Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Friday, November 18, 2022
Som
https://d08r.blogspot.com/search/label/Prabhas
Foreign
http://srisomesvara.org/
Note: This chapter describes the glory of the two Liṅgas called Somanātha near Siddheśvara at the Guptakṣetra and also of the Liṅga Hāṭakeśvara there.
Nārada said:
1. Henceforth, I shall relate comprehensively and clearly the greatness of Somanātha. He who listens to what I recount, shall be rid of sins.
2. Formerly, in Tretā Yuga, there were two exceedingly brilliant Brāhmaṇas (named) Ūrjayanta and Prāleya, hailing from Cauḍa Deśa,[1] O son of Pṛthā.
3-5. Once they came across a meaningful stanza in a Purāṇa. On seeing it, those two who were conversant with all schools of philosophy and scriptural texts, were thrilled. “The Lotus-born (Lord) recounted the Tīrthas beginning with Prabhāsa to Pulastya. What pilgrimage they have resorted to (i.e. their undertaking the pilgrimage is fruitless) if they have not taken their holy bath in Prabhāsa!”[2]
On reading this verse (they repeated it frequently), those two excellent Brāhmaṇas started immediately to take their bath in Prabhāsa.
6. After crossing and passing through rivers and forests gradually (in due order) they crossed the auspicious river Narmadā crowded with multitudes of great sages.
7. They (heard of) the greatness of the Guptakṣetra (the secret shrine) at Mahī-Sāgara-Saṅgama. After taking their bath there, they started for Prabhāsa through that (region).
8. As the path was desolate[3] they were exceedingly afflicted with hunger and thirst. Those two Brāhmaṇas became unconscious near Siddhaliṅga.
9-10. They boldly started after bowing down to Siddhanātha. They were scorched by the midday sun. They were tormented with excessive hunger and thirst. Their legs became stiff like pillars. Suddenly they fell senseless on the ground. After a short while, Prāleya spoke to Ūrjayanta.
11-14. He spoke with confidence and courage: “Dear friend, was this not heard by you? As a person becomes pale (and weak) in limbs due to pilgrimage, so Hara, the Lord of Soma, becomes more distressed (and well-disposed) on account of charitable gifts (in the form of physical suffering by pilgrims).”
When this was said and heard, they began to limp. Prāleya walked a short while lamely. Suddenly a Liṅga very difficult to be seen (due to its brilliance) split the ground and came up. An ethereal voice rose with a shower of flowers preceding the same, “O Prāleya, it is for your sake that this Liṅga has come up on the seashore. It yields the same benefit as Somanātha. O (Brāhmaṇa) of holy rites, stay here.”
Prāleya said:
15-16a. if it be like this, if this be true, I have resolved in my mind that before death I must go to Prabhāsa. This is definite.
16b-19a. Thereupon, Ūrjayanta too regaining consciousness came a-limping and saw the Liṅga that had emerged. He too took up the same stand.
Thereafter Bhava who manifested himself, made their bodies strong and sturdy by means of his sight. Thereafter, they went to Prabhāsa and to the abode of Śiva. Thus there happened to be two Somanāthas near Siddheśvara. Ūrjayanta in the west and the other one Prāleyeśvara.
19b-21. If anyone takes his holy bath slowly in the waters of Somakuṇḍa and in the waters of the ocean and Mahī and then visits both the Somanāthas, he is rid of the sins of the entire life.
Brahmā installed here in Mahīnagaraka, a Liṅga named Hāṭakeśvara far more beautiful than (the deity in) Pātāla. With great purity (in mind and body), he eulogized the Lord. Listen to it, O son of Pāṇḍu.
(Prayer) Hymn to Hāṭakeśvara
22-25. Obeisance to you, O Lord Rudra, O Bhāskara (Refulgent one), to the (Lord) of unmeasured refulgence. Salute to Bhava, to Rudra, to Rasa (Juice, Essence), to you identical with water, to Śarva in the form of the Earth. Obeisance to the Lord perpetually full of scents;[4] to Īśa. Repeated obeisance to you, Vāyu of good touch. Hail to the Lord of Paśus (individual souls), to Pāvaka (fire, the sanctifying one) of extreme splendour; to the terrible one; to the Lord in the form of Vyoman (firmament). Obeisance to you, solely of the form of sound. Bow to you, the great Lord, to Soma; obeisance to you, the immortal deathless one; to Ugra (fierce one); to the worshipping one; obeisance to you, the Karmayogin.
