Jaya nama Samvatsare
Mrigasira Mase
Krishna Pakshe
Panchami Tithau
Ashlesha Nakshatre
Namaste everyone!
This happens to be my fifth blog post, and the topic happens to be Lord Siva. What a coincidence! Lord Siva's mula mantra has five syllables, and he has five faces!!! (If you didn't already notice, it's also Panchami tithi!)
I mentioned the five faces of Siva, yet he is usually depicted in ekamukhi (single face) form. The panchamukhi (five face) form of Siva is shown below.
Siva's mula mantra is the famous "Om Namah Sivaya." However, devotees also chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in his puja.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगंधिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनात् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्
Oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam urvārukamivabandhanāt mṛtyormuksiya mā'mṛtat
"Om. We worship the three-eyed fragrant Lord, who nurtures all Jivas. Just as a melon is severed from the vine, he severs our ties with maya (illusion)."
In most Siva temples, you will not find Ekamukhi or Panchamukhi Siva. Instead, you will see him worshipped as a Sivalinga. The shape of the Sivalinga is aniconic - not in any one concrete form. This icon represents Nirguna (formless) and Saguna (with a form) in one. The most common offerings to Siva (which are offered over the Sivalinga) are Vilva leaves and Ganga water.
Mrigasira Mase
Krishna Pakshe
Panchami Tithau
Ashlesha Nakshatre
Namaste everyone!
This happens to be my fifth blog post, and the topic happens to be Lord Siva. What a coincidence! Lord Siva's mula mantra has five syllables, and he has five faces!!! (If you didn't already notice, it's also Panchami tithi!)
I mentioned the five faces of Siva, yet he is usually depicted in ekamukhi (single face) form. The panchamukhi (five face) form of Siva is shown below.
Siva's mula mantra is the famous "Om Namah Sivaya." However, devotees also chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra in his puja.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगंधिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनात् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्
Oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam urvārukamivabandhanāt mṛtyormuksiya mā'mṛtat
"Om. We worship the three-eyed fragrant Lord, who nurtures all Jivas. Just as a melon is severed from the vine, he severs our ties with maya (illusion)."
In most Siva temples, you will not find Ekamukhi or Panchamukhi Siva. Instead, you will see him worshipped as a Sivalinga. The shape of the Sivalinga is aniconic - not in any one concrete form. This icon represents Nirguna (formless) and Saguna (with a form) in one. The most common offerings to Siva (which are offered over the Sivalinga) are Vilva leaves and Ganga water.
Some people decorate the Sivalinga with various types of flowers too. Here's a photo of my Sivalinga in my home shrine. (Taken Sivaratri 2013)
This is a decorated Sivalinga. You probably can't see the Sivalinga properly due to all those flowers, so here's a photo of a Sivalinga with simpler adornments!!
In all Siva temples, the ritual of Abhisheka is the most important of all puja processes. Lord Siva is said to be "Abhisheka-priya" or one who finds Abhisheka the most pleasing out of all pujas.
The priests chant the 16th chapter of the Yajur Veda while Abhisheka is performed to Siva.
Bye bye for now! Hara Hara Mahadeva!
The next post is on Shakti!!
The priests chant the 16th chapter of the Yajur Veda while Abhisheka is performed to Siva.
Bye bye for now! Hara Hara Mahadeva!
The next post is on Shakti!!
No comments:
Post a Comment