Oṃkāreśvara Jyotirliṅga

Oṃkāreśvara is the fourth of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas, the self-arisen liṅgas of light of Śiva (a liṅga is Śiva’s sacred sign or form). It stands on the island of Māndhātā in the Narmadā River, in Madhya Pradesh.

Its story is about the mountain Vindhya. Stung by Nārada’s praise of Mount Meru as the greatest mountain, Vindhya did six months of tapas (intense spiritual discipline) to Śiva beside the Narmadā. Pleased with his devotion, Śiva appeared in a single liṅga, which then became two: Oṃkāreśvara (for the devas) and Parameśvara (for Vindhya). Because of this double form, Oṃkāreśvara is the only Jyotirliṅga that is counted as two of the twelve in some lists.

Location

The Oṃkāreśvara temple stands on the island of Māndhātā (also called Śivapurī), formed where the Narmadā River splits into two streams. Seen from above, the island is shaped like the sacred syllable Oṃ, which gives the kshetra (holy place) its name. It lies in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, where the Narmadā flows through the Vindhya mountains.

The Story of Its Origin

Nārada Stirs Up Vindhya

The devarshi (divine ṛshi) Nārada once visited the mountain Vindhya. While talking, Nārada said that the divine mountain Meru was the greatest of all mountains: shining, lofty, and loved by the devas and by Śiva. Vindhya was hurt by the comparison. He felt he was lesser, and he was filled with the wish to rise above Meru.

Vindhya decided to do tapas to Śiva to win a place above Meru.

Vindhya’s Six Months of Tapas

Vindhya went to the Narmadā and offered pūjā to pārthiva liṅgas (liṅgas of earth) with great intensity for six months. Every day he made one hundred and eight pārthiva liṅgas (or, as the text suggests, a very large number), and offered them pūjā with complete devotion, japa (repetition of a mantra) and renunciation. His tapas was sincere, steady and extraordinary.

Śiva Appears in a Liṅga That Becomes Two

Parameśvara was pleased with Vindhya’s tapas and appeared there in the form of a liṅga. Then, by Śiva’s own will, this single liṅga became two:

• Oṃkāreśvara: the form honoured by the devas, who asked it to stay for the good of all devotees
• Parameśvara: the form that appeared especially for Vindhya

So Oṃkāreśvara is unique in the tradition. It is one place with two Jyotirliṅgas. That is why some lists of the twelve Jyotirliṅgas count Oṃkāreśvara and Parameśvara (also called Amaraleśvara) as separate entries from this one place.

The Name Oṃkāreśvara

Oṃkāreśvara means “the Īśvara in the form of Oṃkāra”: Śiva as the first sound, Oṃ. The island on which the temple stands is shaped like Oṃ, so the land itself declares that Śiva is one with the praṇava (the sacred syllable Oṃ). The Śiva Purāṇa makes this link between Śiva and Oṃkāra again and again: Śiva declared that he is the praṇava, and the Pañcāksharī mantra (Namaḥ Śivāya) comes from Oṃ and is contained within it.

Why It Matters

Oṃkāreśvara shows that sincere tapas, even when it starts from ego and rivalry (Vindhya’s wish to rise above Meru), can turn into true devotion when it is offered to Śiva. Śiva’s grace is open not only to those whose motives are completely pure, but to every sincere devotee. The liṅga that became two also shows Śiva’s generosity: one liṅga serves two purposes and two groups of devotees.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 18