26-29. Thus the hymn was uttered in the form of the divine names. A man who, with purity, recites or listens to this prayer composed by Brahmā unto Hāṭakeśvara Liṅga daily attains merger with Aṣṭamūrti (i.e. Śiva). There is no doubt about it.
He who remembers with purity the Liṅga of Hāṭakeśvara shall be granted all boons by Brahmā by whom this was installed.
O Jaya, thus there are many holy Tīrthas of this sort in the meeting place of Mahī and the ocean. They have been succinctly described by me.
Source
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Skanda
Monday, November 7, 2022
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Friday, September 2, 2022
Panch Jyotirlinga's
From Mumbai, Pune or Hyderabad
https://www.myoksha.com/jyotirlinga-in-maharashtra-tour/
With 3 1/2 Shaktipeeth
http://blessingsonthenet.com/travel-india/tour-package/id/163/panch-jyotirlinga-with-shaktipeeth-and-shirdi-
http://www.vibgyortravels.com/package.asp?packageid=228
http://mtdctourpackages.com/jyotirlinga-yatra
http://www.shravanitourism.co.in/tours.cats.php?cid=18&gid=6
Three Jyotirlinga With Shirdi
http://www.nivalink.com/holiday/maha51
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Shrines/Shrines.aspx?strpage=Jyotrilingas_Bhimashankar.html
Lord Shiva turned the whole temple / Photos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aundha_Nagnath
http://drasiskchatterji.hubpages.com/hub/Aundh-Nagnath-the-oldest-Jyotirlingam-of-Lord-Shiva
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
900000
Ravana had taken a vow to establish 900,000 Shivlings. During his lifetime, Ravana had established 600,000 Shivlings.
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Ravan
Vibhishana completed his brother’s wish by installing the remaining 300,000 Shivlings.
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Vibration
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Puskara
80. The continent (called Pu$kara) appears to be dazzling on account of one million gold leaves extending to a thousand Yojanas. That is the symbol of the continent called Pu?kara.
8l-83. The overlord of that continent is the son of Priya- vrata named Vitahotra. His sons are Ramariaka and Dhataka. There are two sub-continents called by their own names. In between them, there is a circular mountain named Manasacala in which Lord Sun revolves.
84. There are no (different) castes. All of them are equal and they meditate on Brahman. 85. The japa is: “Whatever Lihga constituted of rites f? karmamayam) people worship with a sense of difference (bet¬ ween God and the devotee) is the Brahmci-Lihga which is one and non-dual. Obeisance to that Lord.”
86-87. They entertain neither anger nor malice by acquisi¬ tion of merit or sin. Ten thousand and twice that is proclaimed as the life span respectively (in the two continents). Accompani¬ ed by their beloved ones, they perform Japa and they sport about like the immortal ones.
Source
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Skanda
Monday, August 29, 2022
Mahadeva
Sri Mahadeva said:
12. If anyone installs my Linga and makes a splendid abode (temple), he will reside in my world as long as the moon and the sun last.
13. He will shine with fame for as many lives as the number of times he makes my abode clean and white-washed.
14. By offering a flagstaff, one becomes a distinguished and eminent person. By offering a banner, one becomes free from sins. By inscribing pictures, he rejoices with Gandharvas.
15. By sweeping dust particles, a man becomes liberated from ailments. By painting the abode of the Lord, one attains a beautiful body.
16. By offering flowers, milk and other things, by giving gingelly seeds, water, raw rice-grains and Darbha grass and by giving Arghya on the head of Sambhu one shall stay in heaven for ten thousand years.
17. If one bathes the Linga with ghee, one shall destroy all sins. If one bathes the Linga with honey, one shall become lovely and pretty as well as fortunate and prosperous. If he bathes it with curds or milk he shall become free from ailments.
18. The merit (of bathing the Linga ) with water, curds, milk etc. gradually increases ten times. After bathing it devoutly for a month, one should make it dry and shining by rubbing with flour etc.
19. By bathing me with the five products of the milk ot a Kapila (i.e. brown-coloured) cow or by the waters of the Celestial River (Gahga) and by worshipping me, one attains my world.
20. Scented water is better than water sprinkled with Darbha grass Water from holy rivers etc. is better than that (scented water). Water taken from the meeting place of Mahi and the ocean is better than that of holy rivets.
21. By taking water separately in a pot (for bathing Lord Siva) one derives the same benefit as is obtained by giving a Kapila cow in charity. If the pot is made of clay, copper, silver or gold the benefit increases hundred-fold gradually.
