A travel log for my journey to 10 Jyotir Lingums throughout south and central India, November-December 2002 with my yoga group, Dhyanyoga Centers.

 
Omkareshwar, Mamaleshwar, and the Narmada River

About 50 KM from Indore, on an island surrounded by the Narmada River, is the Jyotir Lingum Omkareshwar. Here's a good link that describes it very nicely http://travel.indiamart.com/pilgrimage-in-india/omkareshwar.html.

The hands-on puja done by the group was performed at Mamaleshwar on the mainland side of the river. I am told that since the river itself floods and makes the actual Omkareshwar lingum inaccessible at times, along with the logistical issues of the Jyotir Lingum itself being in a very small inner sanctum, the lingum at Mamaleshwar is the one that is regularly worshipped.

I very much enjoyed the boat ride to the island to have the darshan of the actual Jyotir Lingum. It was also a very good day in terms of photography. I got to shoot 3 rolls of 120 outside the temple, and several more rolls of color of the ceremonial goings on. Actually, I am out of color film, so I am mooching a could of rolls to get me through tomorrow, where we visit Mahakaleshwar, the last lingum we'll see on our trip.

Today was also the day I finally released the ashes of my beloved dog, Bear into the Universe by way of the magnificent Narmada River. He went on to the Happy Hunting Grounds shortly after my last India trip in 1995. Hopefully my efforts will ensure a happy rebirth for him, if you believe that sort of thing. It certainly couldn't hurt!



posted by Lydia at 12:14 PM