Pranam
Linga: Lord Shiva is called as ‘Tribhuvanēśvara’ in his aspect of being
the lord of the three worlds, viz. the higher worlds, the middle one called
‘the Earth’, and the lower ones called ‘nether-worlds’. Alternatively, when
all the worlds are referred to collectively, he is hailed simply as
‘bhuvanēśvara’. In both these names the common meaning is the same i.e., –
‘bhuvana’ means ‘world(s) or abode(s)’ and ‘īśvara’ means ‘the lord, ruler,
and owner’. Because Lord Shiva is the Supreme Lord of all the worlds, he is
‘bhuvanēśvara’. The earliest reference to Lord Shiva by the name of
‘bhuvanēśvara’ comes from the Rig Veda itself. The following verse of Rig
Veda calls Bhagawan Rudra as ‘īśānādasya bhuvanasya’, meaning – ‘lord of
all the bhuvana (worlds)’! “sthirebhiraṅghaiḥ pururūpa ughro babhruḥ
śukrebhiḥ pipiśehiraṇyaiḥ | īśānādasya bhuvanasya bhūrerna vā u yoṣad
rudrādasuryam '' (Rig Veda 2.33.9) “He, the fierce god, with strong limbs,
assuming many forms, the tawny Rudra, decked himself with brilliant golden
ornaments. From Rudra, who is lord of this wide world (īśānādasya
bhuvanasya), divine power will never depart”.
“na śivēna vinā śaktirna śaktirahitaḥ śivaḥ | umāśankarayōraikyaṁ yaḥ
paśyati sa paśyati ||” (sūta saṁhitā:04:13:30) “Neither Shakti exists
without Shiva, nor does Shiva exist without Shakti. The one who sees Uma
and Shankara as one and the same is the one who really sees (i.e., knows
the truth)”. Even Shiva Purana voices the same opinion as follows. “yathā
śivastathā dēvī yathā dēvī tathā śivaḥ | nānayōrantaraṁ
vidyāchchandrachandrikayōriva ||” (Shiva Purana 7:2:4:9) “As is Shiva so is
Devi, as is Devi so is Shiva. There exists no difference between them as
much as moon and moonlight”. Hence for the same reason (as what we have
seen for bhuvanēśvara), goddess Adi-Shakti is called ‘bhuvanēśvarī’
meaning, ‘the supreme queen of all the worlds’.
In the Drona Parva of Mahabharata the illustrious sage Vyasa narrates
the glories of lord Shiva to Ashwatthama, and before closing his great
narrative, he states how Narayana who is called Kesava, worships Shiva and
how Shiva cherishes a great affection for him. There *Vyasa mentions that
Kesava (Vishnu) always worships Shiva in linga form considering Linga as
the origin of the universe. { if so how come it came only after the etc etc
mentioned above?} *The corresponding verse is quoted below.
“sa eṣa rudra bhaktaś ca keśavo rudra saṃbhavaḥ | sarvabhūtabhavaṃ jñātvā
liṅge ‘rcayati yaḥ prabhum | tasminn abhyadhikāṃ prītiṃ karoti
vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ |” (MBH 7:172:89-90)
“Kesava is that devoted worshipper of Rudra who has sprung from Rudra
himself. Kesava always worships the Lord Siva, regarding his Linga emblem
to be the origin of the universe. The God having the bull for his mark
cherisheth greater regard for Kesava”.
In Anushasana Parva of the same Mahabharata Krishna narrates to
Yudhishthira about the great glories of Mahadeva and there he makes a
statement saying – the seers call Mahadeva as Agni and Sthanu and
Maheshwara! He continues and says that seers call him as the one who has
three-eyes, and who is also single-eyed, who is of a universal form, and
who bestows auspiciousness. The verse is quoted below.
“vadantyagnı̃mahādēvaṁ tathā sthāṇũmahēśvaram | ēkākṣaṁ tryambakaṁ caiva
viśvarūpaṁ śivaṁ tathā ||” (MBH 13:161:2
“The Rishis describe Mahadeva as Agni, and Sthanu, and Maheswara;
as one-eyed, and three-eyed, of universal form, and Siva or highly
auspicious”.
*Our scriptures do not speak anything random* that comes to the author’s
mind (especially while dealing with Shiva and Shakti). *Each and every word
is carefully selected to give a* ‘connecting’ meaning while making any
statement by those speakers. In this above quoted verse from Mahabharata,
Krishna said that the rishis call Mahadeva by names – Agni, and Sthanu, and
Maheshwara and one-eyed, and three-eyed, and universal-form and auspicious.