22. Sandalwood, aloe, saffron and camphor are serially superior (to the previous one). By applying the same over me (i.e. Lifiga), one shall become glorious, lovely and happy.
23. Incense with fragrant gum-resin is good. Camphor is better. Agallochum is still superior. By offering these incenses, a man can easily attain heavenly pleasures.
24. One who offers a lamp obtains fame and excellent vision. By offering Naivedya (i.e. food offerings) one gets well-cooked savory food.
25. If a flower of Hemakarria (Campaka?) is offered, the person obtains twice the benefit. He becomes truthful too.
26. After filling (i.e. covering) up the Lingct by means of unbroken Bilva leaves or different kinds of flowers, one shall stay in heaven for a hundred thousand years.
27. A man who makes a flower-grotto shall become pure in heart. He shall sport about in heaven for a long time in the Puspaka aerial chariots.
28. By offering ornaments and robes, a man becomes an enjoyer of worldly pleasures. By offering good chowries the man becomes a king.
29. He who offers beautiful canopy is never assailed by enemies. By means of vocal and instrumental music as well as dances, the devotee becomes pure and attains me.
30. By offering conchs and bells, the devotee becomes learn¬ ed and well-reputed. By performing the Rathayatra (i.e. solemn procession with the Lihga or idol placed in a chariot) festival, one shall be liberated from sorrows for a long time.
31. By performing prostrations and obeisance, the devotee shall be born in a great family.- By reading scriptural texts in front of me, the devotee becomes wise and learned.
32. By eulogizing me with devotion, a man is liberated from the delusions of mind. By taking affectionately and wearing devoutly the remnants of worship, one obtains the benefit of the charitable gift of a cow.
33. By waving lights ceremoniously, one becomes devoid of agony and grief. By offering cooling devices, one becomes libera¬ ted from the torments arising from (the disturbance of) the humours.
34. After bowing down and offering charitable gifts accord¬ ing to one’s capacity in the presence of the Lifiga, the devotee obtains hundred-fold benefits. He rejoices here and hereafter.
35. If the rites are performed in accordance with the injunc¬ tions, I forgive fifteen offences when obeisances are made, twenty when ablutious are performed and a hundred offences when worship is performed.
Source
https://freeglobaluniversity.blogspot.com/search/label/Skanda
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Monday, August 8, 2022
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Friday, July 29, 2022
Monday, July 25, 2022
Kedareshwar
Monday, July 11, 2022
Deoghar
The holy city of Deoghar is home to various tourist attractions such as :
- Baidyanath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga in India
- Tapovan Caves and Hills: This series of caves and hills is located 10 km from Deoghar and has a temple of Shiva called Taponath Mahadeva. In one of the caves a Shiva lingam is installed, and it is said that Sage Valmiki came here for penance.[21]
- Naulakha Mandir: It is a temple located 1.5 km from the 146 ft. high main temple. It is very similar to the temple of Ramakrishna Mission in Belur Math cand it is dedicated to Radha-Krishna. Since its construction cost ₹9 lakh, it is also known as Naulakha temple.
- Basukinath Temple: Basukinath is a place of worship for Hindus and is located in the Dumka district of Jharkhand on the Deoghar-Dumka state highway. Pilgrims visit the temple each year from all of India to worship the presiding deity Shiva. The crowd at the temple drastically increases in the month of Shravan. It is widely believed that the Basukinath Temple is the court of Baba Bhole Nath. The temples of Shiva and Parvati are located in front of each other in the Basukinath Temple. The gates to both of these temples open in the evening, and it is believed that Shiva and Parvati meet each other at this time. Devotees are asked to move away from the front gates of the temple. Other small temples that are dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses can also be found inside the compound.
- Satsang Ashram - It's the holy place where Sri Sri Thakur Anukuchandra had spent his life. Many devotees come everyday here to have darsan of Thakur Parivar . This is the epicenter of the Satsang Revolution and also the chief centre of this movement. In the Ashram many devotees live permanently as natives.
- Trikut Hill is a trendy picnic spot and a pilgrimage site located 21km from the main city.
- Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar
Friday, June 24, 2022
Monday, June 6, 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Thirumandhamkunnu
King Mandhata of Surya dynasty ruled his kingdom for a long period. He then gave away the kingdom to his successors and chose to meditate on supreme god Shiva and attain the Shiva's feet at the end. Shiva was pleased with his penance appeared before the king Mandhata and offered him any boon at Mount Kailash. The king prayed to the lord for an idol to worship till his death. Shiva gave him the most holy Shiva Lingam which was too dear to him and which used to be worshipped by Parvati and then the god disappeared.
