Omkareshwar

Overview

Omkareshwar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located at Mandhata near Khandwa city in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is counted among the twelve revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva, which hold a significant place in Shaiva tradition.

The temple stands on an island in the Narmada River, known as Mandhata. The island is said to resemble the Devanagari symbol ॐ (Om), from which the shrine takes its name. The setting along the Narmada has long made the site an important pilgrimage destination associated with the worship of Shiva.

There are two principal Shiva temples linked with the site. The first is Omkareshwar, whose name means "Lord of Omkara" or "the Lord of the Om sound", located on the island itself. The second is Mamleshwar, also called Amaleshwar, whose name is interpreted as "Immortal Lord" or "Lord of the Immortals or Devas"; this shrine lies on the southern bank of the Narmada River on the mainland. In tradition, both temples are associated with the Jyotirlinga at this location.

Madhya Pradesh is home to two of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The other, the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, is situated approximately 140 km north of Omkareshwar, at Ujjain. Together, these two shrines make the state an important centre for pilgrims following the Jyotirlinga tradition within Shaivism.

References

• English Wikipedia page for Omkareshwar Temple