These are highly loaded with meanings that are connected with each other
and they refer to him in his Jwala-Linga form which is the Brahman. Let’s
see the details no
Etymologically ‘sthāṇu’ means – ‘pillar’, ‘immovable’, ‘fixed’,
‘pole’, ‘trunk’, ‘stationary’. It has the same origins as that of the word
‘sthūṇa’ which etymologically means, – ‘pillar’, ‘post’. The name ‘sthāṇu’
thus means – “he who is a pillar which cannot move because of having filled
everything by himself and there is no place left outside him to pervade
further”.
In line with this point, mahAbhArata defines his name ‘sthāṇu’ as
follows. So, it is clearly because he is the infinite brahman which has
filled everything hence doesn’t have any place further to move and hence he
is called a ‘pillar’ which is infinite to measure, hence everlasting.
* “mahat pūrve sthito yacca prāṇotpattisthitasca yat । sthitaliṅgaśca
yannityaṃ tasmāt sthāṇuriti smṛtaḥ ॥” (MBH 07:202:133) “*
* And since he is great and ancient and is the source of life and of its
continuance, and since his linga-emblem is fixed (motionless) and is
everlasting, he is for that reason called Sthanu”.* Now, he is called Agni
just before naming him as sthanu. Therefore this now means – He is that
Agni which has filled everything hence immovable further.
Although all the gods including the god of fire is Shiva’s form, yet,
here in this context, the name Agni doesn’t mean to describe him as that
deity of fire who couldn’t even burn a grass blade without his wish (recall
kenopanishad third chapter!). Here the words Agni and Sthanu are to be
taken together to get the right meaning which is – “He is that pillar of
Agni (of consciousness) which is infinite and has filled everything hence
is the unmovable one (sthāṇu)”.
This concludes – He is ‘sthāṇu’ because he is that*
‘Jwala-Linga’ *which
is infinite and has occupied everything by itself. For this reason,
recognizing Shiva as the Agni-Linga which is the Skambha (Pillar)
supporting the whole universe on itself – Rig Veda has hailed Agni as
‘sthūṇa’, meaning ‘Pillar’ in the following verse. The word ‘sthūṇa’ is
synonymous to ‘skambha’ or ‘stambha’ and all these mean alike – ‘pillar’!
Vaisvanara is the Agni of consciousness (Atman) which sustains everyone by
being in them pervading through ‘Sushumna’. “vayā idaghne aghnayaste anye
tve viśve amṛtā mādayante | vaiśvānara nābhirasi kṣitīnāṃ sthūṇeva
janānupamid yayantha ||” (Rig Veda 1:59:01) “The other fires are, verily,
thy branches; the Immortals all rejoice in thee, O Agni. Centre art thou,
Vaiśvānara, of the people, sustaining men like a deep-founded pillar”.
Again for the same reason, recognizing Shiva’s infinite form of
column of fire of consciousness,{is linga worship}. Yajurveda’s Taittiriya
Aranyaka has offered its salutations to Lord Shiva’s Agni-Stambha as
evident from below verse.
“jvalaliṅgāya namaḥ |” (Taittiriya Aranyaka 10:16:2) “Salutations
to Him, He, who has the form of the Agni Linga”.
This Jwala-Linga is termed as ‘Skambha’ in Atharva Veda primarily.
Hence the entire creation is said to have sprung from his ‘Jwala-linga
(Skambha)’ form of Mahadeva as per the verse below from Athatva Veda’s
Skambha Suktam. “skambhó dādhāra dyā́vāpr̥thivī́ubhé imé skambhó dādhārorv
àntárikṣam skambhó dādhāra pradíśaḥ ṣáḍ urvī́ḥ skambhá idáṃ víśvaṃ bhúvanam
ā́ viveśa |” (Atharva Veda X:7:35) “Skambha set fast these two, the earth
and heaven, Skambha maintained the ample air (Antariksham) between them.
