Guest guest Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 Namaste, I am new to the group, so this may be a question already answered somewhere, but does anyone know where I might find step-by-step instructions to do puja for Lord Shiva, lingam, 108 names, etc.? Thank you in advance. Om Namah Sivaya, ~Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2007 Report Share Posted July 28, 2007 How to do Shiva Pooja Shiva Puja is the action by which we give birth to the highest merit, the privilege to sit in the presence of Shiva. The Sanskrit word Puja is translated as Pu, from punya which means the highest merit, and Ja, from jata which means to give birth. Conceive in your mind the ultimate goodness and when you have your picture of perfect goodness, infinite goodness, then make it better. That is the beginning of the understanding of Shiva. He is known as Kalyan, who is absolute welfare. He is Shankar, the cause of peace. He is Shambho, whose being is peace. And Ishwara, whose perception is without limitation. He is the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness. In this Puja we place Shiva in our hearts, place ourselves in the presence of Shiva, and then strive to come closer to this Highest Goodness, the Highest Divine Spirit. When we get to where we can't get any closer, that is where the puja begins. Shiva is beyond limitations. He takes us beyond the mind. Puja contains a great deal of information and inspiration. The mantras describe His character, and what attributes devotees must exhibit in order to be like Him. They adore Him, praise Him, and define how to emulate Him. By practicing worship, devotees learn how to sit still, how to focus the mind, and then fill themselves with devotion, so they can pay attention. They become efficient in life, and free from obligations, and are privileged to cultivate spirituality all the more. Worship of Siva Lord Siva is worshipped in His Saguna aspect in the form of Sivalingam. Generally Sivabhaktas do Panchayatana Puja. Collect plenty of Bael or Bilva leaves for Lord Siva's worship. Get ready Dhupa, Dipa, camphor, sandal-sticks, fresh water, plenty of flowers, food offerings to the Lord, a seat to sit upon, a bell, conch and other things required for the Puja before you begin the worship. Get up in the early morning before sunrise. Wash your face. Take bath. Wear silk dress separately kept for Puja purposes. Decorate the Puja room nicely. Enter the room chanting Lord's names, glorifying Him, repeating Hymns in His praise and prostrating before the Lord. Wash your feet before entering the room. Sit in a comfortable posture and commence your worship. You have to first of all do Sankalpa for beginning the Puja in the prescribed method. You should then do Kalasa (water vessel), Sankha (conch), Atma (self) and Pitha (Lord's seat) Puja in their order. You should then offer Shodasopachara Puja to the Lord and then repeat Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Rudrapatha, Purushasukta, Gayatri, and do Abhisheka with pure water, milk, sugarcane juice, ghee and other articles according to your capacity or with pure water alone. Rudrabhisheka is highly beneficial. If you do Rudra Japa and Abhisheka, all your worries and agonies will disappear and you will attain the highest beatitude of human existence by the grace of Lord Visvanath. Rudra is a great purifier. There is invisible hidden power in Rudra and Purushasukta. There is a wonderful inspiration in the recitation of Rudra. Start the worship and realise its glory and splendour for yourself. After Abhisheka, decorate the Lord nicely with sandal paste and flowers. Then do Archana repeating His names, `Om Sivaya Namah', `Om Mahesvaraya Namah', etc. Do daily 108 or 1008 Archanas if possible. After Archana, do Arati with different kinds of lights—single Arati, Triple Arati, Pancha Arati and Karpura Arati. Ring bells, cymbals, conch, etc., during Arati. Offer sacred Prasad or Naivedya to the Lord. After Arati is over, sing the praises of the Lord like Mahimna Stotra, Panchakshara Stotra, etc., waving the Chamara. In the end repeat the prayers `Kayena vachah', `Atma tvam Girija matih', and `Kara-charana-kritam'. Offer everything to the Lord. Feel that you are a mere instrument in His hands. Do everything for obtaining the divine grace only. Develop Nimitta Bhava. Serve the Bhaktas. The Lord is much pleased with the service of His devotees. Distribute the Prasad among the Bhaktas in the end. Take the Prasad with great faith. The glory of Bhagavan's Prasad is indescribable. Vibhuti is taken as Prasad and applied to the forehead. Regards Prasanna Kumar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2007 Report Share Posted July 28, 2007 Namaste Joe, In response to your question about puja for Lord Shiva, a good website for information is www.himalayanacademy.com. They are a monastery in