mandirs of India.

Why is the island described as Om-shaped?

The temple stands on Mandhata — also called Shivapuri — an island in the Narmada near Khandwa city. The island is about 4 km long and covers roughly 2.6 square kilometres, and it is reached today by bridge and boat. It sits where the Narmada meets its tributary, the Kaveri.

The island's shape is traditionally said to resemble the Devanagari ॐ symbol, and this belief is woven into the place's identity: the very name Omkareshwar means "Lord of Omkara" or "Lord of the Om sound". The island, like the lingam it carries, is venerated almost as much as the deity himself.

Is the Jyotirlinga at Omkareshwar or Mamleshwar?

There are two main Shiva temples here, and their relationship is part of what makes the shrine distinctive. The Omkareshwar temple stands on the island; across the river, on the southern bank of the Narmada on the mainland, stands the Mamleshwar temple (also called Amaleshwar or Amareshwar, meaning "Immortal Lord").

According to one legend, Shiva appeared here in two forms — Omkareshwar and Amaleswara — and many traditions hold that a darshan of the Jyotirlinga is complete only when devotees visit both temples. Most accounts treat the island temple as the Jyotirlinga, but other traditions disagree: one holds that the lingam split into two and seated itself on the other bank as well, while some hold that the older-looking Mamleshwar temple is the true Jyotirlinga. Both are treated as equally sacred, and pilgrims visit both.

Legends of the temple

Three legends, told in the Shiva Purana and local tradition, explain the shrine's origin.

The first belongs to King Mandhata of the Ikshvaku clan, an ancestor of Rama. He worshipped Shiva here with severe penance until the Lord manifested as a Jyotirlinga to bless him. The island and its mountain take their name from him, and his sons Ambarish and Muchukunda are said to have practised austerities here as well.

The second tells of Vindhya, the deity of the Vindhya mountain range, who worshipped Shiva to be absolved of his sins. He fashioned a sacred diagram and a lingam of sand and clay; pleased, Shiva is believed to have appeared in two forms, Omkareshwar and Amaleswara. Because the mud mound appeared in the form of Om, the island came to be known as Omkareshwar.

The third speaks of a great war between the Devas and the Danavas, in which the demons prevailed. The gods prayed to Shiva, and he emerged in the form of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and defeated the Danavas.

A thousand years of history

The temple's recorded history reaches back a millennium. It is said to have been built by the Paramara kings of Malwa in the 11th century CE; the earliest Paramara record at Mandhata dates to 1055–1070 CE, in the reign of King Jayasimha I. After the Paramaras, the temple came under the administration of the Chauhan rulers.

In the 13th century, the temple suffered destruction and loot by invading armies, though it was never completely destroyed. It remained with the Chauhan kings through the Mughal period without much renovation. In the 18th century, the temple was rebuilt by the Holkar rulers of Indore: the work was begun by the first Holkar queen, Gautama Bai Holkar, and completed by her daughter-in-law, Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. After the colonial era, the Archaeological Survey of India took over the temple's care following Independence in 1947, together with the Khandwa administration.

Adi Shankara's cave below the temple

Just below the main Shiva temple lies a small cave that tradition holds as the place where the young Adi Shankara met his guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada. An image of Adi Shankara is installed at the cave, which contains a main hall and a small sanctum with a Shivalingam.

One legend says that when the Narmada flooded, Shankara poured the rising river water into his kamandalu (water pot) placed at the cave's mouth, saving his guru, who was deep in samadhi. The cave is open to visitors daily, generally from 9 AM to 6 PM, with no entry fee.

Planning a visit

Omkareshwar lies about 16 km from Barwaha in Khandwa district. The nearest airport is Indore, roughly 77 km away; the nearest major railway stations are Khandwa Junction and Mhow, while Omkareshwar Road station at Mortakka (a narrow-gauge line) is about 12 km from the temple. The island is connected to the mainland by bridge, and boats remain part of the pilgrim experience. The temple's official website, shriomkareshwar.org, carries current darshan and event information.

How many Jyotirlingas are there in Madhya Pradesh?

Two of the twelve Jyotirlingas are in Madhya Pradesh: Omkareshwar in Khandwa district and Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain, about 140 km north.

Which river flows around Omkareshwar?

The Narmada river flows around Mandhata island, joined at the site by its tributary the Kaveri. The Narmada is one of India's seven sacred rivers.

Should I visit Mamleshwar too?

Most traditions hold that the pilgrimage is complete only after visiting both the Omkareshwar temple on the island and the Mamleshwar temple on the mainland's south bank. Both are treated as equally sacred.