On the banks of River Narmada, one of the holiest shrines of Lord Shiva - the Omkareshwar temple - is one of the 12 Jyotirlingams in India !! The River Narmada splits into two and forms an island named Mandhata or Shivapuri in the center ! This island is about 4 KM long and 2 KM wide !! The shape of the island resembles the visual representation of the Hindi/Sanskrit letter Om !!
Legend has it that the Vindhya Mountain prayed to Lord Shiv in the form of Parthiv lingam and was blessed here by Lord Shiva and because of that, Lord Shiva appeared and remains here as Pranav lingam !! Legend also has it that upon the request of the Devas, the Shiv-ling split into two - one half being Omkareshwar and the other Mamleshwara or Amareshwar !! The Jyoti Lingam is at Omkareshwar and Parthiv lingam is at Amreshwar !! According to another story, King Mandhatha of Ishvaku worshiped Shiva here, and when Lord Shiva got pleased by the worshipping, he conferred his eternal light and remained here as Omkareshwar !!
The main Omkareshwar temple is built in the North Indian style of architecture, with high spires !! It is still unknown as to who constructed the temple and when !! The sanctum sanctorum containing the Jyotirlingam seems to have originally been a small temple of the old construction style, and the dome being made of layers of stone slabs !! As this temple is too close to the straight deep bank of River Narmada to the South, the great extension is of new construction style !! This is the reason why the sanctum sanctorum and the main deity are neither in the front of the main door nor below the higher conspicuous Shikhar of the tower !!
There are three regualar "PUJA" in the temple !! The morning puja is done by the temple trust, the next one by the priest of Scindia State, and the one in the evening by the priest of the Holkar State !! The temple is almost always buzzing with pilgrims, who come here after an immersion in River Narmada and with pots full of Narmada water, coconuts, and articles of worship, while many of the them performing Abhishek or special worships through the priests during fair or "PARVA", when the temple becomes much busier !!
On every Monday, the Gold-plated three headed idol of Lord Omkar is taken on a palanquin with bands, drums, along with priests and devotees that gather in a procession known as "Dolaa" !! First, they go the river where the priests perform rituals and then, the procession goes through the streets of the town !! In the holy month of Shraavan, the processions, called "SOMVAAR SAWAARIS" are huge and much more grand, the crowds dancing while uttering the Lord's name "OM SHAMBHU BHOLENATH", and spreading Gulaal (colour), making the atmosphere so much lively & jubilant !!
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