Hawaii and have books online you can read for free. They also have have a puja kit you can buy from thier online store, though it is a bit spendy. Hope this helps you. Take care, Love in Lord Shiva and Ganesh -Michael Joe <joebliss wrote: Namaste, I am new to the group, so this may be a question already answered somewhere, but does anyone know where I might find step-by-step instructions to do puja for Lord Shiva, lingam, 108 names, etc.? Thank you in advance. Om Namah Sivaya, ~Joe Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join 's user panel and lay it on us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 advaitin , "dhyanasaraswati" <dhyanasaraswati wrote: Shyamji writes : (The bhakti that is talked about in a vedantic context is parabhakti - devotion for the sake of devotion, a severe longing of seeking oneness with Ishwara - not the bhakti which asks Ishwara to bless me with a better job, etc.) In the initial stages of Bhakti Yoga ,a devotee chooses to worship his Ishta devata ( chosen deity) by offering prayers to the Idol( Pratima ), does daily Puja ( 'Pu' stands for Pushpam( flowers) and Ja stands for Japa ( chanting of God's names ).He/she offers items of Food like Fruits etc and asks for the God's blessings ! At this stage , the devotee worships the idol with all his heart and soul so much so that all that matters to him his God IN THAT IMAGE! but as the bhakta progress in his bhakti , this love for God matures and now the mature devotee is no longer obsessive only about the God in that image .... His heart expands to such an extent that He sees God in everything he comes in contact with - so 'Krishna' is just not in the image he worships in his Puja room - Krishna is everywhere - in all of God's radiant Creation! He becomes a man of expanded consciousness ! So , bhakti in the beginning stages is 'praying and chanting and associating with other devotees.' In mature stages , a bhakta thinks only of God and sees 'God' in everything! this is para bhakti ! This was the state of Parama bhaktas like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa , Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc ! THis is a state of Spiritual ecstacy! ( MAD IN THE LOVE OF GOD) Such a parama bhakta according to Narada Bhakti Sutra IS ONE WHO yal labdhva puman siddho bhavaty amrto bhavati trpto bhavati( sutra 4) Upon achieving that stage of transcendental devotional service in pure love of God, a person becomes perfect, immortal, and peaceful. now read Sutra 5 in the same Narada Bhakti Sutra yat prapya na kincid vanchati na socati na dvesti na ramate notsahi bhavati A person engaged in such pure devotional service neither desires anything for sense gratification, nor laments for any loss, nor hates anything, nor enjoys anything on his personal account, nor becomes very enthusiastic in material activity. now compare the above verse to the following verse in Srimad Bhagavad Gita , chapter 18 , verse 54 brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param A vaishnava's ( Srila Prabhupada , Iskcon Founder Acharya) translation of this verse One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me. Swami Chinmayananda's translation Becoming BRAHMAN, serene in the Self, he neither grieves nor desires; the same to all beings, he obtains a supreme devotion towards Me. What is this 'Devotion '( para bhakti or supreme debvotion) we are talking about ? "As oil poured from one vessel to another falls in an unbroken line, so, when the mind in an unbroken stream thinks of the Lord, we have what is called Para-Bhakti or supreme love." ( Devi Bhagvata) As Kanchi Mahaswamigal says "The major purpose of bhakti is to quell all desires and get attracted to that Infinite source of Bliss." where is this infinite source of Bliss ? Adi shankara bhagvadapada himself , a parama jnani , sings raptuorously in verse 59 of Shivananda lahari ( the wave of bliss of lord Shiva) haMsaH padmavanaM samichchhati yathaa niilaambudaM chaatakaH kokaH kokanadapriyaM pratidinaM chandraM chakorastathaa |cheto vaaJNchhati maamakaM pashupate chinmaargamR^igyaM vibhogauriinaatha bhavatpadaabjayugalaM kaivalyasaukhyapradam.h || 59|| Just as the Swan intensely desires the cluster of lotuses, the Cataka bird the dark cloud, the Ruddy goose the sun, and the Greek partridge the moon, likewise, Oh Pasupati, Oh Vibhu, Oh Gowrinatha, my mind desires your pair of lotus feet, every day, which is sought by the *path of knowledge* and which is the bestower of the bliss of emancipation. in this verse , Jagadguru Adi Shankara Bhagvadapada himself is seeking the lotus feet of Lord Shiva and says which is sought by the path of knowledge ( jnana marga) and the lord's feet are the source of infinite bliss! Bhagvadapada itself means at the lotus feet of Bhagawan! in closing : viveka-vij?aana-vato mah'aatmanobrahm'aaham ity eva matiH sad'aatmani .. 