On an island in the
Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh, some fifty miles southeast of Indore, there is
a temple and a holy spot (tirtha).
According to the early speculative books known as the
Upanishads, the temple is called after its presiding deity, the god Shiva in
his appearance as the "Lord of [the sound] Om," an utterance said to
signify the whole universe.
Omkareshvar is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, or Shiva's
special places on the planet.
According to the legendary charter of the place, Shiva arrives
to thank the sage Mandhata for his hard asceticism (tapas) in order to see
Shiva.
The depiction at the site is of Shiva as a "self
manifested" (svayambhu) form—an unshaped, roundish black stone coming from
the soil, with a white stone adjacent said to represent a manifestation of
Shiva's bride, Parvati.
Viewing this sight, like it did for Mandhata, is said to
grant all of one's wishes.
The location is open for worship throughout the year, but
there is a significant bathing (snana) event on Kartik Purnima, the full moon
in the lunar month of Kartik (October–November).
