श्री गणपतिस्तवः
7 years ago
Symbols of Shiva Murti
Shiva or Shankar means auspiciousness, favourable, propitious, gracious, kind, benign, benevolent and friendly. In the Shiva Puran the One thousand names of Shiva are mentioned. Some of these well known names are:
BHAIRAV-The Terrible.
MAHAKAAL-Mighty time.
TRILOCHAN-The three-eyed.
TRIPURAARI - The enemy of Lust, Hatred and Anger.
NEELKANTHA-The blue throated.
CHANDRASHEKAR-The moon crested.
GANGAADHAR - The bearer of Ganga.
GRIRISH - The Lord of the mountains.
HAR - The seizer.
PASHUPATI - The Lord of animals.
VISHWANATH -The Lord of the Universe. These names represent the Exploits, States or Attributes.
Other Meanings
COLOUR: White represents purity, absence of darkness and triumph of wisdom over ignorance.
THREE-EYES : Knowledge of past, present and future. Third eye is that of knowledge.
MATTED HAIR : The vastness of space.
TIGER SKIN : Destruction of animalistic tendencies. Complete mastery over lower desires.
GANGA : Flow of knowledge.
SERPENT MALA : Fearlessness and longevity.
CRESCENT MOON : Sharpness of Intellect and controller of Time.
DAMARU : Originator of all sounds.
TRISHUL : Three gunas-rajo, saatwa and tamo. Lord Shiva transcends the three gunas.
**OM NAMAH SHIVAY **
SHIV AVAHANAM
Vande Deva Uma Patim Sur-Guroom Vande Jagat Kaaranam
Vande Pan-Nag Bhooshanam Mrigdharam Vande Pashunaam Patim
Vande Soorya Shashaanka Vanhi-Nayanam Vande Mukunda Priyam
Vande Bhakti-Janaa-Shrayam Ch Vardam Vande Shivam Shankaram
My obeisance to Lord Shiva, who is the spouse of Uma, who is the supreme among the Gods, who is the primordial cause of the Universe. Obeisance to Lord Shiva whose ornaments are the serpent and the moon, who is the Lord of all animals and whose eyes are the Sun, moon and fire. Obeisance to Shankar who is the beloved of Mukund and who is the benefactor and the refuge of all devotees.
Om Namah Shivaaya
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LINGA ASHTAKAM
Bramha Muraari Suraar Chita Lingam Nirmala Bhaasita Shobhita Lingam I
Janmaja Dukha Vinaashana Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam II
Brahma, Vishnu and other Gods adore the Lingam. It is taintless, shining and beautiful.
It is the destroyer of the miseries that follow birth. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Deva Muni Pravaraar Chita Lingam Kaamadahana Karunaakara Lingam I
Raavana Darpa Vinaashana Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Lingam is adored by the sages and denotes the destruction of lust, the ocean of Mercy,
which subdued the pride and passion of Raavana. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Sarva Sugandhi Sulepita Lingam Buddhi Vivarddha Kaarana Lingam I
Siddha Suraasura Vandita Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Lingam is lavishly smeared with perfumes and scents, which elevates the power of the mind
and before which the Siddhas, Suras and Asuras prostrate. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Kanaka Mahaamani Bhusita Lingam Phanipati-vestita Shobhita Lingam I
Daksha suyajna Vinaashana Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Lingam is decorated with various ornaments glowing within the embrace of the Lord of Serpents,
and that obstructed the sacrifices performed by Daksha. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Kumkuma Candana Lepita Lingam Pankaja Haara Sushobhita Lingam I
Sanchita Paapa Vinaashana Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Lingam is adorned with Saffron, Sandal paste and garlands of lotus flowers, with a large fan shining behind it. It destroys all the sins attained in many births. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Deva Ganarchita Sevita Lingam Bhavari Bhakti Bheereva Cha Lingam I
Dina Kara Koti Prabha Kara Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
Saints and Sages worship the Lingam with faith and devotion. It is the source of unlimited brilliance.
We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Ashta Dalo Pari Veshtita Lingam Sarva Samud Bhava Karana Lingam I
Ashta Darida Vinashana Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Lingam is seated in the eight petal seats, which is the cause of all creations and destroys all kind sad destitution. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Sura Guru Suravara Poojita Lingam Sura Vana Pushpaa Sada Chita Lingam I
Paraat Param Paramatmaka Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sada Shiva Lingam II
The Guru of the Gods worships the Lingam; they offer flowers grown in the heavenly gardens to
the symbol of the Supreme Soul. We bow before that eternal symbol of Shiva.
Story of Nandi in Lord Shiva Temples
Story of Nandi in Lord Shiva Temples
Sage durvasa is very angry person. Once he was walking with a garland of flowers called SANTANAKA. The Indra (Also known as devendra) was coming in the opposite direction riding his elephant (Airavatam) ignored him. Duravsa gave him that garland, which was thrown on Airavatam by Indra. The elephant threw that garland on the floor and trampled it. Durvasa lost his temper. He cursed Indra "You became very proud, let laksmi forsake you". Lord Indra then felt his folly and he begged the pardon from Sage durvasa. Then sage advised him to contact Vishnu.
On account of sage's curse, Lakshmi left Indra and went away. The laksmi the goddess of power, bravery, enthusiasm and radiance left, Devendra's life became miserable. The demons waiting for such beautiful opportunity invaded heaven. They defeated Indra and gods, occupied heaven. The gods lost their immortality. Years past, with no other way, all gods went to Vishnu and pleaded him the help. Vishnu advised them to churn the sea of milk. He also said that churning the sea is very difficult job, Get the assistance of demons (asuras) by gaining the friendship with them.
Sage Bruhaspathi was successful in managing demons for the job. The churning started on time. MANDARA is the mountain with which churning is being done. After some time , Mountain started sliding into the mountain bed. Then Lord Vishnu helped the team in the form of Tortoise. The MANADARA was placed on the floating Tortoise.The churning started again with vigor. Then a cloud was arosed from ocean bed which choked devas and asuras. Both devas and asuras then suddenly arose from the ocean bed a cloud, which choked the Devas and the Asuras. The Devas and Asuras began shouting for help. They were at loss as to the reason for the suffocation. Then they realized that the ocean had thrown up the KALAKUTA, the dreadful poison. Everybody was frightened by its fierceness. The Devas prayed to Shiva and hoped that he would come to their rescue for the poison was the most effective fiery substance, which no one except Shiva could swallow. Shiva hearing the cries immediately came to the rescue. Then, as requested by the gods, Shiva agreed to drink the poison.
Lord Shiva held this poison in his throat and saved the mankind. The poison was so powerful that it turned lord Shiva s throat in to blue colour. From then he was also known as Neela kanta. Later Amrutha came from sea, which was taken by Devas by cheating asuras. Let me stop this Sea churning episode here.
Coming back to Lord Shiva blue throat. The poison in the throat is always a burning sensation for lord Shiva. Lord Shiva loves to spend time in meditation (Dhyanam). But this burning throat is not allowing him to do his meditation. Then he ordered Nandi to sit in front of him and blow some air on to his throat. The air blown on to his throat releives him from the burning sensation. From then onwards, Lord Shiva does his mediation with the help of Nandi. This is the story behind having Nandi sitting in front of Lord Shiva in all our temples.
Whenever we visit lord Shiva temple we should not go in between Nandi and Shiva lingam (we should not break the path between Shiva and Nandi).If we do so, People say that we are disturbing lord Shivas meditation. If we have a wish to share with lord Shiva, we should tell the wish in the ears of Nandi. Nandi later share the wishes of visitors with Shiva after the meditation.
