Why do we normally worship other forms of Shiva?

[Equinox]

Hi,

I'm curious as to why we usually worship Lord Shiva in His forms such as the various Lingams, Dakshinamurthy and Vairavar in temples? Why not His greyish-blue form with the serpents, crescent moon and Mother Ganges flowing out of His matted hair?

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam: Who is this 'we' you are speaking of? In my experience of of the vast Indian diaspora here in North America, and my travels, this 'we' most people speak of is actually their own ethnocentric group. Malaysians mean 'Hindus of Malaysia', Balinese mean 'Hindus of Bali, Gujaratis mean "in Gujarat' etc.

Aum Namasivaya

[Equinox]

Vannakkam EM: No I didn't mean any specific ethnic group. Just a generalisation of 'we' as in 'majority of Hindus', considering the vast amount of Hindu ethnic groups in the world.

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam: Oh. Then, in my experience, you are not correct. I think the most common way Hindus in general worship Siva is in the greyish-blue matted hair form.

Aum Namasivaya

[Equinox]

Hmm... okay, but I hardly see that form in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple. Or maybe i've not noticed as much as I think I have. I realise that the southern Indian temples typically worship Shiva more in the form of a Lingam or Dakshinamurthy compared to the northern Indian ones.

[arp1]

EM,
No, Shiva is always worshiped in Linga Form, You can not find any other form in the Temple.(Nataraja in the temple is Not a Main Deity( Not Mulavar(in Tamil)). same way Dakshinamurthy and Vairavar is not a main Deity.(In Tamilnadu).

[Eastern Mind]

Hmm... okay, but I hardly see that form in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple. Or maybe i've not noticed as much as I think I have. I realise that the southern Indian temples typically worship Shiva more in the form of a Lingam or Dakshinamurthy compared to the northern Indian ones.

Vannakkam: Have you been to North India? Maharashtra? I think only the well travelled devotee has a better sense of it. On these forums, I think Devotee may be the only real well travelled person. I'm really not sure.

I do know that most of the Sanatan style temples here in Canada have a marble murthi of Shiva, (standing with Parvati, or sitting) as well as Radha-Krishna, Hanuman, etc. as well as a lingam, usually marble. This style is quite common, and usually does not even include a sanctum sanctorum.

I am only assuming they are similar to back home, and other than 2 days in Delhi, I've never travelled through North India at all. Here in Canada the Sanatan North style outnumbers the South Indian style by about 4 to 1, with Toronto being a notable exception.

The opposite is true, also. My friends at Hinduism Today sent their Delhi correspondent to write a story of Thai Pusam at Batu caves there in Malaysia, and according to the article, he was quite overwhelmed ... "Wow! Who knew?" so unless you've done a whole lot of travelling, it is difficult to get a bigger picture. Other friends I know were quite surprised, actually, when they encountered a smaller South Indian style gopuram, in Delhi.

I think Malaysia is similar to Tamil Nadu in many ways.

I'm not saying any style is right or wrong, just pointing out the geographic differences.

Aum Namasivaya

[Ganeshprasad]

Pranam EM and all

In my experience most Shivalay in Gujarat are represented by Linga, yes where there is Sanatan Mandir by which i mean several deities are installed i have noticed as well as Linga Shiva with his Parivar are also worshiped in that form but largely it is Linga in my experience

Jai Shree Krishna

[Equinox]

Thanks EM.

Yes i'm aware of that. It's difficult to get the bigger picture unless you're well-travelled. Guess i'll be packing my bags for some tour of India soon. I make it a point to visit Hindu temples every holiday destination I go to. :)

[c.smith]

Hari Om!

Birla Mandir (Lakshmi Narayan Mandir) in Delhi has an ashen Shiva, while there is at least one if not more temples that have a blue faced Shiva in Haridwar. Couldn't name the temples in Haridwar - my driver spoke very little English. Or, is it that I speak very little Hindi?!

Hope this answers your query.

Om

[ShivaFan]

There is a famous Cosmic event that occurred, where Shiva appeared before Vishnu and Brahma as a Pillar ofLight (Jyoti) were this beam of light pierced the Three Worlds. From this event onwards, the Shiva Lingam has been an extremely important Murthi and is present in probably some of the most important Saiva Temples of the Three Worlds. In this world, there is documented by the Hindu scriptures of the most ancient succession, 12 predominant Shiva murthis all of which are Lingams and are known as the Pillars of Lights or Jyotir Lingams. I will mention them below, but of course probably the most important Jyotir Lingam of all is located in a place I truly love, in Kashi (Light) Varanasi where there is Lord Vishvanatha.

The Temple itself is located in the oldest City in the world, Kashi, and the Lingam is verily one of the 12 Pillars of Light. The actual Temple itself has been destroyed several times over the eons, but in particular by Muslim invaders. The actual spot of the original Hindu Temple, OM NAMA SHIVAYA, there now stands a Mosque. This is what they do – as in Jerusalem, in Constantinople and so on, they tear down the holy spot located on the tirtha and build a mosque on top of it with the idea that now the worshippers will continue to come but now come to the mosque. Of course the other intent is to try and stamp down the devotees themselves. Often, the very fabric of the mosque is built using stones, marble, gold, silver and sacred wood from the original temple. However, in one invasion, the Holy Hindu priest saved the Jyotir Lingam of Vishvanatha (Vishveshvara) by taking the Lingam and jumping into a well in front of the Temple. This very same well still is there in betweenthe mosque, and the New Vishvanatha Temple built adjacent to the current mosque, and is called Jyana or Well of Wisdom. This mosque is destined to be taken down and the Temple will again rise up, this will happen in relation to an important religious event of Lord Shiva Himself in the future.

