Sankaracharya on the banks of the Narmada River
History of the Town of Omkareshvara
Mandhata Omkareshvara was ruled in the medieval period by Bhil Chieftains under the Parmars of Dhar, the Sultans of Malwa, and the Scindias of Gwalior. In 1824 the Scindias gave Mandhata to the British. After India's independence, the Rajas lost their Jagir rights to Mandhata Omkareshvara. In 1959 the Omkareshvara temple was declared a Public Trust under the M.P. Public Trust Act 1951.
It was here at Omkareshvara that Shankaracharya, born to Aryamba and Shivaguru of Kaladi in South Kerala, at the age of eight, found his Guru Shri Govinda Bhagavadpada and was initiated to Sannyasa. As the legend goes, Adi Shankara walked hundreds of miles through forests, valleys, crossing mountains and rivers finally reaching Omkareshvara to find Shimad Govinda Bhagavatpada in a state of Nirvikalpa Nishtha in a cave under a Banyan tree on the bank of the River Narmada.
Main Temple at Omkara Mandhata has 5 levels.
Omkara Mandhata Aerial photos reveals the OM symbol
Svami Tej Anand
The Managing Trustee of
Omkareshvar Temple Trust
View Satellite Images of Omkara Mandhata
Darshanika Map showing the walking path around the island with many shrines & temples worth visiting that was photo documented by Linda Canestraight, University of Missouri.
Today along the north bank of the Narmada river you can visit the Govindeshvara Temple where the disciple Shankara became a Sannyaasii.
The place where Guru Govindapad resided and performed penances is called the Govindeshvara Gupha.
The rivers Narmada and Kaveri converge together forming the island Omkara Mandhata. Nature blessed this island with two hillside ranges that reveal the sacred symbol "OM", visable only from above. This island is located 77km south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, India. It draws thousands of devotees daily to one of 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
Legend is that the Vindhya mountain prayed to Shiva - Omkareshvara and was blessed here. As the legend goes, upon the request of the Devas, the Shivalinga split into two, one half becoming Omkareshvara and the other Amaleshvara. King Mandhatha of the Ishvaku clan is believed to have worshipped Shiva here. Govinda Bhagavatpaada, the guru of Sankaracharya is believed to have lived in a cave here, as well as many others like the great philosopher Adi Shankara who was born in 804 A.D.