Carrying the Shiva Lingam on head, King Mandhata started his downward journey from Mount Kailash and reached the hill now known as "Thirumandhamkunnu" in Kerala. A spring with crystal-clear water flowed along the northern slope of the hill. Many beautiful birds chirped in the jungle. Wild animals like lion, tiger, and elephant roamed about in the wilderness in full harmony forgetting their traditional enmity. Different kinds of trees and plants grew in the region and gave out sweet smell into the atmosphere. The surrounding attracted the king. Feelings of idol on his head heavy he placed it on the ground at immediately the Shiva Lingam got stuck into the earth.
Shiva had gifted the Shiva Lingam to the king when his consort Parvati was away for her bath. When Parvati turned up for worship the Shiva Lingam was not there. She got upset on enquiry she know that it was presented to the King Mandhata, by her husband. Being too much attached to it she wanted the Shiva Lingam back. Shiva told her that he had no objection in her trying to get it back. Parvati now offered Bhadrakali and a host of bhootha to rush up and get back the Shiva Lingam from the King. With the army of bhootha, Bhadrakali reached the northern slope of Thirumandha hill. The brightness emitted by the Shiva Lingam installed by king Mandhata was so great that it dazzled the eyes of Bhadrakali and the bhoothas and they were unable to move up the hills. So they started throwing up the weapons from the foot of the hill. The ascetic attending on Mandhata were unarmed but tried to defend themselves with whatever things they had. These being insufficient to protect them they plucked Attanga nuts from their creeper plants, which were available in plenty and threw them at the enemy. Because of the power of Shiva and the divine power of Mandhata the nuts got changed into arrows instantly. Bhadrakali and her army of bhootha could not resist them the fight lasted for fifteen days.
The age-old custom of "Attangayeru" on first of Thulam (the Malayalam month) on the new moon day of the same month in the forenoon before pantheerady pooja refers to the legendary fight between mandhatha and kali.
Expecting defeat Mahamaya took her viswaroopa. She had an elephant in one ear and a lion in the other as earrings. Seeing this form the ascetics fell down senseless. When mahamaya in this form reached the hilltop Mandhatha was also helpless. He embraced the sivalinga, kali tried to capture it by force. In this struggle that followed the linga got split into two. In the "Jyothis" that arose from it "THRIMOORTHIS" (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva) and Parvathy appeared on the spot.
Parvathy told Mandhatha this idol was very dear to me. Still I do not want to take it away from you against the wishes of my husband. Separation from it is also difficult for me. So I will enter that linga and remain here forever. My daughter kali is not different from me. Actually she came here first. Let her also be installed near me facing north and have all poojas and festival performed. So same Parvathy disappeared into the idol. This spot is the "SREEMOOLASTHANAM". The sivalinga here is still in split condition. Its position is below the "peedam" and "Prabhamandalam" and can be seen only during the abhisheka before the ushapooja and "Malarnivedia" to the deity.
As ordered by Parvathy, Bhadrakali with Sapthamathrukkal, Veerabhadra and Ganapaty were installed facing north. This is called "Mathrusala". Pooram, Pattu and all such festivals intended for this goddess.
When Sree Parvathy appears infant Ganapathy was also with her. This infant Ganapathy also been installed at sreemoolasthanam.
Sree Parvathy appeared facing west. The installations of Sivalinga at Sreemoolasthanam were facing east. It was thus for necessary to have two darshan openings one to the east and the other to west. The family descendants of "Valluva Konathiri" do not generally open the one on the west except for darshan. On either side of the doorway here are two openings through which other worshippers can have darshan of the deity. But in recent past[when?] the restrictions has been modified. After each pooja, the door is kept open for some time for darshan of the deity by devotees.
Mandhatha spent many years at thirumandhamkunnu in meditation and thapusu. At last he knew it was time for him to leave this world. He was thinking of entrusting the temple to someone for perfect upkeep and maintenance when two Brahmins came there. Mandhatha told them his desire gave them a Grandha containing instructions on the performance of poojas and entrusted the shrine to them. He then retired to the jungle nearby now known as "KUKSHIPPARAKKAD" and freed himself from this world of mortals by his yogic powers. Bhakthas who go round this jungle paying homage pick out a leaf from the growing plants and keep it in hair with at most reverence. This area is still a protected jungle. In the Devaprashna conducted in 1959 it was observed that an idol of mandhatha should be installed here and poojas, performed. The temple priests before pooja every Malayalam month. The annual pooja on Chithra in midhunam on Mandhatha is on special significance.
