||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 36 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 22

Shalagramodhbhave Linge Rasalinge Thatha Dhvija: | Pashane Rajathe  Swarnna Surasiddha Pradhishtithe || Kashmeere Spatike Rathne Jyothirlingeshu  Sarvasha: | Chandrayanasamam Proktham Shambhor Naivedhyabhakthanam ||

Rishis speak “Oh! Sage, previously we have heard that the offerings of Lord Shiva should not be consumed immediately after veneration, and what are the procedures should be followed to accept the Shivanaivedhyam, and kindly describe the Bilwa Mathmyam.”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Ascetics, listen to me carefully, you are ardent devotees of Lord Shiva, undertakes various austerities and vows, a passionate devotee who follows austerities, and intense faith and devotion upon the supreme Lord Mahadeva, is qualified to accept the offerings of Lord Shiva. Oh! Munishreshta, mere witnessing the offerings of Lord Shiva would remove impurities of the minds and sins; hence the consumption of it would provide crores of piousness.  It is not necessary to perform crores of Yagnas, mere consumption of the offerings of Lord Shiva provides Shivasayujya.  The Shiva Naivedhyam purifies the home of the worshiper and its effect would purify the nearby homes as well.  Shiva Naivedhyam should be carried on the top of the head, and it should be consumed with the remembrance and utterance of supreme Lord Shiva.  The Shiva Naivedhyam should be consumed immediately after bringing home, it should not be discarded, and otherwise, it would bring sins.  The person who shows disrespect to the Shiva Naivedhyam would get troubled of sins and pushed to hell.  The passionate devotee whose neck is adorned with the image of Lord Shiva made of gold or silver, or any metal is entitled to receive the Shiva Naivedhyam, a person who attained Shivadheeksha is entitled to receive Shiva Naivedhyam, devotees who are attained Dhiksha of various beliefs, but the devotee of Lord Shiva can receive Shiva Naivedhyam, I shall narrate to you.  The consumption of Shiva Naivedhyam offered to Shivalinga created out of Saligrama, Rasalinga, Stonelinga, Silver or Gold linga, and Lingas consecrated by Siddhas or deities, Crystal Linga of Kashmira, Rathnalinga, and all the Jyothirlinga, would provide the piousness of Chandrayana Vratha.  The person who committed the severe sin of Bhramahathya would get rid of the sins with the adoration of Shiva Nirmalya on him/her, consumption of Shiva Naivedhyam would remove all the sins.  The Shiva Naivedhyam offered to Chandadhikari should not be consumed by humans.  Shiva Naivedhyam can be consumed with devotion in the absence of Chandadhikari of Lord Shiva.  Chandadhikari has no rights on the Lingas made of metals,  Bana, and Sidhdhalinga, or Swayambhuva/self-manifested Linga, or images of Lord Shiva.  The consumption of the water used for performing ablutions on the Linga would remove Thrividham Papam/three types of sins.  The Shiva Naivedhyam, flower, fruits, water, etc. should be consumed after a touch on the Salagramashila.  Oh! Munishwara, the Naivedhyam offered on the pinnacle of the Linga should not be consumed; the Naivedhyam offered on the pedestal of the Linga is auspicious to consume.”

Mahadeva Swaroopoayam Bilwe Devairapi Sthutha: | Yatha Kathashchidhethasya Mahima  Jyayathe Katham || Bilwamoole Mahadevam LIngaroopinam Avyayam | Ya: Poojayathi Punyathma  Sa Shivam Prapnuyathdhruvam||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Munisaththama, I have already described the methods of consumption of Shiva Naivedhyam. I shall describe the Bilwamahathmyam to you.  The deities eulogize bale tree that symbolizes Lord Mahadeva, how could I describe its glories in a few words?  All those Punyatheertha on the Earth represents the root of the bale tree.  Whoever worship Lord Mahadeva who is unblemished, in the form of  Linga under the bale tree would attain an abundance of meritorious reward, ultimately achieve the abode of Lord Shiva.  Whoever serves Bilwa tree with water, would remain purified and auspicious, attains the benefits of a dip in all the sacred waters.  The construction of a tiny watercourse at the base of the bale tree would bring the eternal presence of Lord Mahadeva in it.  Whoever worships the Bale tree with fragrances, flowers, fruits, unbroken yellow rice, etc. would attain Shivaloka and the clan of the devotee would prosper with all those auspiciousness with the grace of supreme Lord Mahadeva.  Whoever worships Bale tree and offer Earthen lamp on its root would attain the highest of the spiritual knowledge, ultimately attains the form of Lord Shiva.  Whoever collects the unbroken bale leaves and offer to Lord Shiva would be freed from all the sins.  Whoever serves a Bhramana seated under the bale tree, serving him with a meal, Dhakshina and Vasthram would attain the merit of feeding crores of twice-born.  Whoever serves the devotees of Lord Shiva with rice cooked in the milk would never face the suffering of poverty.  The worship of Shivalinga with sincere devotion and faith would provide delight to the worshiper engaged in worldly matters/ PravriththiMarga, and the worshiper who is already renounced the material well-being would attain serenity of mind and union with the Bhramam/ Nivriththimarga.  The worshiper who is engaged in worldly affairs can conduct the worship of Linga installed on the pedestal by a competent twice-born.  After the performance of  Rudrabhisheka, the rice offered to the Linga should be of high quality, as a part of the conclusion of the worship, the Linga should be kept in a sanctified place in the home.  The Shiva Naivedhyam should be offered to devotees of Lord Shiva, who are noble, renounced souls who worship the subtle form of supreme Lord who resides as the soul in the living beings.  The ablution of Linga with the sacred ashes, adoration of the same should be performed; finally, the worshiper reverentially bows down head before the Linga and prostrate  at the end of veneration.”