Skambha established the six spacious regions: this whole world
Skambha entered and pervaded”. Now, we can understand why kesava worships
‘Shiva-Linga’ considering it as the origin of universe and why the same
Vishnu as Krishna has called Mahadeva as ‘Agni’ and ‘Sthanu’. Now let’s
relate his name ‘Maheshwara’ here. Because everything is created from him
(his jwala-linga), hence he is the Supreme master of everything as there is
no other master above him. Therefore he is Maheshwara. He possesses ‘three’
eyes because he is alone the knower of the past, the present and the
future. He is again the possessor of one eye since he transcends the three
divisions of time and is the ‘akṣara-kāla’ – an infinite expanse of
undisturbed time (time without any ripples of changes) which is – Brahman.
He is ‘Vishwarupa’ because all the thirty-three deities which are called as
‘Visvedevas’ reside in his form of ‘Jwala-Linga’ i.e., ‘Skambha’ as stated
in below verse from Skambha Sukta
. Also, As per Brihadaranyaka Upanishad there are only thirty-three
gods and all others are the various forms of these thirty-three only.
“yásya tráyastriṃśad devā́ áṅge sárve samā́hitāḥ | skambháṃ táṃ brūhi
katamáḥ svid evá sáḥ |” (Atharva Veda X:7:13) “Who out of many, tell me, is
that Skambha He in whose body are contained all three-and-thirty Deities?”
And finally, since he is the bestower of auspiciousness on the world, he is
‘Shiva’. Did you see – how scriptures hide the nature of Mahadeva with
interwoven complex fibers of messages and yet how beautifully they reveal
the right information when understood in the proper sense?
That is my father, Mahadeva! – Complex to comprehend for his haters
and easily accessible for those who are devoted to him. And this is not
something that I am stating newly; Vyasa himself has documented this in
Mahabharata in couple of places as follows. Sage Vyaghrapada’s wife
narrates the following to his son while describing Mahadeva. “durvijñēyō
mahādēvō durādhārō durantakaḥ | durābādhaśca durgrāhyō durdṛśyō
hyakṛtātmabhiḥ ||” (MBH 13:14:133) “’Mahadeva is exceedingly difficult to
be known by persons of uncleansed souls. These men are incapable of bearing
him in their hearts or comprehending him at all. They cannot retain him in
their minds. They cannot seize him, nor can they obtain a sight of him”.
The same fact has been spoken by Vyasa himself to Ashwatthama in other
words as follows “nālaṁ draṣṭũyaṁ janā bhinnavṛttā
brahmadviṣaghnamamṛtasya yōnim | yaṁ paśyanti brāhmaṇāḥ sādhuvṛttāḥ kṣīṇē
pāpē manasā vītaśōkāḥ ||” (MBH 7:201:67) “Persons of wicked behaviour can
never obtain a sight of that unborn one, that slayer of all haters of
Brahmanas, that giver of emancipation. Only Brahmanas of righteous conduct,
when cleansed of their sins and freed from the control of grief, behold him
with their mind’s eye”. Let’s now see the great glories of ‘bhuvaneshwara’
– who is the supreme Brahman. KR IRS 251221 (significance of Lingam )
On Sat, 25 Dec 2021 at 10:18, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> QUES ANSW DIVINE 85
> Dear friends,
>
> These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in
> 1998’s-2004’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information
> of the members posted.
>
> BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, Former AGM Telecom Trivandrum dated 25-12-2021*
>
> Q1 Which are the Pancha Mukti Sthalas?
>
> A1 The Pancha Mukti Sthalas (Places of liberation) are:
>
> Birth Mukti of Tiruvaarur - if one is born in Tiruvarur, he/she
> automatically attains Mukti
>
> Thought Mukti of Tiruvannamalai - if one thinks of Tiruvannamalai, one
> attains
> Mukti.
>
> Residence Mukti in Kanchi - if one lives in Kanchi, he/she attains
> Mukti.
>
> Death Mukti in Kasi - if one dies in Kasi, he/she attains Mukti.
>
> Sight Mukti in Chidambaram - if one gets Dharshan of the Siva in
> Chidambaram,
> he/she gets Mukti.
>
> Q2 Which are the Pancha Mahayajnas a person has to adhere?
>
> A2 Pancha Mahayajnas (daily rituals for every householder) are:
> Brahma yajna: Homage to the seers - accomplished through studying and
> teaching the Vedas.
>
> Deva yajna: Homage to Gods - accomplished by offering ghee and uncooked
> grains into the fire.
>
> Pitru yajna: Homage to ancestors - accomplished by Offering cooked rice
> cakes (pinda) and water to the family line.
>
> Bhuta yajna: Homage to beings - accomplished by Placing food-offerings
> intended for animals, birds, insects, wandering outcastes and beings of
> theinvisible world.