Two Brahmins entrusted with the upkeep of temple, one cleared the jungle around the idol and hence came to be known as "KATTILLAMUTTAM" . The other prepared pavilion for prathishta and came to be known as "PANTHALAKODE". The thanthri of thirumandhamkunnu temple is still a descendant from either of these families. The nair karyasthan who was with them was given the title "chathathumarar" and made the blower of holy conch in the temple. The Namboodiri's informed the news to Vadakkara swaroopam raja that was subordinate chieftain of valluvanadu raja holding the title mannarmala raja. He immediately rushed to the spot (Seeing the over-lord of the hill the goddess got up and paid homage to him. This humility of Devi-the sustainer of three worlds—made the raja blink in shame and) he prayed to the goddess to see him as a son. He then presented an elephant to the goddess and worshipped her from its rear, standing in its shadow. His descendants also followed the same practice. Even now direct darshan of thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy is not permissible to mannarmala raja.
The first Vallavaraja who took over the control of the temple entrusted its upkeep and maintenance to the local feudal lords "ETTUVEETIL ACHANS" and made them trusty. Erukalikara nair was made kavudaya nair. Sreemoolasthanam does not have a roof, which is an evidence of it having been a kavu.
The painting on the walls of the mathrusala throws light to this legend. These paintings which are in lying with the wall painting at suchindram, Pundarikkapuram, vaikom and Guruvayoor were executed in 1944.
Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram, the annual festival of the temple is an 11-day-long celebration which is a major festival in the district of Malappuram in which "Aarattu" is a beautiful custom. Aaraattu, the bathing ceremony of Devi, in which the holy idol is carried on the tallest elephant accompanied by 5 other elephants leading to the lake nearby the temple. The idol is given a holy bath by the main offerer of the temple and taken back into the temple.
Friday, May 13, 2022
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Monday, May 9, 2022
Shiva Purana's sanskrit shloka about 12 Maha Jyotirlingas
The following shloka (द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तोत्रम् Dvādaśa Jyotirliṅga Stotram) describes the 12 Jyotirlingas:
| Sanskrit | transliteration | translation |
|---|---|---|
| सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्। | Saurāṣṭre Somanāthaṃ ca Śrīśaile Mallikārjunam | Somnath in Saurashtra and Sri Mallikarjuna in Srisailam; |
| उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारममलेश्वरम्॥ | Ujjayinyāṃ Mahākālam Omkāram Mamaleśwaram | Mahakala (Mahakaleshwara) in Ujjain, Omkareshwara in (Khandwa); |
| वैद्यनाथम् चिताभूमो च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम्। | Vaidyanāthaṃ chitha bhumo cha Ḍākinyāṃ Bhīmaśaṅkaram | Baidyanath in Deoghar and Bhimashankara in Dakinya; |
| सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने॥ | Setubandhe tu Rāmeśaṃ Nāgeśaṃ Dārukāvane | Ramesham (Rameshwara) in Sethubandh, (Nagesham) Nageshwara in Daruka-Vana; |
| वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे। | Vārāṇasyāṃ tu Viśveśaṃ Tryambakaṃ Gautamītaṭe | Vishwesham (Vishweshwara) in Varanasi, Tryambakam (Trayambakeshwara) at bank of the river Gautami (Godavari); |
| हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये॥ | Himālaye tu Kedāraṃ Ghuśmeśaṃ ca Śivālaye | Kedar (Kedarnath) in the Himalayas and Ghushmesh (Ghushmeshwar) in Shivad (Aurangabad, Maharashtra). |
| एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः। | etāni jyotirliṅgāni sāyaṃ prātaḥ paṭhennaraḥ | One who recites these Jyotirlingas every evening and morning |
| सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति॥ | saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati | is relieved of all sins committed in past seven lives. |
| एतेषां दर्शनादेव पातकं नैव तिष्ठति। | eteṣāṃ darśanādeva pātakaṃ naiva tiṣṭhati | One who visits these, gets all his wishes fulfilled |
| कर्मक्षयो भवेत्तस्य यस्य तुष्टो महेश्वराः॥: | karmakṣayo bhavettasya yasya tuṣṭo maheśvarāḥ | and one's karma gets eliminated as Maheshwara gets satisfied to the worship. |
