The year was 1290 . A crowd had gathered around a clearing, where broken down pillars marked the presence of an ancient temple, now long gone. A young boy, just 14 years old, leaned against one of those pillars, deep in thought. Then, he began speaking, and the crowd fell silent, listening to his every word. He spoke without any notes, translating the Bhagavat Gita, from Sanskrit, which only the pundits knew, to the language everyone in the village knew and spoke – a variety of Prakrit which developed into the Marathi language. Even as he spoke, one of the men in the audience realized how momentous this event was, and how important this composition would be. He began writing down the words the young boy spoke, and this composition was named by its author and composer, the Bhavartha Deepika – the enlightening meaning (of the Bhagavat Gita). Now, the ancient, holy text, was no longer restricted to the pundits, but accessible to all, understood easily by them, composed as it was, in their...
My trip to Omkareshwar, the home of one of the 12 Jyotirlings, was one I was looking forward to, since the temple lies on a small, hilly island on the Narmada, one of the seven holy rivers of India
Accommodation
MPTDC’s Narmada resort is the only good option for accommodation at Omkareshwar. Bookings have to be made online or at their offices. Phone booking is not possible. All others are just age-old Dharamshalas run by various ashrams from all over India Maharashtra , who have observed the lacuna and tried to fill it, building a modern Dharamshala, with AC and non AC rooms with all comforts. While we were unaware of this, and couldn’t try them out, you can contact them at 91-7265-252018 or send them a mail at gms@gajananmaharajsansthan.org.
Update, based on information provided by Mr. D.Munshi. He recently went on a visit to Omkareshwar and wrote this...
We stayed at Gajanan Maharaj Ashram. It was very nice, clean and had big rooms very cheaply priced ( eg.2bed Rs.225, 3bed Rs.280, 4bed Rs.350 etc.). Though we were two only, they gave us 4bed with cooler at Rs.350 with English toilet. They have a canteen where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Rs.25 in Marathi cuisine. They would keep on giving you the food items in lunch and dinner till you say no more. The locations of Mamaleshwar and Omkareshwar temples were within 10 min. walking distance from the ashram. The road to Omkareshwar temple goes through the bridge so one need not cross the river by boat and the road goes directly to the temple.
Location
Omkareshwar is about 65 Kms from Indore Indore Indore Omkareshwar Road railway station puts the town on the railway map, but since it isn’t a very important line, there are only a few passenger trains passing through, and the only major city it connects to, is Indore Indore
There are two important temples in Omkareshwar – the Omkareshwar temple on the island, also called Omkar Mandhata, and the Mamleshwar temple (also called Amaleshwar or Amareshwar) on the mainland. There are plenty of legends and myths about the island and its temples which obscure their reality. The temple on the island is believed to have been consecrated by Mandhata, an ancestor of Rama, who performed penances and became a great sage. However, it is not too clear about which temple houses the actual Jyotirling. While some stories insist that the lingam that Mandhata installed split into two, there are other sources which indicate that the Mamleshwar temple is older and thus the real Jyotirling. In any case, history leans towards the second, since a sloka referring to the 12 temples clearly mentions “Omkaram Amaleshwaram”, thus indicating the second temple.
While the island temple has received much attention in the past and has been renovated recently, the Mamleshwar temple certainly looks much older and more beautiful too. The Mamleshwar temple is also more endearing thanks to the absence of the pandas (priests) who are the most prominent feature of the Omkar Mandhata temple on the island. We visited the Mamleshwar temple at night before the final aarti was performed, and had to literally hunt out a priest to perform Abhishek to the lord, and the one we finally found was so thrilled by all the items we had brought for the puja that he happily did the elaborate puja with a smile on his face and asked for money only when we were done.
