sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/13008_429745403776983_1416869917_n.jpg[/img] Nagendra haaraaya Trilochanaayaaa Basmaanga raagayaa maheswaraayaa Nithyaya shudhayaa digambaraayaa Tasmai na kaaraya nama SHIVAayaa
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [color=#333333]The holiest Shiva temples are the 12 Jyotirlinga temples.[/color] [color=#333333]Somnath - Prabhas Patan, near Veraval, Gujarat-[/color] [color=#333333]Mahakaleshwar - Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh[/color] [color=#333333]Omkareshwar - near Indore, Madhya Pradesh Kedarnath - Kedarnath, Uttarakhand Bhimashankar- Disputed: • Bhimashankar Temple, near Pune, Maharashtra • Bheem Shankar (Moteshwar Mahadev), Kashipur, Uttarakhand • Bhimshankar temple near Guwahati, Assam • Bhimasankar temple near Gunupur, Odisha Kashi Vishwanath- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Trimbakeshwar - Trimbak, near Nasik, Maharashtra Ramanathaswamy- Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu Grishneshwa-r near Ellora, Maharashtra Vaidyanath - Disputed: • Vaidyanath temple, Deoghar, Jharkhand • Vaijnath temple, Parli, Maharashtra • Baijnath temple, Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh Nageshwar- Disputed: • Jageshwar temple near Almora, Uttarakhand • Nageshwar Temple, Dwarka, Dwarka, Gujarat • Aundha Nagnath, Maharashtra Mallikarjuna swamy - Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh[/color] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/31478_488238477909781_779743619_n.jpg[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c23.0.403.403/p403x403/405650_279863532068806_364415143_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549296_401451983279613_536397107_n.jpg[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/417700_10200780737782098_815910843_n.jpg[/img] The absolute formless God, Sadashiv appeared in the form of "Lingodbhav Moorti" exactly at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all Shiva devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do "Shivlingam abhishekham" (coronation of the phallic idol[color=#000000])[/color] at midnight. God in his manifestation as Vishnu made his appearance as Krishna at Gokul at midnight, 180 days after Shivratri, commonly known as Janmashtami. Thus, the circle of one year is divided into two by these two auspicious days of the Hindu Calendar. Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on Shivratri. Remember Shiva minus Parvati is pure 'Nirgun Brahman'. With his illusive power, (Maya, Parvati) He becomes the "Sagun Brahman" for the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees. It is also believed that on Shivratri, Lord Shiva became 'Neelkantham' or the blue-throated by swallowing the deadly poison that came up during the churning of "Kshir Sagar" or the milky ocean. The poison was so deadly that even a drop in His stomach, which represents the universe, would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck, which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Shivratri is therefore also a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from annihilation. The 14th shloka of Shivmahimna Stotra says: "O three eyed Lord, when the poison came up through the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, they were all aghast with fear as if the untimely end of all creation was imminent. In your kindness, you drank all the poison that still makes your throat blue. O Lord, even this blue mark does but increase your glory. What is apparently a blemish becomes an ornament in one intent on ridding the world of fear."
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]http://devotionalonly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Lord_shiva-mahimna-stotra.jpg[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/482687_517218661662095_1320539962_n.jpg[/img]
GULABJAM Posted March 10, 2013 Report Posted March 10, 2013 hapy sivaratri [img]http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz7hva0U0Y1qeoaceo1_500.gif[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [size=4][color=#333333]Murudeshwara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, lies in the holy beach town in the Bhatkal Taluk in the state of Karnataka. This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea.[/color][/size] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/405905_282295315158961_700740797_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/401127_282295375158955_29137625_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/427390_282295498492276_696410422_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/408136_282295585158934_1959505411_n.jpg[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [size=4][color=#333333]Parmarth Temple in Rishikesh[/color][/size] [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/398579_281733575215135_21538839_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/401184_281742945214198_1011241613_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/402725_281746058547220_250054078_n.jpg[/img] [img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400250_281752671879892_1992666522_n.jpg[/img]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]http://www.profilethai.com/download/original/mahashivaratri_ShivaWallpaper2B.jpg[/img] [size=4]Shivaratri Pooja has been given tremendous significance in Hindu mythology. It is said that ritual worship of Lord Shiva on a Shivaratri day pleases Lord Shiva the most. Devotees further believe that by pleasing Lord Shankara on the auspicious Shivaratri day, a person is absolved of past sins and is blessed with Moksha or salvation.[/size] [size=4]Shiva Purana further says that performing abhisheka of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas including milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya used in the abhisheka blesses a unique quality:[/size] [size=4]Milk - For the blessing of purity and piousness. Yogurt – For prosperity and progeny. Honey _ For sweet speech. Ghee - For victory. Sugar – For happiness. Water – For purity.[/size] [size=4]Besides, worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri is also considered to be extremely beneficial for women. While, married women pray to Shiva for the well being of their husbands and sons, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.[/size]
sanathana_dharmaa Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Posted March 10, 2013 [img]http://www.vedicstore.com/shiva_lotus.jpg[/img] Performing Maha Shivaratri Pooja : On Mahashiv Ratri devotees wake up early and take early bath,then wear fresh new clothes and pay a visit to the nearest Shiva temple. As a tradition, devotees observe a fast on a Shivaratri day. Some do not consume even a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings of bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in them. After this, Bilwa leaves, which have to be a stalk with three leaves, is kept on top of the Shivalinga to cool the hot-tempered deity. Ber or jujube fruit is also offered to Lord Shiva, as it is symbolic of longevity and gratification of desires. Some devotees also offer the auspicious betel leaves to Lord Shiva marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures. Garlanding of Linga with flowers and garlands is also a part of the ritual Shivaratri Puja. Devotees also burn incense sticks as is said to yield wealth. Many also light lamps to symbolize attainment of knowledge. It is said that by offering water, hugging the Linga, lighting the diya and incense and ringing the temple bells, devotees call into focus all their senses, making them acutely aware of themselves and the universe to which they belong. [color=#000000]Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the [/color][url="http://devotionalonly.com/lingastakam-holy-hymn-of-lord-shiva/"][color=#000000]Lingashtakam[/color][/url][color=#000000], [/color][url="http://devotionalonly.com/siva-manasa-puja/"][color=#000000]Shiva Manasa Puja[/color][/url][color=#000000], Shiva Mahimna Stotra of Pushpadanta, [/color][url="http://devotionalonly.com/shivastakam-holly-hymn-of-lord-shiva/"][color=#000000]Shivashtaka[/color][/url][color=#000000], [/color][url="http://devotionalonly.com/bhilvastakam-holly-hymn-of-lord-shiva/"][color=#000000]bhilvashtakam[/color][/url][color=#000000] [/color]are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples. Following the method prescribed in Shiva Purana, priests perform ritual puja of Shiva Linga every three hours all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival. During this pooja, chants of Om Namah Shivaya and sounds of bells reverberate in the temple. Following the bath with milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water that helps in the purification of the soul a vermilion paste is applied on the Linga as it represents virtue. Devotees stay awake and spent the night in Shiva temples by chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and singing hymns and verses in praise of Lord Shankar. Devotees observing vrat on Shivaratri break it only the next morning by partaking prasad offered to Lord Shiva.
.thumb.jpg.ce42bb16ec102475a78c2087ce269c7d.jpg)
.thumb.gif.343fe49c7e1c507ae0056326bd8cf77e.gif)
Recommended Posts