Uttarakhand
Śāṅkara Jyoti Prakāśa · शाङ्कर ज्योति प्रकाश
Omkareshwar Mandir - Ukhimath
Visited 24 October 2026 during the 2026 Sampoorna Bharata Yatra.
Adi Shankaracharya's Visit
- Ukhimath, also written as Okhimath, historically known as Uṣāmaṭha and called Ukki Maṭha, is a Himalayan town in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, at an elevation of approximately 1,311 metres. It lies about 41 km from Rudraprayag on the road connecting Guptakashi with Gopeshwar.
- Its principal shrine is the Omkāreśvara Temple, where Lord Omkāreśvara is worshipped throughout the year. When snowfall closes Kedarnath Temple, the ceremonial image (utsava-mūrti) of Śrī Kedāranātha is brought to Omkāreśvara and worshipped here during winter. The ceremonial image of Madhyamaheśvara, the second of the Pañca Kedāras, is also brought here.
- The main shrine contains five Liṅgas representing the five Kedāra forms of Śiva—Kedāranātha, Madhyamaheśvara, Tuṅganātha, Rudranātha and Kalpeśvara. These five Liṅgas are associated with pratiṣṭhā by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.
- The image facing the main entrance is identified as Rudranātha. The temple paths are lined with older sculptures, including Sūrya, the Navadurgā, Śiva-Pārvatī and Naṭarāja, while the complex also contains shrines dedicated to Uṣā, Aniruddha, Pārvatī and Māndhātā.
- A Bhairava Temple is also present in the complex. The ground-level temple structure is associated with the period of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. A Rudrākṣa located slightly behind the Bhairava shrine is associated with a samarpane by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, as is one of the Triśūlas associated with Bhairava. A Vigraha of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya is also present at the site.
- Ukhimath is the home base of the Kedarnath Rawals, the Vīraśaiva head priests from Karnataka, giving the town a distinctive South Indian connection within the Garhwal Himalayan pilgrimage tradition.
The above findings are based on local recitations and living traditions, as well as inscriptions and markers observed at the site, supported by available historical references, certain scientific observations, and guidance from the Shastras. As our understanding continues to evolve, we will update this account from time to time as additional insights and information emerge from local communities and further study.
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