Shiva as Lingam

[Guest guest]

SSS

 

Dear Sams,

 

I could find out this piece of information when I was browsing

www.saranam.com . This is a bit long explanation for breaking

of coconuts to the lord.

 

***************************************************************

Breaking Coconuts in temples and on auspicious occasions is a

custom followed faithfully by the majority of Hindus. Is there a

spiritual significance attached to this act? Are any benefits derived

by following this custom faithfully? There is, in fact, a historical cum

spiritual background to this custom. 'Sacrifice' has always been one

of the pillars on which the edicts of Hinduism stand. Humility leads to

sacrifice and sacrifice leads to destruction of ego. When ego is

destroyed,

Divinity is realized. This is the essence of Hindu teachings. Vedic

scriptures

suggest that the spiritual seeker sacrifices one meal or keeps away from

food itself on a day of his choice.

 

Skipping a meal was intended to serve two purposes. It would be

beneficial in

cleansing the physiological systems of the practitioner. A near empty

stomach

would also help him meditate with more concentration. This was called

'Upavasam',

meaning 'subexistence'. When the physiological system is devoid of food,

it produces

less blood. In effect, the 'sacrifice' called 'Upavasam' was gradually

interpreted to

be the sacrifice of 'blood'. Over a period of time, man's ingneuity

found ways of

sacrificing blood without sacrificing a precious meal himself.

 

Rather than a means to attaining spiritual bliss, the sacrifice assumed

the purpose of

fulfillment of materialistic desires. That was when animals were found

to be fit

candidates for 'sacrifice'. Red blood flowed from animals too, and the

'devotee' would

be able to achieve his heart's desire without sacrificing his own

'blood'.

 

Tantric practices were also being fanatically followed, and this

interpretation

suited those who desired ''iddhic''(mystical) powers for themselves.

Certain tantric

practices required that animals were replaced with human beings at the

sacrificial

altar. More shockingly, infants and children also became hapless victims

of this

gory practice, which unfortunately became the 'celebrated' ritual of

'Narabali'

(human sacrifice).

 

Adi Shankara, the spiritual Guru par excellence, was instrumental in

ensuring that

this undesirable practice of 'Narabali' was discontinued at many

spiritual centers.

He denounced the practice as having no spiritual sanction whatsoever.

The coconut

was chosen as a suitable substitute by people who did not want to give

up the

practice of 'bali' sacrifice of other beings), but wanted a similar

ritual for fulfillment

of their desires!

 

Why was the coconut chosen? The coconut resembles the human head in many

ways - the coir outside resembles the human's tuft of hair, the hard nut

the skull,

the water inside the blood and the kernel is akin to the mental space.

Another

interpretation equated the outer shell to the human being's gross

physical body

and the kernel to the subtle body. A practical reason was that the

coconut was

available throughout the country and stayed fresh for several days.

 

We have often heard that when a coconut is broken as offering to the

deity,

the sweet water inside should be allowed to spill out - symbolically

signifying

the flow of blood. While slightly wilted flowers or not-so-fresh betel

leaves are

accepted as offerings, if a coconut turns out to be foul smelling

inside, it is frowned

upon and immediately replaced. Liken this to the rule number one of

'Narabali' -

the sacrificial offering (namely the victim) should have no blemish

whatsoever!

 

Today the practice of breaking a coconut for all auspicious occasions is

a prevalent

and sometimes mandatory practice. But let us not forget the spiritual

significance -

the spirit of 'sacrifice' that elevates humanity to Divinity.

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Source : www.saranam.com

 

Regards,

Ganesh

[Guest guest]

Dear Ganesh

 

Thanks for participating in the egroup.

 

Shiva as Lingam !

 

An excellent topic - I will collect proper information on the same from my

side to share with all.

 

Ganesh - what is your view on

" Breaking Coconuts " - share with us the same.

 

Thanks

Krish

 

At 01:09 PM 7/5/01 +0530, C.Ganesh Kumar wrote:

>SSS

>

>Dear All,

>

> On seeing the overwhelming replies from you people I am posing

> some more questions which has been haunting my mind

> for so long.

>

> Why Lord Shiva is worshipped mostly thru' Shiva Lingam and not

> thru' his idol?

>

> What is the significance of Shiva Lingam?

>

>Regards,

>Ganesh

>

>-----