A visit to the #Omkareshwar temple in #MadhyaPradesh on #ShravanSomvar #Templetales

The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is located around 80 Kms from Indore in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the sacred Narmada. We had started out early and the drive from Indore was wonderful as we breezed past green fields and colourful villages. Along the way we saw many groups of devotees carrying kavads and walking barefoot towards the temple. The driver told us that this was very common during the month of Shravan. The devotees would fill their jars with water from the sacred Narmada and carry it to the temple for performing abhishek to Lord Shiva at Omkareswar as well as Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain.

A view of the Omkareshwar Temple

Kavadias on the way to Omkareshwar

 

There was a traffic jam at a certain point and noticing an open wayside café, we got down to have coffee.  We then proceeded to Omkareshwar. It was a Shravan Somvar and there was a fair like atmosphere all around.  The shimmering blue waters of the Narmada, dotted with colourful boats waiting to ferry devotees to the temple was a welcoming sight. 

Colourful boats dotting the Narmada River

We chose to however use the Jhula Phul, a beautiful hanging bridge, about 272 feet long, built over the Narmada connecting the mainland to the island. 

The Jhula Phul

The shape of the Mandhata Island resembles the sacred Hindu symbol ‘OM’. The Omkareshwar Jyotirling temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India, is located atop this island. As we walk towards the temple, we find stalls on both sides of the lane selling any kind of puja items. We climb a flight of steps on the ghats to reach the temple. The base floor of the temple which houses the sacred Jyotirling immersed in water. There is a silver image of Goddess Parvati behind the Shivaling. We were allowed to perform abhishek for the Jyotirling with water and milk and offer Vilwa leaves to the Lord.

Inside the temple

A priest doubled up as a guide and led us to the Sabha Mandap standing on 60 pillars with artistic carvings.  He also told us that the temple is called the Omkar Mandhata temple as it was the Ikshvaku Maharaja Mandhata’s devotion that brought Lord Shiva to this place. The temple itself is a five storied structure with a shrine to Mahakaleshwar on the first floor and shrines to Siddhanath, Gupteshwar and Dhwajeshwar on the subsequent floors.  The priest told us that main pujas and abhishek with milk, curd and water are performed three times in a day at Omkareshwar. The first one is performed by the temple trust early in the morning. The second puja is performed by the priest of the Scindias, and the third in the evening by the priest of the Holkar State. Again there is a belief that Lord Shiva rests at Omkareshwar every night. So the Shayan Aarti at 8.30 pm in the night is worth watching. A bed is laid out for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and a game of Chaupad is placed for them to play. This Aarti is open to the public.   

There is an open corridor with a view of the joyous and youthful flowing Narmada, where the priest guided us to perform the puja and abhishek to Mahadev with a small Shivaling and water from the Narmada. This was indeed spiritually satiating.  

Performing Puja in the temple premises

Though the temple was extremely crowded due to it being Shravan Somvar, we got very good darshan, albeit after a wait of almost an hour. Photography is not allowed inside the temple sanctum. But anywhere else one can take photographs.

The priest guide then led us to the Mamleshwar temple on the opposite bank. We now chose to have a boat ferry us across the river. This was another wonderful experience. 

On the boat ride across the Narmada River

The Mamleshwar temple’s original name is Amareshwar and there is equal significance accorded to it. In fact many people say that both Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar are Jyotirlings and so devotees make it a point to visit both. This temple complex has an ancient look and is protected by the ASI. The carved sculptures on the stone walls are aesthetically beautiful and the Nandi Mandap is exquisite. We were told that the Lingarchana at Mamleshwar is worth seeing as a thousand Banalingas are placed in concentric circles around the main Shivalinga. They are then worshipped. But unfortunately we could not see this puja as it was already over by the time we visited the temple.

As in many pilgrimage destinations there is a parikrama path which can be done on foot or by boat if the water level in the river is good. 

Stalls set up on the banks for Shravan

The Omkareshwar Parikrama passes through several temples including the Kedareshwar temple, Markanda Ashram with a huge image of Sri Krishna, the Gauri Somnath temple, Khedapati Hanuman and Patali Hanuman temples, Siddhanath temple and a giant statue of Lord Shiva.

Another place to visit, if you have time, is the Mandhata palace, where the views from the Jharokhas or hanging windows of the temple and the river are mesmerizing to say the least.

