||Om Nama: Shivaya||

 

Chapter – 54 – Rudra Samhitha/Shrishti Kanda – 13

 

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “ Oh! Rishis and Sages and deities listen to me carefully. I shall explain the method of the worship of Linga in detail, which could provide an abundance of meritorious rewards. The worshiper should be awake before the dawn and meditate upon the supreme Lord Mahadeva along with Goddess Parvathi, the prayer to invoke the deities in the morning as follows.”

 

Uththishtothishta Devesha  Uththishta  Hridhayeshaya | Uththishta Thvam Umaswamin Bhramande Mangalam Kuru || Janami Dharmam Nachame Pravriththir Janamyadharmam Nachame Nivriththi: | Thvaya Mahadeva Hridhi Sthithena  Yaya Niyukthoasmi Thatha Karomi||

 

“Oh! Devesha, kindly wake up! Oh! Hridhayeshaya who resides as a soul in living beings, kindly wake! Oh! Umaswami, who is the Lord of Goddess Uma, kindly shower auspiciousness to the whole Bhramanda, Oh! Prabho, I do not know Dharma, I did not do any Dharmapravriththi as well/righteous deeds, Oh! Prabho, I do not know about the methods of Nrivriththi Marga, I have not performed any Nivriththi Marga as well, Oh! Mahadeva, who resides as the soul in us, kindly enlighten us to perform the same.”

 

The worshiper should contemplate upon his preceptor, and move towards southern direction for ablutions, the purification of the body is done with the sand and water, the purification of the mouth, and rinse with the water for sixteen times before the sunrise. Oh! Rishis and Sages, the cleansing of the mouth should not be done on sixth and ninth and moonless days of the fortnights, and Sundays. The purification of the body can be done in the river or pond, according to the time and traditions. The performance of the bath is compulsory facing the east on all days, solar and lunar eclipse, after the bath the performance of charities, or austerities or vows are conducted, and the worshiper should not take bath in the hot water during the days of Ashaucha. The oil bath should be taken on particular days; this is not applicable to the person who is used to have an oil bath on a regular basis. The mustard oil is applied to the body for a bath on specific days, and an oil bath should not be taken on the period of the solar or lunar eclipse. The bath can be performed based on the time and zone, facing north or east. While taking bath one should not use the borrowed clothes, the bath should be performed wearing clean cloth and reciting the names of Lord Shiva. The cloth worn on yesterdays can be used for a bath, after the completion of wash,  the running water is offered to deities, Rishis, and manes and take a sip of it,  and after that worshiper can wear fresh clothes. The seat for the performance of worship should be clean and purified with the cow-dung paste, and it should be covered with grass mat or wooden, or skin of deer,   the place and the seat of worship should be sanctified. The worshiper should apply Tripundra followed with the recitation of chants after taking a seat. Oh! Brahmana, any charities, or Tapas, or austerities performed after applying Tripundra is highly propitious. In the absence of holy ashes, the Tripundra can be drawn with the water as well. The worship of Lord Shiva should begin with the application of holy ashes as Tripundra, adoring Rudraksha as a garland around the neck. The performance of Achamana, offerings to the deity, and all the ingredients for the performance of the rite should be procured beforehand, the worship of the deity should begin after initial prostration to the preceptor, followed with Sankalpa, if any wishes or something should be included, and the adoration of Shivalinga should be performed sincerely. The worship of Lord Ganesha along with Goddess Riddhi and Siddhi, and adoration of Linga and the deities with the vermilion flowers rice, etc. performed with Shivamudra. The worship of Lord Ganesha along with Lord Karthikeya is performed, the Dwarapalaka of the Lord also worshiped in the shrines, and Devi Parvathi. The offerings of Neivedhya, vermilion, flowers, incense, the lamp is offered to the Linga and all the deities. I have narrated the worship of the Linga consecrated in the shrine. In the houses, the Dwarapalakas are not worshiped, the simple worship of Lord Shiva along with Lord Ganesha, Lord Karthikeya and Goddess Parvathi is performed, and there are no hard and fast rules to follow. In the houses the worship of Linga can be conducted seated facing north before the Linga, Prakshyalay, Pranayama, the ten times of recitation of Moolamanthra, display of Panchamudhra, the lamp is offered to the deities, followed with the initial salutations to the preceptor. The worship of the deities can be done in any of these Asanas/seating postures, Padmasana, Bhadrasana, Uththanasana, or Paryanka asana, whichever is convenient for the worshiper. The worship of Linga with the water should be conducted and the Lord of the Lords along with Goddess Parvathi who resides in Mount Kailash should be invoked with the recitation of sacred hymns.”

