Worship of Shiva Linga

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Shiva Linga and Worship

 

 

Shivling or Shiva lingam connects a devotee with the Supreme Being –

Lord Shiva. The lingam is the symbol of Lord Shiva and the lingam

puja helps the devotee in understanding Lord Shiva. The Lord cannot

be described but still we say he is without a beginning and an end

and is without a form. It is difficult for a devotee to understand

this formless nature. Therefore Lord Shiva appeared in the form of

Jyotirlinga before Brahma and Vishnu. The Lingam thus is a symbol of

Lord Shiva. Each Lingam puja, step by step, takes the devotee to the

eternal truth – that he/she is part of the Supreme Being.

 

Worshipping Shivling at Home

 

Before starting the Puja, the devotee takes a bath and wear freshly

washed clothes.

 

Smearing ash (bhasma): The devotee worshipping Lord Shiva should

smear holy ash on his forehead in three horizontal stripes -

Tripundra. The stripes symbolize Absolute Knowledge, Purity and

Penance (Yogasadhana).

 

Wearing rudraksha: The devotee should wear a rudraksha beads' mala

while worshipping Lord Shiva. The rudraksha converts the divine

light frequencies into the sound frequencies in the human body and

vice versa. Hence, it facilitates the absorption of divine

frequencies and transformation of one's thoughts into divine

language, so as to reach one's divine Principle of worship.

 

Rudraksha absorbs sattvik frequencies and emits similar frequencies

from its mounds. When a genuine rudraksha is held in the hand, its

vibrations can be felt in the fingers. At that time, the body is

absorbing the sattvik frequencies emitted by the rudraksha.

 

Hymns praising Lord Shiva or the mantra `om namaha shivayaa' are

repeated throughout the puja .

 

First it is the panchamrit abhishek - the libation of five holy

liquids over the lingam. The libation can consist of any five of the

following – water from river Ganga, honey, sugarcane juice, milk,

yogurt, ghee, seawater, coconut water or milk, fragrant oils, rose

water or other precious liquids. Usually, only milk of cow is used.

While pouring the liquid, om namah shivaya is uttered. Some devotees

utter the Lord's name 108 times and some 1008 times. There is no

fixed rule.

 

After the panchamrit abhishek, the lingam is cleaned with water from

Ganga. (This is might not be possible always so just normal water.)

After this the lingam is smeared with sandalwood paste and is decked

with flowers. Water and sandalwood paste is used to keep the lingam

cool, as Lord Shiva is always in a highly inflammable state. In some

Shiva temples, cooling liquid constantly drops from pot hung above

the Lingam.

 

Bel leaf is offered to Linga. It is kept on the pindi with its back

facing upwards and the stalk pointing toward the worshipper. The

intention is to draw the combined energy from these three leaf petals

towards oneself, leading to the reduction of one's trigunas.

 

Next, sweets, coconut and fruits are offered to the Lord. Camphor and

incense are lit and `arati' is conducted.

 

Finally, ringing of bells or blowing of conch indicates the end of

Puja. White ash (vibhuti) is rubbed on the forehead and it is also

distributed. Fruits, sweets and coconut are distributed as `prasad.'

 

 

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