The Omkareswar Jyotir Lingam Temple, Madhya Pradesh

The Omkareswar Jyotir Lingam Temple, Madhya Pradesh

"The hidden gem of Madhya Pradesh"

The Omkareswara Temple is situated on the Island of Mandhata at the banks of Narmada River. This area is one of Indias most enchanting pilgrimage places. The river Narmada branches into two and form the island Mandhata, known in ancient times as Shivpuri. The River Krishna joins Narmada and the confluence or Sangama is considered a very holy place. Seen from above the island is shaped like the OM symbol.

Like a mini Varanasi

The island is dominated by the white Sikhara of the Sri Omkar Mandhata ("Bestover of desires"), the Omkareswara Temple. This temple holds one of the 12 sacred Jyotir Shiva Lingams (natural rock lingams which is said to have miracously emerged from light). The Omkar Island is 2km long and 1km wide, with jagged cliffs on its southern and eastern sides. It is adorned with temples, sadhu's caves and bathing ghatts and the air is filled with chanting from the temples.

Stair leading to the Omkareswara Temple area

Main entrance

Entrance to the Omkareswara Jyotir Linga Shrine. A TV screen is showing the offerings to the Linga.

Inside the Omkareswara Temple

The temple top seen from the narrow streets

Sadhu performing Puja to another Shiva Lingam

Bala Shiva Shrine Shiva Lingam with Cobra ornament Cradle Narrow steps inside the temple top   The temple top seen from inside

Puja materials for sale before entering the temple

Entrance to the highly revered Sri Adi Shankara's Cave, which he used for prayer.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva, a great realized soul and the greatest reformer of India. He preached the Advita (non-dualistic) philosophy of Vedanta, to reestablish the authority of the Veda's and wrote the Brahmasutra.

The idol inside the cave, a depicting of Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788-820AD), the religious reformer of India.

Ganapati Shrine on the way to the Jyotir Lingam Shrine

The sacred Shiva Lingas from Narmada River are sold in great numbers at the shops near the temple

The Omkareswara Jyotir Linga

Sri Omkareswara

The Omkareswara Jyotir Shiva Lingam is very old and with a rugged surface from rituals performed to it over centuries. It is 25-30cm in diameter, black and very shiny.

"The Lingam is split into two, the Omkareswara & the Amaleshwara"
The Omkareswara Jyotir Lingam	The Amaleswara Jyotir Lingam
Mythology
Legend tells us that Mandhata, a great Emperor of the Ishvaku clan, ruled and also did great penance here at this land. It is said that once sage Naradar, during his visit to the Vindyas, sang the praise of mount Meru to Mount Vindhya. On hearing this, Mount Vindhya prayed to Lord Siva to gain in importance. Lord Siva blessed him and appeared here as Omkareshwara and Amaleshwara and gave the boon of growing, but without hindering devotees of Lord Shiva. But the Vindhyas did not stop growing, and even obstructed the sun and the moon. Sage Agasthyar subdued its growth by saying it should not grow till he gets back there. He never went back and hence the growth was arrested.
Wiev from the Omkareswara Temple towards the Amaleswara Temple. The Amalesara is the two dark Sikharas in the middle of the picture behind the white temple (which is not Omkareswara)
A pilgrimage to the Omkareswara Jyotir Lingam is not complete untill you have visited and have had the Darshan of the Amaleswara Jyotir Lingam. The Amaleswara Temple (see bottom of this page) you will find on the mainland before walking across the footbridge.

The Omkareswara Temple

The Omkareshwara temple is built in the North Indian Nagara style and is characterized by a lofty white spiraled Shikhara. The temple is constructed from local softstone worked to a rare degree of detail, particulary in the friezes of the upper part of the structure. It is said that this cavelike temple dates all the way back to the Krita Yuga. It is possible for the pilgrims to enter the tower and on the way up you pass by shrines to Ganesha and Annapurani. Devotees consider worship to the Panchamuga Ganesha, to be very auspicious.

The lightbulbs on the temple roof

Omkareswar is a busy pilgrim city

The Amaleswara Jyotir Lingam Temple, Madhya Pradesh

The first wiew of the Amaleswara Temple seen from the street

The Amaleswara temple top

In the village on the mainland you find the Amaleswara Temple, the shrine with the other half of the Jyotir Lingam. Legend has that upon the request of the Devas, the Shivalinga split into two, one half being Omkareshwara and the other Amaleshwara or Amareshwar. The Yatra (pilgrimage) to Omkareswara is therefore not complete unless you have visited the Amaleshwara temple and have had the Darshan of the Amaleswara Jyotir Linga.

The Amaleswara Temple seen from the courtyard

Entrance busy with pilgrims

Courtyard with the Nandi Shrine

Nandi bull at the entrance

Relief at the backside of the maintemple

Sidetemple

Side Temple

Idols left over after reconstruction

 

The footbridge

Footbridge from mainland to the island of Omkareswara

A high foot bridge is connecting the island with the village on the mainland. You can also go by boat and once you are there you have a feeling of being in a mini Varanasi with narrow lanes, shrines in little nooks, incense, Narmada Shiva Lingams and dye merchants. Crowds gather for the Pujas that are performed in the temple three times a day.

