ADHVAGATI

 BHOPAL  It is most unfortunate that the instant recall at the mention of Bhopal is the horrendous Industrial tragedy of 1984 .  Posters and graffiti, old and new,  throw angry reminders at you as you drive into and out of the city. Setting that aside ........ This bustling Capital City is so conveniently demarcated as Old and New sections that it was easy for this visitor on a hurried trip to breeze through only the Old City sights , without wasting time on the modern roads and traffic signals. The Old City was typically old world chaotic , with crowded alleys , push carts , stray cattle and dour looking high walls. Secured among all that were the musty curios , redolent with age and lores, like memorabilia in the old tin trunk of a dear grandmother.  The legendary founder of the City is King Bhoja of Malwa , in the 11th Century. Historically, it was a town gifted to Dost Mohammad Khan in the 18th Century by the Gond Queen , Kamalapati, as payment for mercenar...

What is  it like to be put in the shadow of a twin   who, by whatever means or for whatever reason, has become a giant, a superstar much in demand by adoring crowds , when both have same stories of origin and the same claim to special status ? In human terms, that would be a sad state of affairs, of course, causing emotional instabilities and much angst.  But Divinities care a fig !  Nevertheless,  it is   an interesting study in contrast for a visitor . Mamleshwar ( /Amleshwar/Amreshwar) and Omkareshwar lie opposite each other on either side of the River Narmada and both are considered the Jyothirlingam. Not in plural.   They are considered The Same   Jyothirlingam ! And therein lies the rub,  of why one twin gets the limelight and the other a mere nod ! There are three theories about this. Theory 1 : Mamleshwar is the original and only Jyotirlingam of the holy site , Omkar was built later on a tribal shrine, appro...