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
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks