Part 4.4 - Description of Oṃkāreśvara Liṅga

This Oṃkāreśvara jyotirliṅga was also called as “Amareśvara”. These Oṃkāreśvara and Amaleśvara temple are situated at both side of banks of the river “Narmadā”. A bridge was constructed between these two banks. The river Narmadā was flowing by diving two ways. One is “Narmadā” and the other was “Kaverika”. The temple situated be twin these two sub-rivers is called “Śivapurī” and “Mandhatruprui”.

The Mandhatha was a king belonged to Sūrya dynasty. And he was the starts of “Raghuvaṃsaṃ”. “Lord Śrī Ram” was also belonged to this Raghuvaṃsaṃ. Emperor Mandhatha offered meditation on the mountain there for appearance of lord Śiva. Thus this temple was named as “Mandhathapuri”.

There are many temples on Mandhatha mountain. All these temples are in the shape of Oṃ. In the way to this Oṃkareśvara Temple, there are two hill stations namely Viṣṇupurī, Brahmapurī. Between those who hillsterations, a river named “Kapiladhar” is flowing and will join in river Narmada.

Route to Travel

In between the route from Vijayawada to Mumbai, we have to get down,in Oṃkāreśvara railway station of Azmeer railway line via Nasik. From there we have to travel nearly for 8 km so that we can reach this temple city.

According to Epics

Once Mahaṣi Nārad went to Gokarna Temple to worship lord Śiva. In return he was coming on to the Vindhya Mountain, then Vindhya welcome Nārada an offered many respects. And he expressed himself as he was luckiest Mountain as he has money, and he was lord of mountains. But Nārad doesn”t like his words and he wants to teach Vindhya a lesson. So he said to Vindhya that he was no greater than Meruvu mountain on its peaks is located until heaven. Thus Vindhya became angry to the words of Nārada. He started praying lord Śiva for 6 months. Then lord Śiva appeared behind Vindya. Then Vindhya asked Śiva that he would be praised for ever as Śiva should be located there. Thus lord Śiva situated on the Vindhya mountain as “Oṃkāreśvara” and “Parameśvara”.

History

There are no such evidences for situated of this temple in history, emperor Mandhatha among all six emperors were made meditation here. Even though the two temples Amaleśvara, Oṃkāreśvara were situated separately there is no difference between them. As Oṃkāreśvara temple was situated on Vindhya Mountain and the peak itself is a “ŚivaLiṅga.”. In this temple, Śrī Sanarachrya have translated all Upaniṣads.

Places to be Visited

Lauri Somnāth temple was the important one to be visited. It has been said that the people who visit ŚivaLiṅga and Panapattam in this temple will able to now their future and the next life. Also it has been said that once Aurangazeb visited this temple to test whether he knows his future and next life. But when he visited there we came to know that his next life was a slave. Then he tired to damage the temple. Now Amaleśvara temple was under control of archeological department. Jains Siddhakṣetra temple was situated at 3km away from from Oṃkareśvaralaya, Aśvadevi temple were to be visited mainly.