Omkar Hills is the tallest glorious and devotional spots in Bangalore with the avowed objective of propagating. The Ashrama has a Goshala, a Sanskrit Pathashala and arrangements for training in Vedagamas.Swamiji arranges for the lighting of “Karthika Jyothi” on the Sacred day of Pournima in the month of Karthik every year. Large numbers of devotees throng the Ashrama on this auspicious occasion.Swamiji’s greatest ambition has been to construct a huge Temple Complex known as Jyothirlinga Temple Complex – comprising of twelve Jyothirlinga Temples with the Deities in the same pattern as they exist in the various states of our country. Swamiji’s objective is to provide an easy opportunity to even a common man to have the satisfaction of visiting these Sacred Temples spread all country – a rich treasure of our religion.
Distance: Located in Srinivasapura, Omkar Hills is around 20 km from Bangalore city center and 5 - 6 km off Mysore road
Journey time: By bus 60 – 90 minutes and by private vehicle around an hour.
How to reach there: From KR Market near Tippu’s fort bus# 225, #227. The stop name is Srinivasapura and the identification is JSS institute of Technical Education. Now you just have to climb the Omkara hill.
From Majestic bus# 225C goes till BEML 5th stage. From there take a right turn – now you can walk taking the Uttarahalli – Kengeri main road for a kilometer and half or you may hire a auto till JSS college.
Buses are also available from Banashankari, Kengeri (bus# 222D), Marathalli.
Route: Mysore road – Raja Rajeshwari temple gate – BEML 5th stage – Uttarahalli/Kengeri main road – Srinivasapura – JSS college
Where to eat: No food is available. However, you can get soft drinks, fruti and appy juce.
Where to stay: The ashram seems to have a residential building but I am not sure if they allow to stay.
Languages Spoken: Kannada, Hindi, English
Omkar ashram or omkara ashram is founded by Sri Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji in 1992. The hill rises more than 2500 feet and is a adobe of peace. One can spend time being just with oneself and cool breezes passing by. The place also offers an awesome bird’s view of the southern part of Bangalore. At the very entrance you will find a new temple complex is being built in both north indian and dravidian style. On the right hand side looks the ashram caretakers residential building. Once you move in and take the steps on the left hand side, you will find a huge clock manufactured by HMT. The fact files says:
The biggest clock in the world, even bigger than Big Ben in London, UK.
The clock weighs around 500 kg.
The hour stick weighs around 50 kg, minute 40 kg and second 25 kg.
Every completion of an hour it makes the sound AUM equal to the number of time in the clock. Example, if it is 10 am it will say AUM 10 times. I head a 100 ft by 100 ft structure of the letters AUM will be installed on Omkar hills so that it can see from anywhere in Bangalore. Amaizing! Besides the clock on the left is the Dhyana mandir (prayer hall) of guruji of the ashram. Now again climb few more steps to get on to the highest point on the hill. From here one can get an awesome view and gives ample opportunity for photography. Here a big Banyan tree
is surrounded by 8 statues or symbols representing Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Dwaita, Vishishtadwaita, Adwaita and Sikhism. Next you will find a marble plated room which will be typically closed. However, you can sit here to take lung full of cool breaths to think about yourself, be at peace, meditate or just let your mind run wild. The gentle breeze of wind and the surrounding will simply make you feel happy. This is one of the lesser known spot to vist in Bangalore. But it is worth visiting.
Sri Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamji
His Holiness Sri Sri SHIVAPURI MAHASWAMJI founded Omkara ashrama Mahasamsthana in 1992 on Omkar Hills.
Born on 30th Jan 1948, Swamiji had spiritual learnings from the childhood itself. After finishing his schooling, Swamiji joined Kailas Ashrama Mahasamsthana founded by Jagadguru Shivaratna Puri Mahaswamiji known popularly as Jagadguru Thiruchi Maha Swamiji in 1963. Swamiji was the most beloved disciple of the great Thiruchi Maha Swamiji, who arranged for imparting to him knowledge of various Shastras and Agamas from renowned Scholars and Pundits. He made very great strides in his own way and distinguished himself as a great asset to the Mahasamsthanam. After finishing his Graduation in Sanskrit he was initiated into Sanyas in 1976 and very soon he had to shoulder great responsibilities as the Administrative officer of the Ashram. The magnificient Temple of Divine Mother Rajarajeshwari built in his time with great pains. Swamiji organized regular poojas, special poojas, homas and festivities in a very systematic manner as per the Agama Shastras. Swamiji was very much instrumental in spreading the fame of Kailas Ashrama Mahasamsthana and the Temple far and wide, drawing innumerable devotees from India and Abroad.
