Publish Date: | Sun, 27 Feb 2022 07:20 PM (IST)
Maha Shivratri 2022: Khandwa (Naiduniya representative). It is believed that Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati rest here for the night and play square-dice before sleeping here, so the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is being decorated with square-dice for centuries. It is said that many times in the morning the backgammon and the dice are found scattered. On Mahashivratri, a new backgammon will be decorated here along with the SEZ and the cradle.
The chief priest of the Omkareshwar temple, Pandit Dankeshwar Dixit, said that there are many beliefs about the traditions and religious rituals of the Omkareshwar temple. This is the only Jyotirlinga temple in the country, where every night a bed and chausar are laid for Lord Bholenath and Mata Parvati. It is believed that after taking night’s rest here, they reach Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain at three o’clock and attend Bhasma Aarti.
SEZ and Chausar do not spend 15 days in a year
For 15 days in a year, the tradition of decorating the sanctum, cradle and chausar in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is not maintained. It is believed that according to the tradition on Kartik Sudi Ashtami, Lord goes on a tour of Malwa-Nimar. During this, during the evening aarti, God’s bed, cradle and Chausar are also not decorated. After returning to the temple after traveling on Lord Bhairav Ashtami, he starts decorating it again according to tradition. On Mahashivratri, the temple is open for 24 hours for visitors, the Shayan Aarti takes place at 3 pm instead of 8:30 pm.
Sleeping Aarti is done in solitude
According to Pandit Dixit, Omkareshwar is the only temple among the twelve Jyotirlingas where the sleeping aarti is performed in solitude (secret aarti) at night. In this, no one other than the priests lives in the sanctum. After the aarti at 8:30 pm, the doors are opened for the visitors for half an hour. After this the doors remain closed till 5 in the morning.
Posted By: Hemant Kumar Upadhyay