>
> Manushya yajna: Homage to men- accomplished by feeding guests, the poor,
> the homeless and the students and all acts of philanthropy and charity.
>
> Q3 What are the details of Linga worship? How was it originated?
>
> A3 The worship of LINGA is prehistoric. In fact it started when men became
> free from external dangers and started thinking about GOD etc*. In fact,
> man carved GOD in his own image.*
>
> The worship of GOD in LINGA form which is prevalent in India, started long
> ago , even before we started worshipping Lord SHIVA in the form of NATARAJA
> etc. The same way the worship of DEVI also is prehistoric as we see SHIVA
> LINGA in YONI in all SHIVA TEMPLES.
>
> This LINGA worship as we see in India can be seen as prevalent in other
> parts of the world. The only difference is that they give different names
> for this cult.
>
> I told before that man considered GOD in his own image. It means for
> increasing our progeny a man and a woman is required. The PHALLUS or LINGA
> or PENIS has to enter the YONI and after the secretion of semen only the
> production of progeny starts. This is exactly what we projected in LINGA &
> YONI WORSHIP.
>
> Later on people started giving it shape of human beings like the present
> Lord Shiva having serpent as necklace, carrying Ganga and Chandra on his
> head, as Nataraja etc.
>
> Q4 What is the Hanuman prayer to get out of obstacles ?
>
> *A4 Sanjeeva Parvathoddhara mama DukHam nivaraya*
>
> *GHoran upadravan sarvan NashayakshaSuranthaka*
>
> *Markatesha Mahothsaha Sarvashokavinashaka*
>
> *Shatrun samhara Mam Raksha ShriyamDhathwa cha Mam Bhara*
>
> *Chant this shloka everyday morning and evening and light a ghee lamp
> before any Hanuman picture , and getout of obstacles everyday.*
>
> Q5 Do all our sages were smarthas?
>
> A5 Yes. Till St.Ramanujar's time , there was no vaishnavites. It was HE
> who insitituted Vaishnavism. Srirangam Rengaraja perumal ordered him to
> spread vaishnavism. So it could be inferred that all the rishis were born
> SHIVAITES (CALLED SMARTHAS) only.
>
> Q6 What are the details of karadayan nombu?
>
> A6 Especially observed by the women of Tamil Nadu, Karadaiyan Nonbu, is
> celebrated at the conjunction of the Tamil months Masi and Panguni.
> It is to remember the great battle won by Savithri - a mythological
> character - over the God of Death - Yama, not by arms or
> ammunitions but by her clever arguments to regain her husband's life.
>
> But, it was Savithri's genuine prayers and bhakti to Goddess Gowri that
> has given her the strength and wisdom to win back her husband's life from
> Yaman, the Lord of Death.
> So, women offer their prayers to Goddess Gowri or Kamakshi following the
> footsteps of Savithri to plead for a long married life (Dheerga
> Sowmangalyam - they pray for longevity and welfare of their husband).
>
> Normally the Nonbu is observed just before the onset of Panguni, when
> the last few hours of Masi are left. The exact time to carry out the
> Nonbu would be told by the family 'vadyar mama'.
>
> The pooja room at home is lit with the traditional lamp (kuthu
> villaku). Kolams are drawn (Arisi maavu will be used for this) in front
> of the pooja room. Plantain leaves will be placed in order according to
> the number of women and girl children in the household. If the number is an
> odd one, one more leaf will be placed for the Goddess. On the right corner
> of the plantain leaves will be placed the thamboolam along with a
> banana. The main item is the sacred yellow cotton string - Saradu (tied in
> the middle with some flower), which the vadyar mamas' normally give to
> every household well in advance.
>
> On this day, two special dishes are made and offered to the Lord. One is a
> savoury signifying Lord Siva and the other one is a sweet signifying
> Goddess Shakti.(Karadais and vella adais are specially made for the
> occasion with rice flour, jaggery and Kaaramani - a red coloured dry
> beans).
>
> The adais are then placed on the plantain leaves along with 'Vennai'. Then,
> every one (married women and even young girls) have to take a sort of vow
> in front of their offering to offer the same
> (" Urugada Vennaiyum oradaiyum naan tharuven - orukaalum en kanavar
> ennai piriyadirukkanum" )
>
> meaning that year after year - their only wish being that of a long life
> for their spouse and tie this sacred yellow colour thread around their neck.
