Brahma Murari Surarchitha Lingam.

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal,

 

Brahma Murari Surarchitha lingam (Sivapuranam).

 

It was the fourteenth day (chaturdasi) of the telugu month ‘Magha

Bahula’.

The time was sunset and the darkness was overpowering sunshine.

There was a great argument between the creator and the feeder that is

Brahma and Sri Mahavishnu! Who is great among the two?

The time goes on and the heat of their argument was getting increased.

Then all the Devathas got frightened and approached Lord Shiva for

salvation.

The Lord Shiva appeared in front of them as Jyothirlinga the light of

which was about a million times to the sunlight. It was a great and

wonderful moment.

Then Lord Shiva told to Brahma and Vishnu that who ever find the

beginning and the end of the Jyothilinga at first is great.

Brahma sitting on swan (hamsa vahana) went towards the top of

Jyothirlinga, while Vishnu in the disguise of ‘Varaaha’

went towards the bottom.

Brahma during his journey to the top, found a flower (Mogalipoovu)

falling from the top.

Then Brahma asked the flower “Where from you are coming?â€

The flower replied “I am the one offered to the

Jyothirlingamâ€.

Then Brahma asked the flower “Do you know where the top of

Jyothirlingam is?†It said “Noâ€.

Then Brahma ordered the flower “Does not matter! You should tell

Lord Siva that I found the topâ€. There was no other go to the

flower except to agree to the words of Brahma.

Brahma and Vishnu both came to Lord Shiva.

Maha Vishnu confessed that he could not find the beginning.

However, Brahma told that he has seen the top for which the flower is

the witness.

Lord Shiva got angry on the false statement of Brahma, in as much as,

there is neither beginning nor end to Jyothirlinga.

Immediately he had cut Brahma’s fifth head and cursed the flower

(Mogalipoovu) that it will not be offered for worshipping the God at any

time.

Since that day onwards Brahma became ‘Chaturmukha’

Offering of flower ‘Mogalipoovu’ to any deity has been

dispensed with.

This is the ‘Lingodbhava Prasasthi’ in Sivapurana.

The day (night) on which Lord Shiva appeared in

‘Thejolingaroopa’ that (time) day is called as

" SHIVARATHRI'.

 

Sowrashtre Somanathancha Srisailee Mallikarjunam!

Ujjayinyam Mahaakala momkara Mamaleswaram!!

Kedaram Himavathvrushte Dhakinyam Bheemasankaram!

Vaaranaasyancha viswesam Trayambakam Gouthami thate!!

Vydyanaatham Chithaabhoomow Nagesam Daarukaavane!

Sethu Bhandecha Raamesam Ghasmesancha Sivaalaye!!

 

As per our Hindu mythology, on that ‘shivarathri time only the

existence of Lord Shiva's twelve

jyothirlingas came up, in the twelve sacred places, as stated in the

above sloka.

 

It also goes to say:

 

Eethani jyothirlingaani saayam prthahaha patennara!

Saptha janma krutham paapam smaranena vivasyathi!!

 

This sloka describes the twelve jyothirlingas available in the sacred

Sivakshethras in our country.

 

I am neither a Vedic pundit nor a scholar except a follower of Sanathana

Dharma and a Telugu craze. I would, therefore, request you to kindly

understand and forgive me, in case; there are any slips in my attempt to

reproduce the topic in English which I read in Telugu, Sanskrit and

sthalapuranas.

Though there are some differences about the Kshethras, we will discuss

the one accepted by the great pundits and believed by the residents who

are there for time memorial. I will elaborate these twelve, in my next

text, under the above heading.

 

Praying Lord Shiva (Mruthyunjaya) to bless one and all,

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.