||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 17 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 5

Mandapam Gopuram Theertham Madam  Kshethram Thathoththsavam | Vasthram Gandham Cha Malyam Cha Dhoopam Dheepam Cha Bhakthi: || Vividhannam Cha  Naivedhyamapoopa Vyanjjanairyutham | Chathram Dhvajam Cha  Vyanjanam Chamaram  Chapi Sangam || 

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunak, listen to me carefully, if a person could not adopt any of the three methods of Shravanam, Keerthananam, and Mananam, the best possible method is veneration of Shiva Ling, with the veneration of the Linga form of supreme Lord Shiva would make the person easily cross the ocean of worldly existence.  The sincere performance of worship of Linga with divine Dhravya/ingredients, offering the ingredients within one’s own capacity on the Linga, installing Linga in a Mandap, Gopuram, Theertham, Madam, Kshethram, and conduct various festivals and rites, offering Vasthram, Gandham, flowers, incenses, earthen lamp and worship with extreme devotion and faith. Besides all, offering various types of cooked rice/Vividhannam as Naivedhyam, sweets, and savories, offering  Chathram, Dhvaja, Vyanjjanam, Chamaram, etc. The Linga should be adorned in ornaments and garments as a King, circumambulates the Linga and prostrate followed with the recitation of chants.  The linga of supreme Lord Shankara should be performed with intense devotion, after invoking the presence of the supreme soul in the Linga, worship should be conducted on a daily basis.  Whoever conducts the worship of Linga with intense devotion and faith would attain the Shivapreethi and Siddhi as well.  Therefore the veneration of Linga itself possible for the worshiper to get liberated, many of illustrious Rishis and Sages had experienced this in ancient times.  It would bring Shivapreethi more than listening to his glories.”

Shaunaka Rishis speaks “ All the deities have worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of Linga, kindly narrate to us, why the supreme Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of Linga and image?”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Munishwara, You have raised a brilliant question.  The supreme Lord Mahadeva is Purusha, he is an excellent orator himself.  The supreme Lord Mahadeva is absolute Bhramam and Nishkalam as well.  I have heard from the face of supreme Lord Mahadeva who is the supreme preceptor.  The Saguna form of supreme Lord Mahadeva is magnificent, which symbolizes the epitome of beauty.  The Linga represents the Lord Mahadeva as Nishkala/formless.  He is supreme Lord who is beyond description or perception, worshiped as Saguna and Nishkala form as well, he represents Shabdha Bhramam.  The Supreme Lord Mahadeva is worshiped in the Nishkala/Linga form, but none of the other deities are worshiped in this form.  Therefore, the deities worship supreme Lord Mahadeva who is incomparable in his Nishkala form/Linga form and in his beautiful form as well.  He represents Vedanta and Upanishads; he is the essence of Omkara.  Once, Sanathkumaras who is the sons of Lord Bhrama raised this question to Nandikeshwara in the Mandarachala Mountain, to reveal the essence of Vedantha, Upanishads and Pranavarththa.”

Sanathkumara spoke “ Oh! Nandikeshwara, all deities are worshiped in their respective images in an idol form, Lord Shiva is adorned in idol as well as in the Linga form, kindly narrate the significance of it.” 

Nandikeshwara speaks “Oh! Munishwara,  you have enquired about the highly confidential Rahasya of Bhramalakshanam,  which is difficult to explain, even though I shall narrate them whatever I have heard from the supreme Lord Shiva. You are an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and a noble soul; I shall put all efforts to narrate the same.  The Supreme Lord Shiva is Nishkala Bhramam, therefore all the branches of Veda recommend the adoration of Linga which is considered as the Nirguna form of Lord Shiva, and he has the virtue of Saguna as well.  All the deities are worshiped in Saguna form, but only Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of Linga, and it is strongly recommended by Veda.”

Sanathkumara speaks “ Oh ! Yogindhra, Oh! Mahabhaga, you have narrated the reason for the worship of Lord Mahadeva as Nishkala/Linga form.  Kindly narrate the origin of Linga as well.”   

Nandikeshwara speaks “ Oh! Yogindhra, Oh! Vathsa, who is an ardent devotee of supreme Lord Bhava, listen to the Paramarththa.  During the first Swetha Varaha Kalpa there was an argument held between Lord Bhrama and Lord Vishnu.  At that moment, supreme Lord Parameshwara appeared as Nishkalasthambha/Linga that has neither beginning nor end.  In this way, NishkalaSthambharoopa/Linga appeared before Lord Bhrama and Vishnu, it has come into existence for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings and it is capable to provide Bhoga as well as Moksha to the worshiper.  It provides all the auspiciousness to the worshiper.”