>
>
> After offering the Nivedhyam to the Goddess, the older woman (usually
> paati else amma) in the house ties one of the Saradu placed in front of
> her to the Ambal picture in the pooja room.
>
> The next day few adais are given to a cow.
>
> Among the many festivals of South India, Karadaiyan Nonbu is more a
> renewal of the faith in the tradition.
>
> Q7 What is the savithri’ story associated with karadayan nombu?
>
> A7 Savithri was the daughter of king Aswapathi who ruled Mathra. She was
> married to Sathyavan, son of another king, according to her wish.
>
> Despite Naradha's warning that Sathyavan would die within a year of
> marriage,Savithri married him.
>
> But as a devout wife, she started worshipping Goddess Gowri to
> protect her mangalyam, - that is, to change the fate and give her husband
> a long life.
>
> On the first day of Panguni, the following year, fate snatched away
> Sathyavan suddenly.
>
> When Yama appeared to take away the life of Sathyavan, Savithri did not
> give up easily. She argued with Yama, and regained the life of her
> spouse and in addition begot four more boons too! And they lived happily
> ever after. Thus goes the story....
>
> So following the tradition the nonbu is observed every year by all women to
> protect their mangalyam.
>
> Q8 What are the attributes of Karpagambal temple in Chennai Mylapore?
>
> A8 Legend says that Thirugnana sambhandhar sang "mattita punna" pathigam
> in this shrine by which "Poompavai" came back alive where she was bitten
> by a snake and dead earlier.
>
> Brahma, Sukrachariyar and Lord Rama had worshipped in this temple.
>
> Goddess Parvathi had worshipped in this temple in the form of peacock
> (Mayil) and hence the name thirumayyilai to this place
>
> Q9 Do Bengalis chant yajurveda in Shukla annotation?
>
> A9 yes. Little these learned souls realize that Bengalis and the northern
> brahmins chant the mantra in the yajur shukla intonation whereas we,
> southerners use the yajur krishna intonation
>
> *Q10 What is the importance of Panguni uthram? What poojasare done on the
> day?*
>
> *A10 The Tamil month of Panguni falls between March 15th to April 15th.*
> The birth star Uthiram (Uthiraphalguni) occurring during this month is
> called Panguni Uthiram which is an auspicious day of the Vedic Calendar.
>
> Poojas performed on Panguni Uthiram Day is the best remedy for all the
> obstacles and obstructions threatening the marriages.
>
> It is on this day three divine couples were married.
>
> *Siva and Parvati- Muruga and Devasena Rama and Sita *
>
> *Uma Maheshwara Pooja**:* This pooja is performed for Lord Siva and
> Goddess Parvathi. This pooja is mainly performed to attain the grace and
> blessings of the divine for strong relationship between husband and wife
> and for a successful marital life.
>
> This Full Moon Day, Phanguni Uthiram, is also the most auspicious day for
> Lord Muruga. In time immemorial, the most powerful of the Indias sages,
> Maharishi
> Brighu, meditated on the mantra Om. His meditation became so hot and
> powerful that it threatened to burn down the universe. Out of compassion,
> Lord Siva woke the sage Brighu from his deep meditation on Om. Brighu,
> rather infuriated by being disturbed from his concentration, *cursed Lord
> Siva that he would forget the power of Om.*
>
> As soon as he issued the curse, Brighu realized his error and promised
> Lord Siva that he would be taught the secrets again by his son.
>
> It is on this Full Moon day that Lord Muruga revealed the secrets of Om to
> his father, Lord Siva where the Swaminatha Swami Temple now stands in Swami
> Malai, India.
>
> Q11 What are the attributes of Arulmigu Pundarikachan Thirukkovil,
> Thiruvellarai Temple?
>
> A11 Location & Direction: ThisDivya Kshetram is located closer to Thiruchi.
> It is located 13 miles from Thiruchi and lies on the way to Thuraiyur
>
> Main Deity is PundariKatchan and Godesses : Shenpakavalli, Pankayaselvi. 7
> theerthams are located within temple premises
>
> Legend says Lord gave Dharshan to King sipi and Markandeyar who were chasing
> after a white pig (varaham). King Sipi thereafter built this temple
> and later renovated with great art and sculpture works by king
> Narasimhavarma pallava.
>
> As this temple is older than srirangam, hence the name "Adhi
> vellarai".Ramanuja
> spent sometime in this sthalam.
>
>
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