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.
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.
Omkareshwar at a glance
| Form of Shiva worshipped here | Lord Shiva as Omkareshwar (sound of Om) |
|---|---|
| Telugu name of the shrine | ఓంకారేశ్వర్ |
| Where | Khandwa, on Mandhata island in Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Order in the traditional list | 4 of 12 |
Omkareshwar — frequently asked questions
Why is Omkareshwar counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas?
King Mandhata, an ancestor of Lord Rama, performed severe tapasya here and Shiva manifested as the Pranava (Om) sound itself. Omkareshwar stands fourth in the traditional order this site follows, and the form worshipped here is Lord Shiva as Omkareshwar (sound of Om).
Where is Omkareshwar and what should you know before travelling?
Khandwa, on Mandhata island in Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh. The shrine is written ఓంకారేశ్వర్ in Telugu. Darshan timings, the aarti schedule, the queue and road access all change through the year and this site does not publish them — confirm those with the temple itself before you travel.
Which days are kept for Shiva at Omkareshwar?
Monday is Shiva's day of the week, and the pradosha window on the trayodashi tithi of each fortnight, the month of Shravana and Maha Shivaratri are kept at every Jyotirlinga. None of that is particular to Omkareshwar — the days to look for at this shrine are the ones the panchangam already marks for Shiva.
We do not publish darshan timings, ticket prices or queue lengths for Omkareshwar — those change week to week and we have no way to verify them from here. What this site can settle is when: see the 12 Jyotirlinga circuit for the auspicious days ahead, Maha Shivaratri for the principal Shiva night of the year, or the daily panchangam for the tithi and Rahu Kalam on the date you are travelling.