Omkareshwara Kshetra - Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga and Narmada Parikrama path

► Omkareshwar (Jyotirlinga)
(Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh)

☗ Vindhya Mountain
▬ River Narmada flows → Kotitirtha Ghat (Aarti)
(Vindhya - Satpura Range)

(Shiva Purana)

• Shiva: Lord Shiva granted boon to Vindhya mountain and abides as Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga.
- Omkareshwar Temple

• Narmada: River Narmada flows through Omkareshwara. Omkareshwara is an important center on the path of Narmada Parikrama. Some pilgrims start the Narmada Parikrama from Amarkantaka while others start from Omkareshwara.
- Omkareshwar Kotitirtha Ghat


• Saints: Saints associated with Omkareshwar:

○ Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?): Sri Adi Shankaracharya met his guru Sri Govindapada at Omkareshwara on the bank of river Narmada. There is a Shankaracharya Gufa near the Omkareshwar Temple which is identified with the place where Sri Govindapada lived.
- Shankaracharya Gufa

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालं_ॐकारममलेश्वरम् ॥
- Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra - verse 1 (Omkareshwara has the Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga)

सबिन्दुसिन्धुसुस्खलत्तरङ्गभङ्गरञ्जितं द्विषत्सु पापजातजातकारिवारिसंयुतम् ।
कृतान्तदूतकालभूतभीतिहारिवर्मदे त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥
- Narmadashtakam - verse 1 (River Narmada flows through Omkareshwara)


(Shiva Purana)

▬ Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga - Lord Shiva granting boon to Vindhya mountain
(Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 18)

► Omkareshwar - Omkareshwar Temple
(Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh)

Omkareshwar Temple is identified with the Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana.

► Omkareshwar - Shankaracharya Gufa
(Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh)

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) met his guru Sri Govindapada on the bank of river Narmada. The Shankaracharya Gufa is identified as the place where Sri Govindapada stayed and meditated. The Shankaracharya Gufa is very close to the Omkareshwar Shiva Temple.

◍ Life: Born in Kaladi, Kerala. (Life)

◍ Sadhana & Philosophy:
• Knowledge of Brahman.
• Exponent of the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.

◍ Compositions:
• Wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
• Composed Sanskrit Stotras on various Deities.

◍ Other Deeds:
• Founded four Mutts around the four corners of India.
• Believed to be the organiser of Dashanami monastic order and founder of Shanmata tradition of worship.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Vadakkunnathan Temple: Parents of Adi Shankara prayed for a child.
► Kaladi: Birthplace of Adi Shankara.
► Omkareshwar - Shankaracharya Gufa: Adi Shankara met his guru Govindapada on the bank of river Narmada.
► Kashi: Lord Shiva gave darshan to Adi Shankara in the form of a Chandala with four dogs. Adi Shankara got disciple Sanandana.
► Badrinath: Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras, Gita and Upanishads.
► Prayag: Adi Shankara met Kumarila Bhatta (Mimamsa school) for a debate.
► Mahishmati: Adi Shankara had a debate with Mandana Mishra.
► Gokarna: Adi Shankara met disciple Hastamalaka.
► Shringeri - Sharada Peeth: Adi Shankara established the Sharada Peetha (Southern Mutt).
► Puri - Govardhan Mutt: Adi Shankara established the Govardhan Mutt (Eastern Mutt).
► Dwarka - Dwarka Mutt: Adi Shankara established the Dwarka Mutt (Western Mutt).
► Joshimath - Jyotir Math: Adi Shankara established the Jyotir Math (Northern Mutt).
► Kanchipuram - Kanchi Mutt: Adi Shankara is said to have established the Kanchi Mutt also.
► Kashmir - Sharada Peeth: Adi Shankara ascended the Sarvajna Peetham.
► Kedarnath - Shankaracharya Samadhi: Adi Shankara left the earthly abode from here.