When I think of the Shiva Lingam, I have a fond memory of a day in Bhubaneswar. There are many very ancient and beautiful Temples there, and this was one of them which was very stunning in beauty and majestic in height – it stood there like a pinnacle or needle. I remember seeing it from a distance when I was dropped off by a cab. It was alone in a field, with a path to it. It was very hot that day, I was wearing sandals, khaki dress pants and white shirt (no leather belt!), and I approached this Temple with the thought that I might be intruding, after all you cannot just have tourists come and enter a temple with disrespect, with camera clicking or any such thing that does not respect and honor those who serve in that temple and those who come to that temple. I had nothing such as camera – so I never captured the moment.

It seemed a long path, since it was hot. I had no intention of entering the Temple, but only to admire the beauty of its architecture from the outside. Reaching the Temple, I walked clock wise around it both out of respect and to observe all the fine carving of the structure which was very, very, very old.

When I came all the way around, there waiting were three Hindu priests. They welcomed me in their language! I was surprised, actually. What I knew instantly as the head pujari for that day, he was looking at me and I could see he was very touched and happy to see me. He was old, and he was kind.

He took me directly into the Temple after removing my sandals. He took me to the Shiva Lingam. I have to say, I do not want to sound like I am simply an impressionable person, or tend to be eccentric – nothing of that. There was no question about it, there was a very powerful force right inside thatTemple. You could feel it as clear as feeling water thrown on you. And there was a sense, not sure how to describe it, but it’s like walking into a room full of wonderful flowers where the scent of the flowers hits you. But this was not a sense of smell, but a clear presence.

They did a puja for my benefit to the Lingam. I was stunned. Just stunned. The head pujari then gave me blessings of the Lingam. It was a moment I will never forget.

They then escorted me back to the path and gave me goodbye. They asked for nothing, they only gave me prashadam which was white candy.

As I left back down the path, a thought was bothering me. There was no one else visting - at least at that time. No one. Perhaps that is why the Holy Priest was so kind to me? I do not know.

The Shiva Lingam is very important in the Saiva Temple. The holy texts document 12 particular Jyotir Lingams for THIS world. Some of the first few you probably will instantly recognize by Name. Each one has a very special aspect and blessing, all are the same but also each is unique in a special power and holy blessing and purpose. Only the yogis know the full aspect and purpose. They have been mentioned going back to eons in the Holy Scriptures. There is no particular order to the 12 Jyotir Lingams, but I will note them in the order of my understanding of their so-called “fame”.

Firstly, there is Vishvanatha in Varanasi (Kashi).
Next, there is the one respected and famed by Vedas, Omkareshwar on MandhataIsland.
Third, there is Rameshwar in Rameswaram Tamil.
Next of course, Somnath at Prabhas Kshetra.
There is Kedarnath near the Mandakini River in the Himalayas.
There is Nageswar in Dwarka.
There is Mahakaleswar in Ujjain.
There is Mallikarjuna in Srisailam.
There is Bhimashankar in Shiradhon.
There is Grishneshwar in Aurangabad.
There is Trimbakeshwar in Trimbak.
There is Vaidyanath in Deoghar.

Vishvanatha is the Lord.
The waves of Ganga are His Wine.
Vishveshvara is the Lord of Kashi.
Never forsaken, Kashi is the Light.

Oh I wish this moment,
I could be in Kashi.
Where all the Gods have come,
Together to be One

[Mana]

हरिः ओम्


Namaste ShivaFan,


Thank you for your beautiful and informative posting.
It is a joy to read your words of wisdom, as is light to the morning air.

pranāma

mana


ॐ नमः शिवाय
Aum Namaḥ Śivāya

[Equinox]

Thank you ShivaFan,

Very interesting post. I'm planning to visit Varanasi soon. Not sure though. :)

[ShivaFan]

“plan to go to Varanasi … notsure” (Mr. E) …. You are a young man. Isee you are only 20. Now is the time togo, you are young and God wants you to travel, and you will never, never regretit. Yes, go to Varanasi. Go to India, Nepal – go where God tellsyou. You will gain so much, you willhave the adventure that God has waiting for you. Please do not wait for long. Every day is today, the World is there andhow you conquer it can come in many ways. The best victory is to fulfill that great adventure that God wants youto have. Go, there are some who arewaiting for you that you do not even know. Go, there is a moment waiting for you that has been waiting for you. Go, there is a door to open, it has been waitingfor you for a long time young man. Thisis what being a young man is all about. It is not about every girl you met, it is not about having fun, it isnot about winning some game. You are anadventurer, God wants his young men to be so, He wants you to come to hisCity. You will never forget. When you are going to die, those times willbe the times that you will think of. Godwill be right there with you because God is a great adventure, the greatest ofall.

[Equinox]

Thanks for the encouragement ShivaFan. Now i'm really inspired to go! :)