Another very significant achievement is the creation of six Jagadguru Peethas for some of the major sects and installation of a Jagadguru for each Matha, after due coronation. These Jagadgurus are working as a unifying force in their own way – and thus the backward communities have found their own Spiritual Masters to guide them in Secular and Spiritual matters.
Swamiji is an embodiment of pure love which flows continuously without any barrier of caste, creed or religion. His care concern and hospitality leave an indelible on everyone who comes in contact with him great are his ideals, great is his mission in life and great is his attraction.
Sri Sri Swamiji left his body and attain mukthi on 25-07-2007
Clock Tower
A magnificient Tower Clock, bigger than the reputed Big Ben of London, with provision to bring out Shankanada and Omkaranada along with the striking of each hourly gong, has been installed on the Hill.
Swamiji is known for his innovative initiatives in all walks of life. True to that, he planned and got his plan executed by installation of a unique Tower Clock. This is the second clock in the world and is bigger than the Big Ben of London.
At the commencement of every hour, the clock chimes the sound of couch (Shankanada) followed by “Om” five times. The Shankanada is meant to awaken the consciousness of everyone to the great truth which is revealed by five Omkara to follow. Om which is a combination of three syllables A, U and M – represents the three states of life (the waking, the dreaming and the deep sleep state), creation, existence and dissolution, etc. It is the hub of the wheel which represents all the gamut’s of our life. Prasnopanishad describes Om as one imperishable and immutable sound and one who contemplates on the supreme spirit (Brahman) by this sound will abide in the very source of light and energy. After drawing the attention to the supreme spirit, the gong of each hour indicates the passing away of time. Swamiji correctly describes that the gong tells everyone that the time is passing away and each one should turn his attention to achieving his permanent goal without anymore delay. The following serves perhaps as the quintessence of the call given by this clock as well as by the respected Swamiji.
Watch your thoughts They become words
Watch your words They become action
Watch your actions They become habits
Watch your habits They become character
Watch your character It becomes your destiny
Hall of Religious Harmony
Religion is essentially a way for men to reach God who abides in everyone’s hear. It seeks to lift man from the fetters of mundane existence and guide him along the higher reaches of mind and heart.
The message of all religions is to give more than to receive; is to perceive and not to deceive; is for attainment and not for commitment. Universal Brotherhood and mutual respect are the core teachings of every religion. The Vedas proclaim “Ekam sat, vipra bahudha vadanthi – truth is one; sages proclaim it differently”. All mystics speak the same truth but in different languages and different manners.
But, divisiveness is the oldest and the most persistent disease which has afflicted the human race through aeons of existence. Innumerable conflicts are raging everywhere because of factions within and between different groups.
Extremely worried by the divisiveness and resultant inharmonic, Sri Shivapuri Mahaswamiji who is an ardent advocate of integration and assimilitation has built this Hall of Religions with the statues of all religious leaders of leading communities. Swamiji has been propagating harmony among the various religious groups by arranging seminars on “Sarva dharma Samanvaya” in which religious leaders of different communities participate.
Swamiji’s call is loud and clear – God is one, don’t quarrel among yourselves and live like brothers and sisters with peace.
Sanathana Dharma with particular emphasis on the inherent unity of all religious. Swamiji has constructed a Sarva Dharma Samanvaya Mantapa a hall of principal religions with the statues of their founders. He has been organizing a number of functions at this place in order to inculcate in everyone the Vishwa bhratrutva – Universal Brotherhood. Leaders of various religious sects speak at this place. Bhajans are also organized here very frequently. Large numbers of devotees attend and partake of the Blessings of Swamiji.
Official Website: http://omkarhills.org
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