Narmada River seen from the bridge towards east

Narmada seen towards west

The pylons carrying the bridge

Boatride to the Sangama

This area offers beautiful boatrides to the Sangama where the Narmada River and Kaveri River meet and merge into eachother. The meeting place beteen two or even more auspicious, three rivers is considered as very holy places in the Hindu tradition. See Narmada River for more fotos from the boatride at Omkareswara.

Busy atmosphere at the boat rent

Ready to go

Omkar sign on the Narmada River banks

OM Namah Shivaya
 

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Vaishno Devi Darshan Live Aarti from Bhawan

Vaishno Devi Darshan Live Aarti from Bhawan

Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Patal Bhuvaneshwar is a limestone cave temple 14 km from Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is located in the village Bhubneshwar. Legend and folklore have it that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva and thirty three crore Gods. The cave is 160 m long and 90 feet deep from the point of entrance. Limestone rock formations have created various spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures of various hues and forms. This cave has a narrow tunnel-like opening which leads to a number of caves. The cave is fully electrically illuminated. Built by to the flow of water, Patal Bhuvaneshwar is not just one cave, rather a series of caves within caves.

"He who wants to feel the presence of eternal power should come to the sacred Bhuvneshwar situated near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga."
-Manaskhanda, Skandapuran, whose 800 verses refer to Patal Bhuvaneshwar.
The first human to discover this cave was Raja Ritupurna who was a king in Surya Dynasty who was ruling Ayodhya during the Treta Yuga. The story starts with Ritupurna and King Nala. It is said that once, King Nala was defeated by his wife, Queen Damayanti. In order to escape his wife’s prison Nala requested Ritupurna to hide him. Ritupurna took him to the forests of the Himalayas and asked him to stay there. While going back home he was fascinated by a deer which ran into woods and went after it. He could not find it and took rest under a tree. He had a dream where the deer was asking Ritupurna not to chase him. His sleep broke and as he woke up and went to a cave where a guard was standing. After enquiring about the cave he was allowed to go inside. Right at the entrance, Ritupurna met Sheshnag who agreed to take him through the cave. It carried him on his hood. He saw the marvels of Gods taking place inside. He all the 33-crore gods and goddesses including Lord Shiva himself. It is said that after his visit, the cave was closed for ages with a slight prediction in the Skandpurana that it will be reopened again in Kaliyuga. Shankarcharya in Kalyug, during his temporary visit to Himalayas re-discovered this cave. Since then regular worship and offering are being done at this place
According to belief King Rituparna of the Sun dynasty (Surya Vansha) discovered the cave in ‘Treta yug’. It has been described in the ‘MANAS KHAND’ of ‘SKAND PURAN’. Adi Shankaracharya visited this cave in 1191 AD. That was the beginning of the modern pilgrimage history, at Patal Bhuvaneshwar.[2] The journey inside the cave has to be carried in feeble lights, holding protective iron chains. The Stone formations of Sheshnag can be seen, holding earth, heaven the world beneath. ‘Havan’ (fire sacrifice) is performed in a dimly lit, solemn atmosphere, under the spell of holy chants. You’ll also be impressed by theto visit these parts form the celestial heights of His abode in Kailash.The cave, it is believed, is connected by an underground route to Mount Kailash.[3] it’s believed that Pandavas, the ‘Mahabharat’ heroes proceeded towards their last journey in the Himalayas after meditating here, in front of Lord Shiva.This hidden pilgrimage situated at 1,350mts above sea level is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva.Almost every god that you would have heard of resides in this mystifying cave. It is also believed that you can worship at Patal Bhuvaneshwar is equivalent to worshipping at Char Dham of Uttarakhand.

The priest family, the Bhandaris are performing religious rites at Patal Bhuvaneshwar since the time of the Adi Shankaracharya. More than 20 generations in the line. They are a treasure house of legends, lores, anecdotes and information about this holy place. It is also believed that this cave is internally connected to the four abodes /seats (Char Dham).
"This awesome cave is believed to be as old as the earth itself. It has been mentioned in detail in the 103 chapter of Manaskhand of "Skanda Purana". The first human who entered this cave was king "Rituparna" of Suraya Dynasty during the "Tretayuga". It is said that during his visit, he had encountered several demons and "Sheshnaag" himself acted as his guide.One can see the gateway of the great ages in Patal Bhuvaneshwar. There are four entrances inside the cave named as ‘Randwar’ ‘Paapdwar’, ‘Dharamdwar’ and ‘Mokshadwar’. The Paapdwar was closed soon after the death of Ravana and the Randwar, literally, the road to war, was closed down after the great Mahabharata war. At present only two gateways are opened. You can see the tongue of Kali Bhairav, Aravati of Indra, hairs of Lord Shiva and several other wonders inside the caves of Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

In "Dwaparyuga" this cave was rediscovered by the Pandavas. In Kaliyuga, Adishankar Acharya consecrate this cave and since 1191, this has been a place of visit, both for sightseeing and worship."

POSTED BY   :  VIPUL KKKOUL
EDITED BY    :  ASHOK KOUL