A Jyotirlinga set on a river island in the Narmada that is itself shaped like the sacred syllable 'Om'. It is one of the most serene Shaivite pilgrimages in central India.
Primary Deity
ShivaLocation
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh
Pilgrimage Circuit
JyotirlingaBest Time to Visit
October to March, and the monsoon (July–September) when the Narmada is full and the island especially beautiful. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima are major festivals.
Omkareshwar is counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas and is beloved because the very land is shaped like Om, the primordial sound from which creation is said to arise. According to legend, the Vindhya mountain worshipped Shiva here to be absolved of pride, and the pleased Lord took residence in two forms. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have met his guru Govindapada in a cave on this island and received initiation here. For Shaivites, completing the Narmada parikrama and offering worship at Omkareshwar is considered supremely purifying.
Omkareshwar sits on the sacred Mandhata island, formed where the Narmada divides and rejoins in the shape of the holy symbol Om. The temple houses two revered shrines — Omkareshwar (Lord of Om) and Amareshwar (or Mamleshwar) on the river's south bank — and pilgrims traditionally perform a parikrama of the entire island. Built in the North Indian Nagara style, the temple is adorned with fine stone carving and is reached by boat or a footbridge across the shimmering Narmada. The riverside ghats, the constant sound of chanting, and the island's gentle greenery make Omkareshwar one of the most peaceful of all the Jyotirlingas.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as a self-manifested pillar of radiant light (jyoti). Completing darshan of all twelve is considered one of the highest acts of Shaivite devotion. This temple is one of the 10 sacred sites of the Jyotirlinga.
📍 Pune, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga hidden in the forested Sahyadri hills near Pune, cradled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the source of the Bhima river and a haven of both faith and biodiversity.
📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra
The twelfth and last of the Jyotirlingas, standing close to the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. The present red-stone temple was lovingly rebuilt in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
📍 Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
The second Jyotirlinga, set amid the forested Nallamala Hills on the banks of the Krishna River. It is one of the rare shrines that is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
📍 Dwarka, Gujarat
A Jyotirlinga near Dwarka on the Saurashtra coast, marked by a towering 25-metre seated statue of Lord Shiva visible from far away. Its name means 'Lord of the Nagas (serpents)'.
📍 Veraval, Gujarat
The first among the 12 Jyotirlingas, standing on the western coast of Gujarat where the Arabian Sea meets the shore. It is among the most sacred and storied Shiva temples in all of India.
📍 Nashik, Maharashtra
A Jyotirlinga near Nashik at the source of the sacred Godavari river, famous for its rare lingam bearing three faces — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is one of the four sites of the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
📍 Deoghar, Jharkhand
Revered as Baba Baidyanath Dham, this Jyotirlinga is worshipped as the 'divine physician' who heals body and soul. It is also counted among the Shakti Peethas.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
A Shakti Peetha in Ujjain near the Mahakaleshwar temple, where the elbow of Sati is said to have fallen, famed for its towering pair of lamp-columns (deep stambhas) lit during Navratri.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the presiding deity of the ancient city of Ujjain. Its lingam is uniquely dakshinamukhi (south-facing), a feature found in no other Jyotirlinga.
📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
A grand corridor unveiled in 2022 that leads to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, narrating the legends of Shiva through 108 murals and nearly 200 statues. It has transformed the pilgrim experience at Ujjain.
📍 Raisen, Madhya Pradesh
An awe-inspiring, unfinished 11th-century temple housing one of the largest single-stone Shiva lingams in India. Built by the legendary king Raja Bhoj, it is nicknamed the 'Somnath of the East'.
Omkareshwar Temple is primarily dedicated to Shiva.
Omkareshwar Temple is located in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
October to March, and the monsoon (July–September) when the Narmada is full and the island especially beautiful. Mahashivratri and Kartik Purnima are major festivals.
Omkareshwar Temple is one of the 10 temples in the Jyotirlinga.
Omkareshwar is counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas and is beloved because the very land is shaped like Om, the primordial sound from which creation is said to arise. According to legend, the Vindhya mountain worshipped Shiva here to be absolved of pride, and the pleased Lord took residence in two forms. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have met his guru Govindapada in a cave on this island and received initiation here. For Shaivites, completing the Narmada parikrama and offering worship at Omkareshwar is considered supremely purifying.
Affiliate disclosure: Sanatan Hindu participates in the Amazon Associates Programme and the CueLinks affiliate network (Myntra & Flipkart). This page contains affiliate links, if you click and buy, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.
Clicking opens Amazon.in. Prices and availability may vary.
Browse all pooja itemsAmazon Associates tag: geekydevelope-21
Clicking opens Flipkart via our affiliate link. Prices and availability may vary.
Shop on FlipkartCueLinks Publisher: 300371
Clicking opens Myntra via our affiliate link. Prices and availability may vary.
CueLinks Publisher: 300371
Join our free newsletter, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