 

Yathoktharoopinam Shambhum Nirgunam Gunaroopinam | Panchavakthram Dhashabhujam Thrinethram Vrishabhadhvajam || Karpooragauram Dhivyangam Chandramaulim Kapardhinam | Vyaghracharmoththareeyam Cha Gajacharmambharam Shubham || Vasukhyadhipareethangam Pinakadhyayudhanvitham | Sidhdhayoashtai Cha Yasyagre Nrithyanthiha Nirantharam|| Jaya Jayethi Shabdhaishcha  Sevitham Bhakthapujjakai: | Thejasa  Dhu: Sahenaiva  Dhurlakshyam Devasevitham || Sharanyam Sarvasaththvanam Prasanna Mukhapankajam | Vedai: Shasthraiarththa Geetham Vishnu Bhramanutham Sadha ||

 

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Brahmanas, the supreme Lord Shambhu who has Saguna and Nirguna swaroopa as well. He has five faces, ten arms, three eyes on each face, holds the flag which has the emblem of the celestial bull. He has fair complexion resembles camphor, he has divine limbs, he is adorned in the crescent moon on the matted hair locks, he is attired on the tiger skin, adorned in serpents as ornaments all over the body, he holds the powerful bow and Pinaka, the Ashtasidhdhis dances around him, the crowd of the Gans, deities, and celestials cheers in extreme bliss, he has supreme radiance, he is worshiped by the deities, He is the protector of Jeeva, he has a pleasing smile, he is eulogized by Veda and Vedanga, he is eulogized by Bhrama and Vishnu as well.”

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Sages and deities, the worship should be carried out with the Arkhya and Padhyam, and recitations of sacred chants of Lord Shiva. The bathing of the Linga should be performed with the ingredients procured, and offer the fragrances, sandalwood paste, and Kasthuri following the recitation of Vedic Manthra, and the flowers, sesame seeds, barley grains, wheat, green gram, are offered to the deity. The flowers like lotuses, rose, Shankhapushpa, Kusha, Dhathoora, basil, Tulsi, Bale leaves are offered to the Linga, any of these flowers can be used for the veneration if there is no Neivedhyam is available, mere offering the bale leaves on the Linga would provide the piousness of the veneration of Linga. The offerings of Sugandhachoornnam, Guggulu, Agaru is also the part of veneration, and lightning ghee lamp before the Linga, with the following prayers”

 

Roopam Dhehi Yasho Dhehi Bhogam Dhehi Cha Shankara | Bhukthi Mukthi Phalam Dhehi Griheethvardham Namosthuthe ||

 

“Oh! Prabho, Oh! Shankara, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, kindly bless us with attractive appearance, kindly bless us with fame, welfare and happiness, kindly bless us with all the worldly pleasures and ultimately Mukthi/state of abandonment/the state of bliss.”

 

Lord Bhrama continues “Oh! Sages and deities, as the final stage of the veneration, the offering of Neivedhya, Harathi is performed to the Linga, circumambulate the Linga, and prostrate before the Linga, offering a handful of flowers with the prayer to forgive all those mistakes committed knowingly and unknowingly. The prayers made to supreme Lord Gaureesha who is the Lord of spirits/Bhoothanatha, to forgive all the mistakes and sins committed, take shelter at the lotus feet of him, the Jeeva slipped out of his hands should unite with him with the prayers and venerations and the Jeeva should take refuge at his feet, and request to remove all the sins, finally as a part of the veneration the supreme Lord who is Devadevesha, worshiped in the form of Linga should be placed in the original sanctum, with a request to return for the worship tomorrow as well. The water used for the bathing of the Linga should be sprinkled on the head of the worshiper. Oh! Sages, and deities, I have explained the methods of veneration of Linga elaborately. This could provide intense devotion and salvation from the repeated births as well. Oh! Sages, what would you like to hear from me?”