160 ( viveka chudamani) I am the body is the opinion of the fool. I am body and soul is theview of the scholar, while for the greatsouled, discriminating man,his inner knowledge is I am God. A parama bhakta is also a parama jnani and vice versa! Aum Shri Gurubyo namaha ! Aum Namo Narayana! ps: i dedicate this post to all the prema bhaktas of LORD KRISHNA! --- End forwarded message ---prasanna kumar <groupowner.prasanna wrote: How to do Shiva Pooja Shiva Puja is the action by which we give birth to the highest merit, the privilege to sit in the presence of Shiva. The Sanskrit word Puja is translated as Pu, from punya which means the highest merit, and Ja, from jata which means to give birth. Conceive in your mind the ultimate goodness and when you have your picture of perfect goodness, infinite goodness, then make it better. That is the beginning of the understanding of Shiva. He is known as Kalyan, who is absolute welfare. He is Shankar, the cause of peace. He is Shambho, whose being is peace. And Ishwara, whose perception is without limitation. He is the Consciousness of Infinite Goodness. In this Puja we place Shiva in our hearts, place ourselves in the presence of Shiva, and then strive to come closer to this Highest Goodness, the Highest Divine Spirit. When we get to where we can't get any closer, that is where the puja begins. Shiva is beyond limitations. He takes us beyond the mind. Puja contains a great deal of information and inspiration. The mantras describe His character, and what attributes devotees must exhibit in order to be like Him. They adore Him, praise Him, and define how to emulate Him. By practicing worship, devotees learn how to sit still, how to focus the mind, and then fill themselves with devotion, so they can pay attention. They become efficient in life, and free from obligations, and are privileged to cultivate spirituality all the more. Worship of Siva Lord Siva is worshipped in His Saguna aspect in the form of Sivalingam. Generally Sivabhaktas do Panchayatana Puja. Collect plenty of Bael or Bilva leaves for Lord Siva's worship. Get ready Dhupa, Dipa, camphor, sandal-sticks, fresh water, plenty of flowers, food offerings to the Lord, a seat to sit upon, a bell, conch and other things required for the Puja before you begin the worship. Get up in the early morning before sunrise. Wash your face. Take bath. Wear silk dress separately kept for Puja purposes. Decorate the Puja room nicely. Enter the room chanting Lord's names, glorifying Him, repeating Hymns in His praise and prostrating before the Lord. Wash your feet before entering the room. Sit in a comfortable posture and commence your worship. You have to first of all do Sankalpa for beginning the Puja in the prescribed method. You should then do Kalasa (water vessel), Sankha (conch), Atma (self) and Pitha (Lord's seat) Puja in their order. You should then offer Shodasopachara Puja to the Lord and then repeat Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Rudrapatha, Purushasukta, Gayatri, and do Abhisheka with pure water, milk, sugarcane juice, ghee and other articles according to your capacity or with pure water alone. Rudrabhisheka is highly beneficial. If you do Rudra Japa and Abhisheka, all your worries and agonies will disappear and you will attain the highest beatitude of human existence by the grace of Lord Visvanath. Rudra is a great purifier. There is invisible hidden power in Rudra and Purushasukta. There is a wonderful inspiration in the recitation of Rudra. Start the worship and realise its glory and splendour for yourself. After Abhisheka, decorate the Lord nicely with sandal paste and flowers. Then do Archana repeating His names, `Om Sivaya Namah', `Om Mahesvaraya Namah', etc. Do daily 108 or 1008 Archanas if possible. After Archana, do Arati with different kinds of lights?single Arati, Triple Arati, Pancha Arati and Karpura Arati. Ring bells, cymbals, conch, etc., during Arati. Offer sacred Prasad or Naivedya to the Lord. After Arati is over, sing the praises of the Lord like Mahimna Stotra, Panchakshara Stotra, etc., waving the Chamara. In the end repeat the prayers `Kayena vachah', `Atma tvam Girija matih', and `Kara-charana-kritam'. Offer everything to the Lord. Feel that you are a mere instrument in His hands. Do everything for obtaining the divine grace only. Develop Nimitta Bhava. Serve the Bhaktas. The Lord is much pleased with the service of His devotees. Distribute the Prasad among the Bhaktas in the end. Take the Prasad with great faith. The glory of Bhagavan's Prasad is indescribable. Vibhuti is taken as Prasad and applied to the forehead. Regards Prasanna Kumar The two letters in PUJA are interpreted in a different way by Dhyana Saraswathiji.Please clarify which one is more accurate. Jabalimuni Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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