#ShravanSomvar #Omkareshwar #Mamleshwar #MadhyaPradeshTourism #IncredibleIndia #Temple #Pilgrimage #Jyotirling  

#Bhimashankar #Jyotirlinga in #Maharashtra, the Legend, the #TempleStories 3 on the banks of the River Bhima

We set on our journey to Bhimashankar very early in the morning. It took us a good four and a half hours to reach the temple from Mumbai. The drive was amazing, along winding roads in the midst of nature. Many devotees trek it to the temple on foot. The serene atmosphere enhances the divinity of this beautiful temple and infuses a feeling of calm and oneness with nature and God in the minds of the thousands of devotees undertaking the strenuous trek.

We took the easy option of driving up to the spacious parking lot. A huge gate with “Kshetra Jai Bhimashankar” inscribed on it welcomed us.

One has to descend a flight of steps to reach the temple. 

The golden kalash is instantly visible along with the exquisite shikara. The Kalash dates back to the 13th or 14th century and it is believed that the original temple was built by one Vinayak Rao Bhide.

The temple, though, as it is seen in present times has been built by Nana Phadnavis, during the Peshwa rule in the 18th century. 

On the way to the main temple there is a shrine to Goddess Kamalaja, believed to be an incarnation of Devi Parvati. 

The story goes that a demon lived here and harassed the people of the land. Indradev requested Devi Kamalaja to put an end to his atrocities. The Goddess fought a long battle with the demon and vanquished him upon which the Devas worshipped her with kamal (lotus). Hence the Goddess is called Kamalaja.

 The way to the main temple is flanked by shops on both sides which sell a host of puja materials, medicinal herbs and plants and temple artifacts. 

A signboard reading Bhimashankar Jyotirling Simhadwar leads us into the temple premises. The locals told us that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to come here frequently for a darshan of Lord Bhimashankar and the Peshwas rebuilt the temple in the 18th century. The spacious Sabha Mandap also seems to be a recent addition. Just outside the Mandap one finds a shrine to Shaneeshwar Bhagwan.

 A huge panchadaatu bell of Portuguese origin hangs here on which is inscribed 1729. Two stone deepmalas and two Nandi statues are also seen in the temple premises. A sacred fireplace is seen from where the ashes are used to make vibhooti or bhasma for the Lord. The main sanctum houses the swayambu lingam of Bhimashankar covered with the archana flowers, mainly bright yellow marigold and the sacred Bilwa leaves. The Yoni is clad in silver and presents a divine sight as the aarti flame lights up the entire shrine and the feeling of spiritual fervour seems to rise to a crescendo with the sound of conches, bells and cymbals. There are small shrines to Lord Ganesh and Bharaivnathji inside the Garbagriha. A panchamukhi silver face is placed on the Shivling during the aarti, signifying the presence of Panchatatva (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Chandra and Parvati Mata), and both Shiv and Shakti are ever present at this holy place to bless their devotees. On Amavasya days and Mondays, there are special pujas conducted during the trikal pujas. Rudrabhishek and Panchamrut abhishek is done everyday for Lord Bhimashankar.

Legend 

Bhimashankar Jyotirling is the source of the River Bhima, which is said to have been formed from the sweat of Mahadev while he was resting here after the battle with Tripurasura. Bhima merges with the River Krishna at Raichur. The story goes thus. Tripurasura was the son of Sage Grutsamad and was initiated into the worship of Lord Ganesh. He was gifted three worlds (Three Puras) one of gold, another of silver and the third of iron. He was also bestowed with a boon that only Mahadev could kill him and that too with one arrow piercing the three Puras. Subsequently, the Asura was consumed with pride and harassed everyone. The Devas prayed to Lord Shivshankar who agreed to battle with Tripurasur. The long battle ended when Mahadev after praying to Chintamani Ganesh defeated the Asura and the sweat from Lord Shiva’s body fell to the earth at this spot. Another legend speaks of the Asur called Bhima who was staying in these forests with his mother Kartaki. After he grew up, he asked his mother to reveal his father’s identity. When his mother informed him, that he was the son of the mighty Kumbakarna, who along with his brother Ravana, had been killed by Mahavishnu in his Ramavathar, Bhima was furious and vowed to take revenge against Mahavishnu. He did great penance to Lord Brahma, acquired powerful boons, and started harassing the people and even the Devas. He captured King Kamarupeshwar who was a staunch devotee of Mahadev and ordered him to stop his worship of the Lord. Kamarupeshwar refused. Bhima at once lifted his sword to strike at the Shivlingam when a raging fire emanated which destroyed the Asura. Kamarupeshwar, the beloved devotee, requested the Lord to stay here as a Jyotirlingam and bless everyone. Thus Mahadev assumed the name Bhimashankar and is ever present in this beautiful village. 

#Bhimashankar #Jyotirling #Temple #Maharashtra #River_Bhima #Mahadev #Shiva  #Parvati #Kamalaja #Tripurasura