Gujarat
Somnath
Standing on the Arabian Sea shore at Prabhas Patan, Somnath is honoured as the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Jyotirlinga 4 of 12
Omkareshwar
On Mandhata island in the Narmada — an island said to be shaped like the sacred syllable ॐ — Omkareshwar is one of the most beautiful settings of any Jyotirlinga.
LocationMandhata island, Narmada river
State / RegionMadhya Pradesh
Worshipped asOmkareshwar & Mamleshwar
Best time to visitOctober to March; the monsoon brings dramatic river views
Religious significance
Two shrines are honoured together: Omkareshwar on the island and Mamleshwar (Amareshwar) on the south bank. A large statue of Adi Shankaracharya, the "Statue of Oneness", was unveiled here in 2023, recalling the tradition that he met his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada at Omkareshwar.
Traditional story
The Vindhya mountain is said to have performed tapas to Shiva here; in another account King Mandhata of the Ikshvaku dynasty worshipped Shiva on the island, which takes his name.
Legends are presented as they are told within the tradition; they hold spiritual meaning for devotees and are not offered as historical record.
Visitor guidance
- Walk the parikrama path around the island (about 7 km).
- Boat rides on the Narmada are popular in the evening.
- Visit both Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar for the full darshan.
Continue the journey
More 12 jyotirlingas
Andhra Pradesh
Mallikarjuna, Srisailam
High in the forested Nallamala Hills above the Krishna river, Srisailam is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha.
Madhya Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain
In the ancient city of Ujjain, Shiva is worshipped as Mahakala — Lord of Time and of death itself.
Jharkhand
Baidyanath, Deoghar
Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar is worshipped as Vaidyanatha — Shiva as the divine physician.
From the library
Related reading
Planning a Jyotirlinga Yatra: A Practical Guide
How to group the twelve Jyotirlingas into practical regional circuits, when to go, and what to prepare.