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Omkareshwar located
in Madhya Pradesh,
on the
Mandhata
hill on the banks of
the Narmada
is one of the 12
revered
Jyotirlinga
shrines of Shiva. It
is located at a
distance of about 12
miles from Mortakka
in Madhya Pradesh.
The river Narmada
branches into two
and forms an island
Mandhata
or Shivapuri
in the center. The
shape of the island
resembles that of
the visual
representation of
the Omkara sound, Om.
There are two
temples here, one to
Omkareshwar
and one to
Amareshwar.
Legend
has it that the
Vindhya mountain
prayed to Shiva -
Omkareshwara and was
blessed here. Legend
also has it that
upon the request of
the Devas, the
Shivalinga split
into two, one half
being Omkareshwara
and the other
Amaleshwara or
Amareshwar. King
Mandhatha
of the
Ishvaku
clan is believed to
have worshipped
Shiva here.
Govinda
Bhagavatpaada,
the guru of
Sankaracharya,
is believed to have
lived in a cave
here.
The temple can be
reached by ferry
from the banks of
the river. The
Omkareshwar temple
built in the
Nagara
style is
characterized by a
lofty shikhara.
There are also
shrines to
Annapurna
and Ganesha
here.
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