simple procedures to conduct shiva worship

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By Sri Swami Satchidananda

Founder/Sri Gurudev: Integral Yoga Institutes and Satchidananda Ashram. The scriptures tell us that in this modern age, the easiest path to the Godhead is through Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion.

I would say that the most valuable thing of all is to develop intense love for God. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa called this "Raga Bhakti" or passionate attachment to God. With this kind of bhav you will be able to achieve every and any success in life.

Let us cultivate that raga bhakti through kirtan, japa, puja, and all our spiritual practices. Do whatever is necessary to gain that bhakti,and if you can irrigate the garden of your heart with the waters ofbhakti, then there will be no real effort required to develop dispassion.

You will be simply transformed by your sincere devotion and communion with God that all the worldly desires, attachments, vasanas, and samskaras will just fall right away. What good comes of dwelling on one¢s own faults and flaws? How difficult it may be to overcome through sheer willpower some problem or some attachment.

Worshipping ought to be a personal experience. At the philosophical level, the object of worship is worship itself. Nothing is sought as the end result. However, in order to reach that advanced level, we need to begin and practice praying systematically so that our faith in the Supreme Being is gradually strengthened.

To start with, the object of our prayer may be that the Almighty grant us the wisdom to enhance our faith in Him so that we may make a deeper commitment as bhaktas (devotees). Faith is the critical element without which any ritual or religious practice is meaningless.

To those who engage in worship of an ishtadevata (Godhead of one¢s choice), Krishna has an unambiguous warning that is essential for us to note. The message is found in verse 28 of Chapter 17 (Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga) in the Gita.

Ashraddhayaa hutam dattam thapastaptham kritamcha yath asad ithyuchyathe Paarttha na cha thath pretya no iha

Whatever is sacrificed, offered or performed and whatever austerity is practiced without faith,it is falsehood, O Arjuna. And, further, it is of no value either here or hereafter.

Shiva is one of the Hindu trinity that comprises the creator Brahma, the protector Mahaavishnu, and the godhead Shiva whose primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle. Shiva is the only godhead who is forever in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His abode, Kailaasa mountain in the great Himaalaya.

Shiva is an ascetic and several religious stories and dramas portray that all attempts to distract Him from that principal pursuit through temptations always ended up with disaster for those initiating such an effort. Thus Kaama, the Lord of Desires, who tried such a distraction was burned alive through the fire when Shiva opened His third eye.

First and foremost begin with cleansing, i.e. clean the area where the altar is to be set up. This should face the eastern direction if possible. You and others who will participate in the performance of the Puja should bathe, and wear clean and comfortable clothes. Men may wear kurta/pajama combination, or dhoti/uttareeyam combination with or without a kurta/shirt/jibba etc. If men wearing dhoti decide to wear no upper garment, then a yagnopavita should be worn.

A small bench or a wooden table or a cardboard box covering an area no larger than 36" x 24" and about 15" to 24" tall is adequate. The size can vary if you wish to arrange more or fewer pictures and/or statues on the surface. Remember that you should be able to see the items on the altar and have easy access to make offerings during the worship.

Place the table (or box) against a wall, cover it with a clean cloth, preferably white, and secure the same by tucking it under so that it won't slip off easily. Tape it if necessary such that the tape is not visible. Now arrange a picture of the God/Goddess to be worshipped, preferably at least an 8.5"x 11" size such that it makes about 10 to 15 degrees to the vertical and leans against the wall.

Similarly pictures/statues of the family Godhead and Guru must also be arranged on the altar. Prepare one or two lamps with cotton wicks soaking in oil. Place the lamp/s about 6" in front of the picture if it is one lamp, or about 10" apart if two lamps.

Do not light these until you are ready to begin the Puja. Prepare a worship plate (stainless steel, silver or any other metal, 12" to 24" diameter) by placing on it small vessels (cup-like, preferably metallic) of kumkum, turmeric, one packet of camphor, sandal paste, a dozen agarbatti sticks (incense sticks), and a match box.

Before starting the puja proper, it is essential to contemplate Mahaganapati to assure ourselves that no obstacles interfere with a smooth performance of the puja rituals. Thus, with folded hands chant the following:

Karishyamaanasya karmanaha nirvigghnena Parisamaaptyarttham

Aadhou mahaaganapati smaranam karishye

So that the ceremonies we are about to undertake proceed to completion without any obstacles we contemplate on Mahaganapati Similarly the gruhadevata, i.e. the family Godhead, needs to be invoked as He/She is ever present bestowing protection to the family at all times. Chant as follows:

Gruha devataam ddhyayaami

Ddhyaanam samarpayaami

 

 

 

 

 

SHUDDHI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to assure ourselves that any and all evil tendencies are removed from the worship room, we start with a prayer to Shiva whose very invocation is believed to clear out any troubling vibrations.

Om namah pranavaarththaaya

shuddha jnaanaika moorthaye

nirmalaaya prashaanthaaya

dakshinaa moorthaye namaha

I salute the Lord of the Southern direction who is the very embodiment of the sacred symbol Om and of pure knowledge and eternal peace.

At this point someone familiar with the proper intonations of that powerful bhajan Brahmamuraarisuraarchitha lingam, could lead the assembled.

Naagendra haaraaya thriloochanaaya bhasmaangadhaaraaya maheshwaraaya

Nityaaya shudhdhaaya digambaraaya tasmai nakaaraaya namahshivaaya

Salutations to Shiva who wears a serpent as garland, who is three-eyed, whose bare body is covered with ashes, who is forever pure and the very embodiment of sacrifice.

Now we are ready to invoke Shiva and offer Upachaaraas (reception with reverence). With folded hands, focus on the picture of the deity as you chant the following:

Om Sri Parameshwaraaya namaha Om I salute Shiva Parameshwara

Now offer a few grains of akshata with your right hand such that the grains fall on the picture gently as you chant.

Om Sri Parameshwaraaya namaha aavaahanam samarpayaami

I offer an invocation to you Offer akshata as before such that the grains fall on the altar as you chant

Om Sri Parameshwaraaya namaha aasanam samarpayaami

I offer a seat for you.

Now stand up and do a pradakshina (circumambulation) turning three times in a circle to your right.

Om Sri Parameshwaraaya namaha

yaanikaanicha paapaani janmaanthara krithaani cha

thaani thaani vinashyanthi pradakshinam pade pade

Whatever sins I have committed in all my lives.May all of them be absolved as I circumambulate in thy worship.

Now the Puja can be completed with an aarati. Om jayajagadeeshahare is recommended. If ashtoththara is to be chanted then the aarati follows that. After the aarati is complete, take the deepa around so that the devotees can receive the blessing by reverentially cupping their hands downwards and receiving the warmth of the flame and touching their eyes with the cupped hands inwards.

We conclude the puja ceremony by chanting the following two shlokas.

Tvameva maatacha pitaa tvameva

Tvameva bandhuscha sakhaa tvameva

Tvameva vidyaa dravinam tvameva

Tvameva sarvam mama deva deva.

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF MATERIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture of Shiva

Table, bench or box

Two stainless steel or silver vessels

Uddharana or metal spoon

Pieces of clean cloth to put on the altar

A piece of clean string (symbolic yagnopaveet)

Kumkum, haldi and cups to hold them

Vibhhoti

Akshata (uncooked yellow rice) in a cup

Sandal paste

Agarbattis, camphor

Fresh flowers, fruits, coconut, leaves, fruit juice

Lamps with wicks soaking in oil or ghee

Aarati plate with oil soaked wicks

Naivedyam (Prasaad).