To Shankari Kali , Wendy, Sam, and the family: learning Shiva puja

[Guest guest]

Namaste Shankari Kali

 

In the Beginner Shiva Puja text, there are offerings to be made and

they are listed in order. Just follow the book. Start in English if

that is easier, and just read the book over and over.

Set up an altar in a quiet spot, where you can sit undisturbed, and

close the door. You want to create a "sacred space", and have a large

enough space which will allow you to "grow" the altar over time.

Have a "asan", a special blanket , to sit upon in front of the altar,

and before you begin worship, take a shower and put on clean clothes.

Burning incense and candles and reciting the mantras will purify the

atmosphere and create the "sacred space" you desire.

The item you will worship, the "lingum", or photos, or statue, should

be at your eye height once you are sitting on the floor in front of

the altar. This will allow you to look into the eye of your beloved

as you worship Him or Her. And, They will be able to look at you.

Yes, this is the Truth, whatever you worship, will be so filled with

consciousness and love, that it will come alive.

Thus, once worship is begun, it is best to make a sankalpa, a sacred

pledge, for daily worship. Why? Because on many different levels

there is great power in regular daily worship. At the Devi Mandir,

worship is performed every day, without fail. For the sake of the

worshiper, and for the sake of the object of worship.

As in any love affair, it grows and deepens with daily attention and

love. Our efforts to perform puja daily are rewarded with opening of

our hearts and a powerful connection to the Divine.

Remember, that puja is a guided meditation. We are meditating upon

and developing a relationship, with Shiva, the Consciousness of

Infinite Goodness. What could be more powerful, more sublime, more

rewarding?

Our ultimate goal: merging with That, Becoming That, and then, going

into the world and spreading That to all creation. As it says in the

Gita, we want to become "Udas", a servant of circumstance. Doing the

Lord's work as a servant would. Simply, directly, with one pointed

focus, with a heart full of love, and the mind full of God.

Taking the direction from the Divine Voice of Purity growing in

strength in our heart, we automatically act in accord with God's Will,

not our will.

Our actions automatically create more harmony and less discord, and

the World is a Better Place as a result of our passing thru.

Isn't that the ULTIMATE GOAL OF A LIFE WELL LIVED ON THIS EARTH?

So, let's arrange our space and get started.

When you arrange the "lingum", your sacred stone, you want to place it

upright in a bowl which will allow the liquid offerings to drain off

easily, and then allow you to pour water to wash the offerings off.

Then you will dry the lingum and cover it with a cloth, etc., as

stated in the text.

Important note: the lingum rests in a yoni. While I have been

calling it a bowl, it is actually a yoni. The lingum is the male, and

the yoni the female. If you look at Maa's altar in the Mandir, go

on-line to www.shreemaa.org, to do this, you will get the idea of how

you can arrange the rock and bowl. Traditionally, at least as I have

observed, the lingum and yoni are sold as 1 piece, carved from a

stone. Of course, sacred rocks are sold which come from the sacred

river in India, but, you use what you can acquire easily. I am

certain if you go on-line, you will discover stores which sell lingum

and yoni combinations and ship right to your door.

In any case, do not wait for the ideal components to begin your

worship, start today. Read in English if you have to, but do the

worship with devotion. Don't worry or fret about mistakes. Shiva is

most happy with any effort. All the rest will take care of itself.

It will grow as any love affair grows. The more you learn about

Shiva, the more you will want to worship Him and express you love and

devotion, and the more you want to worship, the more your altar will

grow and evolve with more beautiful ornaments and shiny offering

plates, bowls, bells, flowers, etc.

Just look at the Devi Mandir altar and you will see how far it can grow.

Let's set a goal to start right away, and by Shivaratri, the biggest

celebration for Shiva in the year, you will have done 7 pujas, 1 for

each day.

Then, if you really get inspired, follow in the steps of Maa and

Swami and the devi Mandir Family, our family, and fast all day

Thursday, the 15th, and stay up all night singing and worshiping, and

break your fast with us Friday morning, 4 am or so.

E mail with more questions. I am certain many others in our family

are following with us.

May Shiva bless you with pure love and devotion.

