||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 21 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 9

Shivarathravahorathram Niraharo  Jithendhriya: | Archayedha Yathanyayam Yathabalamarchaka: || Thath Phalam Mama Poojayam Varshamekam Nirantharam |Thath Phalam Labathe Sadhya: Shivarathrai Madharchanath ||

Nandikeshwara speaks “ Oh! Kumaras, deities, Lord Bhrama, and Lord Vishnu worshiped supreme Lord Mahadeva along with Goddess Parvathi, Ganesha and Karthikeya, seated in the middle of the grand assembly of deities.  The supreme Lord  Mahadeva was adorned in Hara, Noopura, Keyoora, Kankana, Kireeda, Manikundala, Yajjasuthra, ornaments on Anguli/finger, Rudraksha, Pushpa, Thamboolam, Karpooram, Chandanam, Agaru, Dhoopa, Dheepa, Sithacchathram, Vyajjanam, Dhvajam, and various Dhivyaupaharas were offered, in this way the deities offered various divine ingredients to supreme Lord Mahadeva who is  beyond the perception of the humans.  Oh! Dhvija, whatever superior ingredients available on Earth should be offered to Lord.  Later, Lord Mahadeva was highly pleased and all that offered to him were distributed to the deities.  Lord Mahadeva who enhances devotion in the hearts of all were delighted with the veneration of Lord Bhrama and Lord Vishnu and pronounced, that   auspicious day would be widely celebrated as ‘Maha Shivarathri’.” 

The supreme Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Sons, whoever worships me in this Nishkala form/Linga on the day of Mahashivarathri with utmost faith and devotion would attain an abundance of piousness.  Whoever performs veneration of Linga with various divine ingredients on this auspicious day would attain commendable virtues of supreme Lord who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer as well. Whoever undertakes fast on this auspicious day of Shivarathri, following strict austerities, and venerates the Linga, within one’s own capacity, the worshiper would attain the meritorious reward of worship of Linga for a year, like the high tide on the day of Paurnami, it multiplies the piousness of the worshiper.  Oh! Kumara, I have appeared as Agnisthamba in the Month of Margasheersha, the sun was under the constellation of Ardra.  Whoever worships the Nishkala form of me along with Goddess Uma,  on the day of Arudra, he/she would become dearer to me like Karthikeya/Guha, whoever witnesses the Linga form of mine on this auspicious day would attain various merit, and people who venerate me on this day would attain abundance of commendable virtues which is beyond words.  The war field where I have appeared as Agnisthamba would be known as Linga Sthana.  Oh! Son,  The Agnisthambha has neither beginning nor end.   The worship of Linga would bring an abundance of piousness to worshiper; it would bring Bhoga and Moksha as well.   Therefore Dharshan, Sparshan, Dhyanam, and Poojanam of Linga would liberate the worshiper from worldly existence.  The Agnisthambha initiated has the resemblance of mountain-sized fire/Analachala, therefore it would be known as ‘Arunachala’.  This sacred Theertha would be well-known in the future, whoever resides on this sacred Theertha would attain Mukthi and would get relieved from the fear of death.  In this shrine, Rathosava and Kalyanam would be performed in a grand manner, and various pious deeds would be performed, which provides commendable merits.  This shrine would be famous among all the Kshethras, remembering the shrine itself would provide Mukthi.  This is one of the most prominent shrines that would provide all the auspiciousness as well as pleasures on the Earth.  Whoever worships me in this Lingeshwara form would attain Salokya Sameepya Saroopya and Sarshti as well.  All your desires would get fulfilled by the worship of Lingeshwara.”

Analachala Sankasham Yadhidham Lingamuththitham | Arunachalamithyeva Thadhidham Khyathimeyshyathi || Mathkshethradhapi Sarvasmath Kshethramethan Mahaththaram | Athra Samsmrathi Mathrena Mukthirbhavathi Dhehinam||

Nandikeshwara speaks “ In this way, the supreme Lord Mahadeva showered benevolence upon Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and all the warriors on the battlefield.  The Warriors who lost their lives in the war field once again regained their lives.   Lord Shiva advised Lord Bhrama and Vishnu to get rid of their ignorance and enmity.  There is no deity is worshiped in Nishkala form, the supreme Lord Shiva is worshiped in Sakala as well as Nishkala form.  The Supreme Lord Shiva advised Lord Bhrama and Vishnu and all the deities to worship him leaving their pride, his grace will be always upon the Universe and its living beings.  The supreme Lord Mahadeva represents trinities and Parambhramam as well.  He is all-pervading, illuminating as Athmaswaroopa.  He has assumed the form of Agnisthambha to reveal the knowledge of Bhramaththva.  The supreme Lord Mahadeva should be worshiped in Linga form that would bring endless virtues, therefore whoever constructs a Linga, the supreme Lord immediately assumes his presence on it.  Whoever installs a Linga and conduct regular worship would attain the status of Lord Shiva; whoever installs two Linga and conducts worship would attain the union with the Supreme Lord.”

Bhogavahammidham Lingam Bhukthi Mukthyoka Sadhanam | Dharshanam Sparshana Dhyanath Janthupoojanam Janmamochanam||