Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
ఓంకారేశ్వర్
Lord Shiva as Omkareshwar (sound of Om) · Khandwa, on Mandhata island in Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva as a self-manifest pillar of light (jyoti-linga). Located in Khandwa, on Mandhata island in Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh. The island itself is shaped like the OM symbol. Two temples — Omkareshwar (on the island) and Mamleshwar (on the southern bank). Both are considered the same Jyotirlinga.
Significance
The island itself is shaped like the OM symbol. Two temples — Omkareshwar (on the island) and Mamleshwar (on the southern bank). Both are considered the same Jyotirlinga.
Mythological Origin
King Mandhata, an ancestor of Lord Rama, performed severe tapasya here and Shiva manifested as the Pranava (Om) sound itself.
About the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest Shiva pilgrimage sites in India. Per the Shiva Mahapurana, when devotees compete to claim Lord Shiva's primacy, he manifested as an infinite pillar of light (jyoti-stambha) at 12 sacred locations. Devotees visiting all 12 in a single lifetime is one of the highest pilgrimages (Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra). Reciting the 12-line Jyotirlinga Stotra ("Saurashtre Somanatham...") daily is said to grant the merit of physical pilgrimage to all 12.