Contrast this to the situation at the other temple, where we were badgered by the pandas right from the mainland, and one stuck to us like a leech till my father-in-law gave in, knowing that we couldn’t do the puja without one of them. After all the pestering, the man refused to use most of the things we had brought saying that they were not used for this lingam, and interspersed his rendition of the prayers with mention of Dakshina (offering to the priest) and demanded more and more till we finally walked away in disgust!
The most interesting thing about the island temple is the presence of a cave under the main temple, cut into the cliff face. This cave is believed to have been where Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada, the guru of Adi Shankara lived, and where Shankara as a young boy came when the Narmada flowed fast and furious, seeking the preceptor who would lead him to the right path. It was here that Shankara was initiated, and even in this day of rampant commercialization, this small cave has been left untouched by materialism! The inner parts of the cave have now been closed, but just a step inside the cave makes one feel as if we have stepped into a different world!
Let me take you on a pictorial journey through Omkareshwar while I write up more details about the best portion of my trip – the Omkareshwar Parikrama.
Our first glimpse of the island from our room at the Narmada Resort.
The Omkareshwar temple on the island.
Another temple.....
A Palace... built for the king's visit...
The bridge to cross over to the island..... and the dam on the Narmada, which has succeeded in taming the once furious river...
A boatman ferrying people to the island...
A temple on the mainland....
The Omkareshwar ghat, where the boatman drops us, and where we begin our ascent to the temple..
The temple at night..
The cave of Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada.....
A tantalizing view of the steps leading to the Gori Somnath Mandir, as seen from our room. I had only heard about this temple, and wondered if it would be possible to climb all the way and see it. I never imagined the way I would eventually see the temple (to know more details, wait for the next post!!!)
and a closer look at the immense statue at the top...
Nice commentary.
ReplyDeleteI also find staying at Govt. Guest houses more economical and better than private hotels whenever I go to a remote place.
Priests are problem in any religious place in India whether it is Haridwar, Kamakhya(Assam)or even Ajmer Dargah
you really take us there!
ReplyDeleteNow I am really bookmarking this post, thats just like lonely planet travel guide writtern with ease and simplicity for readers. I can see how much hardwork has gone into collecting, assimilating, writing this. Kudos!!
ReplyDeleteThe cave of Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada is very interesting formation. Loved all the pictures, Please keep us engaged with such lovely stories.
There you go ! You have taken us to the place with your photos and your post is full of information.
ReplyDelete@ Tarun : In remote places, I agree, Govt guest houses are better than most others... but not always... there are places, especially at small temple towns where it is better to contact someone and stay at his house rather than the guest house!!!
ReplyDeleteand yes, priests at most places are a problem....
@ ssstoryteller : thanks so much...
@ Sri : THanks again... well, i had to do all that for my trip anyway.. and its been a pleasure sharing all the info with all of you..
@ Nisha : Thanks..... Glad you all liked it..
The place looks very beautiful and serene through your pictures.
ReplyDelete@ Mridula : well, the place is serene, all except the temple, which is like any other Indian temple... full of people, messy and people pestering you...
ReplyDeleteThe behaviour of the priests at the Mainland temple is disgusting. What's the point in getting the pooja done by them? :)
ReplyDelete@ Bindhu : absolutely none!!! which is why i have decided not to go there for the temple anymore.... and as to why i still want to go there sometime, read Part 2 !!!
ReplyDeleteThe BEST place to stay here is the Gajanan Maharaj Ashram ! Really ! I say from my own experience....
ReplyDeleteHi Anu,
ReplyDeleteThere Is One More Interesting Thing About This Place Is When You remove Flowers From The Top Of Ling a Showers Of Water Came Out & It Is Said That These Are The Sprinkles Of Devi Narmada.
you're really a great writer,the moment i started reading your post it felt like i'm there. by the way i have been there recently and i only go to omkareshvar and mamleshvar temple, unfortunately i didn't read that post before and i missed the Cave. you are right about priests there. they keep asking for money till you give them. first they will ask you to give money for priests food, then there accomodation then for gau mata and so on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information provided.
ReplyDelete