 

Jai Maa Jai Swami

 

love

 

vishweshwar

 

 

, Shankari Kali <shankari_kali

wrote:

>

> Namaste Vishweshwar:

>

> That was wonderful. Thank you. I did order the Shiva puja book and

CD, and as a matter of fact while I was walking one day, I did find a

rock that I liked. I thought that the Shivaling was supposed to come

from the Narmada River, so I walked past it. Maybe today I'll pick it up.

>

> Do you pour milk and honey on the rock as an offering?

>

> I will keep your e-mail, and I will begin today with Om Namah Shivaya.

>

> Peace,

> Shankari Kali

>

> inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 wrote:

Namaste Shankari Kali

>

> You do not need a Shiva lingum. A picture of Shiva, or even a flower

> will work. The goal is to have something to focus on, which reminds

> you of the Divine.

> When I was beginning my practice of Shiva worship, I found a rock I

> liked, and used that for some time. I mounted it upright in a bowl,

> and poured water and milk, etc.,on it, the offerings as described in

> the text, and adorned it with cloth and flowers, put a red dot on its

> third eye, and put sandalwood paste on its forehead.

> This simple rock, became the representation of Lord Shiva to me. He

> is the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness, He is everywhere, in

> everything, and is a witness to all Creation.

> So, when you begin to worship you need some point of focus. Something

> which will symbolize and Be Divine for you. As you worship the rock,

> it will become Divine. The space around it will become Divine, and the

> room it sits in will become Divine. Your home will become Divine.

> With time, you will begin to see and experience this Divinity in more

> and more of your objects of perception.

> And it all begins with focusing and worshiping a simple rock as the

> Divine Lord Shiva- the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness.

> Sounds simple? Well it is.

> Just begin with His mantra: Om Namah Sivaya, and the rest will unfold

> as if by magic.

> Start and end the day with this mantra. See what happens. If you

> feel drawn to Shiva, then order the "Beginner Shiva Puja" text, and

> the CD of cahnting which goes with it, and set up an altar, and start

> worship.

>

> What do you think? Let me know what you need. I love to teach

> worship of Lord Shiva

>

> Jai Maa Jai Swami

>

> Vishweshwar

>

> >

> > I have a question. Do we need to have a Shivaling on our altar to

> perform the Shiva puja?

> >

> > Thanks,

> NamasstreShankari Kali

> >

> > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> Namaste

> >

> > Thanks for sharing about your sadhana. Shree Maa often tells

devotees

> > who wish to expand their sadhana to study Shiva Puja. I have been

> > doing it daily for almost 10 years and find it wonderful. It has

> > changed my life. Prior to puja, I meditated for 20 years. For me,

> > puja was the next level of expansion of my personal growth.

> >

> > To learn more about this practice, on the tool bar to the left

of this

> > screen, click on "FILES", then click on "BEGINNER PUJA". This will

> > show you a class that was taught on beginner Shiva puja. If you are

> > interested in learning Shiva puja, a guided meditation into the

> > Presence of Lord Shiva, then go to the web site, www.shreemaa.org,

> > and order the booklet, "Shiva Puja for Beginners", and the CD which

> > goes with it. The entire puja is chanted on the CD and it it really

> > helpful for learning.

> >

> > Also, join our sankalpa for world peace. Go to the web site, and

> > there will be a place to learn about it, and hear Shree Maa

chant the

> > mantra.

> > Please consider these options. There are many more. It is all

up to

> > you and what you are attracted to.

> > Let me know how I can help you.

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> >

> > Vishweshwar.

> >

> > , brian hinds <mahadeva_sadhus@>

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > hi,

> > >

> > > well my sadhana is very simple..i get up and chant with my

> > rudrakshas in the morning and put them on..i pray to the divine and

> > ask for help and guidance...

> > >

> > > i think about shiva and mother alot in the day and chant mantras

> > to myself at work..

> > > i have been eating veg the past 6 months and meat is out of my

> diet..

> > >

> > > at night i meditate and chant..then pray before i sleep..

> > >

> > >

> > > i burn incense alot...i dont know how to do a formal puja..would

> > like to..

> > >

> > > i am open to suggestions to expanding my sadhana and forming

a new

> > one that is in line with the group.. and would be good to me and

> > mostly to others,,,,

> > > i am commited..have been for a long itme...

> > >

> > > thank you

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

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