For a few months, my wife and I had been planning to visit
the Dwadasha Jyothirlinga’s in Omkar ashrama…and we finally made it yesterday,
29th March 2015. About 9 KM’s from where we live, this ahsrama is
situated on the Uttarahalli – Mysore road (Kengeri - connector). This location
is more familiarly known as Srinivasapura.
Situated on a hillock, this temple has been conceptualized
and constructed under the directions of Sri Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji, who
founded the Omkara Ashrama Mahasamsthana in the year 1992 – some 23 years back
in Bengaluru! Construction of this temple started in the year 2002 and the
consecration was conducted on 16th February 2011. This temple
complex houses a replica of the 12 Jyothirlingas across India. The
Jyothiralinga shrines are places where Lord Shiva is believed to have appeared as a fiery column of
light. Originally believed to be 64 in number, 12 of them are considered to be the most auspicious
and holy. These are at Somnath (Gujarat), Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra
Pradesh, Mahakaleshwara at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwara in Madhya
Pradesh, Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, Vishwanath at
Kashi (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh, Triyamabakeshwara in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath
in Deogharh at Jharkhand, Aundha Naganath in Maharashtra, Rameshwara at Rameshwaram
in Tamil Nadu, and Grishneshwara near Aurangabad at Maharashtra. These are listed in the order that
they must be visited during pilgrimage.
What is unique about this temple complex:
The gopuram at the main entrance door to the temple complex
is built under the traditional Dravadian style. Traditionally the gopurams are
a dominant feature of a temple’s outer appearance and even overshadows the
temples inner sanctum with its colossal size. Rectangular at its base, a
gopuram is geometrically similar to the frustum of a pyramid. Gopurams are exquisitely decorated
with sculpture and carvings and painted with a variety of themes from the Hindu
mythology. And so is the one at the main entrance to this temple complex.
However, the similarity ends here.
The two areas where temple architecture developed most
markedly were the Deccan and Orissa style. In the Orissa style the temple tower
over the main shrine, also called Vimana, is tall and cylindrical constructed on
a square base and is situated right above the Garbha Griha (Gudi), unlike the
southern style Gopuram which is a glorified entrance gate. The architect perhaps,
wanted to give prominence to the God’s abode over all other buildings in the immediate
vicinity and surrounding neighbourhood. The Orissan spire proclaims the
presence of God far and wide, from its lofty and imposing structure. It is this
style that has been adopted at Bengaluru’s dwadasha Jyothirlinga temple. Taking
advantage of the natural elevation at Srinivasapura, this architecture style
combined with a cluster of miniature towers gives it a distinct look that
catches the eye while travelling on the Uttarahalli road.
Considering that 2 out 12 Jyothir Lingas are in the south, namely
Srisaila and Rameshwara, the Vimana Gopurams above these two Garbha Griha
(Gudi) is built in the Dravidian style, while the remaining 10 have Vimana
Gopurams or spire, built in the Orissan style.
The devotee’s path while inside the temple premises is
guided in the same order as the 12 Jyothirlingas across the country and this is
what makes it unique. While laying the foundation of each of these 12 replicas,
another 1008 smaller size Lingas have been embedded below 11 of the Jyotir
Lingas and 2008 under Omkareshwara Linga. This means that one pradakshina of
the entire temple followed with a Namaskara would mean that the devotee has the
blessings of more than 13,000 Lingas! Sri Sri Shivapuri Swamiji’s grace and benevolence
has enabled the common man undertake darshan of the 12 Jyothir Lingas, bask in the auspicious
air surrounding them, which brings happiness, peace and harmony. Incidentally,
all the Lingas have been carved out of stones obtained from River Narmada,
considered to be the most auspicious.
Just behind this recently completed Dwadasha Jyothir Linga temple
is a banyan tree and this is at the peak point of the hillock. The area
surrounded by this banyan tree is named Sarvadharma Samanvaya Peetha and at the
base of the main trunk is the idol of Mother Goddess Vana Durga, which is the Sthana-Devata of Omkara hills. While one corner houses the temple of Sri Matsya
Narayana, there are 8 mini shrines to pay respect to other religions and sages/prophets built surrounding the banyan tree. Shrines have been built for Lord Jesus
Christ, Prophet Mohammed, Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Sri Shankaracharya, Sri
Madhavacharya and Sri Ramanujacharya.
Bhagwan Sri Matsya Narayana is the first of
the Dashavatar of Lord Vishnu. In this avatar, Lord MahaVishnu takes the form
of a fish to protect the creation from great deluge. By worshipping Lord
MahaVishnu in his avatar as Sri Matsya Narayana, one could obtain good health,
peace, prosperity besides cure from rare skin disorders.
A massive bronze bell weighing 1200 kilograms and a giant
tower clock (bigger than the Big Ben of London) are the other attractions at
this temple. Do make time to visit this temple and be blessed!!
