Omkareshwar is one of the Dwadasa jyotirlingas situated on the Mandhata hills in Vindhya Mountains of Madhya pradesh. In the ancient times it is called as Shiva puri. The Mythology of temple dates back to the Krita Yuga. River Narmada flows here around the Mandhata hill in the form of an Om (Omkaram).
Omkareshwar map
Story of Omkareshwar:
Once upon a time Narada visited Vindhya parvatha.Vindhya gave Narada a warm welcome and asked about world as Narada used to continuosly visit all the important places. Narada sighed deeply. Vindhya asked what was the reason. Narada replied that though all the Mountains were credited with their own special features, Meru was proud of his possessions and was boasting of his greatness. After telling all this to Vindhya , Narada left without a word . Vindhya was annoyed with this dicussion and felt jealous about meru and wanted to become greater than Meru.
Then Vindhya did a great penance for Lord Shiva for his desire.
Lord Shiva blessed him & appeared here as Omkareshwar & (Mamaleshwar)Amaleshwara and gave the boon of growing, but without hindering Shiva devotees. Vindhya did not stop growing, and even obstructed the sun and the moon. Sage Agasthya who was then living in Kasi was called for help by all the dieties on the advice of Lord Vishnu. Agasthya along with his wife came to Vindhya, subdued its growth by saying it should not grow till he gets back there. He never went back.He stayed in Srisailam which is regarded as Dakshina Kasi. Hence the growth of Vindhya was arrested.
Shiva Purana describes a Upa-lingam of Omkareswar by name Kardameswar situated near Bindu sarovaram.
Mandhata was a great Emperor of the Ikshvaku clan who ruled this land. He did great penance in this land & there is an ashram called Mandhata ashram here. It is told that he built 108 temples around Omkareshwar.
Omkareshwar is Situated near Indore, Madhya Pradesh at Khandava Road. Omkareshwar Railway Station Is situated at a distance of 65 k.m from Khandava Road
