Adhyatma (अध्यात्म): July 2015

What should be the daily routine of prayers of a Shiva Devotee? {हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें}

Shiva (Pic source Google)

For a Shiva devotee, Shiva is the supreme God. He is the almighty with all the three types of natures (Sata, raja, Tama -सत, रज,तम) in him. He is the supreme truth, He is the savior and blissful that is why He is the best, the most beautiful. This fact is reflected in this Sanskrit phrase - Satyam Shivam Sundaram (सत्यम शिवम् सुंदरम). Shiva is omnipresent. Nobody can say from what time He is in being or till what time will he be present because he is present from even before the universe or time came into existence, which means He has no beginning and he will remain even after the existence of the universe or time ends, means He has no end. शिव परब्रह्म परमात्मा हैं, उनका न आदि है न अंत है। Every living thing in this universe has taken birth from his parents, but this is not the case with Shiva. He is from himself, so He is also called 'Swayambhu' (स्वयंभू) or 'Shambhu' (शंभू ). On the one hand, He is present in the universe as "Nirguna" (without having qualities or attributes) for which Yogis meditate to bring him into imagination (dhyana). On the other hand, He is present in folk tales and Hindu mythology as a family man with His wife Parvati, children Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the vehicle and gatekeeper Nandi, the bull. Together they are called "Panch-Mahadev" (पंच महादेव).

Shivalinga represents Shiva Himself. Some historians relate it to phallic worship but in fact, its round shape represents the universe. Shiva is also called "Ardhanarishwar" (अर्धनारीश्वर) because his half part is Goddess "Parvati", the strength of Shiva. So He along with "Parvati" is also called "Shiva-Shakti". As this universe can not be without power/energy, Shiva too can not be separated from Shakti. Even in the Shivalinga the Goddess is present at the base of it towards the north. So when Shiva is worshiped, the Goddess too be worshiped and vice versa. In short, one can sing "Stuti" of Goddess as "Sapta Shloki Durga" which I will write in the coming blogs.

Sometimes Shiva is worshiped as a god with five heads, each head having a separate name. And Shiva Gayetri for this form is as follows,

ॐ पञ्चवक्त्राणि विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि

तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात । ।

There have been endless prayers, stories, descriptions, and methods of worship of Shiva, but we are here to discuss daily Shiva worship which should be short and satisfying and then one can perform his worldly duty. But whatever worship is done should be with full devotion and belief in God. I have mentioned this in my earlier blog - What-lord-shiva-likes?

When the Shiva devotee gets up from bed in the morning

The first thing that should be done after getting up from bed in the morning is remembering God and saying "Namaskar" to them. There is a very lovely "Stotra" called "Shiva Pratah Smaran Stotram" that should be recited. I have written it in Roman and Sanskrit with the meaning in my blog Morning Dhyana of Shiva (शिव प्रातः स्मरण)! (link). Again I am giving the "Stotra" in Sanskrit.

Next is at the time when one takes a bath and goes for the worship. Light a lamp (दीप). After the body purification with water, the 'dhyana' of Shiva should be done with a prayer. There are different "Dhyana prayers" for different "Swaroopa" of God. I am giving here the "Dhyana prayer" for "Mahamaheshwar" Shiva.

A potful of cold water along with "Bail leaves"( बिल्व - पत्र ), "Doob" grass tips (दूर्वा दल), 'Chandan' paste (चन्दन ) and flowers of Aak and Dhatura be offered to Shiva-linga. At least water and "Bail leaves" ( बिल्व - पत्र ) must be offered. Next is the time for "Mantra Jaap". The "Akshamala" should be worshiped with the "Ain hrin akshmalikayai Namah" mantra (it is given in this link). The "Shiva Panchakshari Mantra" should be repeated (जप) at least five times and if time allows it should be 108 times.

"ॐ नमः शिवाय "

Next should be the eleven times 'Jaap' of the following mantra:-

"ॐ अघोरेभ्यSथ घोरेभ्य घोरघोरतरेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः ।

सर्वशर्वेभ्यो नमस्तेस्तु रूद्ररुपेभ्यः ।।"

(This Aghor mantra is considered to be one of the greatest "Mantra", as described by Pushpadant in Shiva_Mahimna_stotra.)

Now comes the time for worship of Lord Shiva and what other worship will be more appropriate than Shiva_Manas_Puja. I have written it in Roman and Devanagari script with meaning in my earlier blog which link is in the previous sentence. Again I am giving the Sanskrit shlokas in jpeg format below:

Shiva Manas Puja in pic form

The "Akshmalika" should be again worshiped and at least eleven times the "Japa" of "Mahamrityujaya Mantra" should be done. It is as follows:-

"ॐ हौं जूं सः ॐ भूः भुवः स्वः ॐ त्रयंबकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीयमामृतात् ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ "

Now in the last, before "Aarti" , following prayer should be said.

वन्दे देव उमापतिं सुरगुरुं वन्दे जगतकारणं,

वन्दे पन्नगभूषणं मृगधरं वन्दे पशूनामपतिं

वन्दे सूर्य शशांकवह्निनयनं वन्दे मुकुंदप्रियं

वन्दे भक्त जनाश्रियंच वरदं वन्दे शिवं शंकरं

In the last we should ask Shiva for forgiveness as follows,

अपराधसहस्त्राणि क्रियन्तेSहर्निशम् मया

दसोSयमिति मां मत्वा क्षमस्व परमेश्वर।

आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनं

पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षम्यतां परमेश्वर ।

मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं सुरेश्वर

यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तुमे।

Nowadays "Aarti" (आरती) song is very popular in the last of the worship. These are written in Hindi. In ancient times "Aarti" was simply shown to God with a lamp (दीप). If one likes, then the most popular "Aarti" of Shiva "Jai Shiv Omkara.." may be sung. And finally...

पापोSहं पापकर्माहं पापात्मा पापसम्भवः

त्राहिमाम बाबा भोलेनाथ सर्वपाप हरोहरः।

This short method of Shiva worship should be adopted by those devotees who have time constraints. At least In the holy month of "Sawan," this little worship must be done.

Now comes the evening time when after "Dhoopa-Deepa" a short four-line "Stuti" may be recited as follows:--

नमस्तुंग शिरश्चुम्बि चन्द्र चामर चारवे

त्रैलोक्य नगरारम्भ मूलस्तम्भाय शम्भवे

चन्द्राननार्ध देहाय चन्द्रांशुशित मूर्तये

चन्द्रार्कानल नेत्राय चन्द्रार्ध शिरसे नमः।

There is a famous "Stotra" of Shiva composed by "Rawana" called "Shiva_Tandava_Stotra" which is read in the evening time, but it is a long "Stotra" in difficult Sanskrit which everyone is not comfortable with. So if one can recite it, it should be read in the evening. Otherwise, some "bhajans" may be sung. After this evening's worship, again the above "क्षमा प्रार्थना" for forgiveness should be recited.

For those who follow this "Daily Shiva Prayer", it takes not more than ten minutes when remembered (Say within a month). So make it a daily habit. Even if not possible at least follow it in the holy month of "Sawana" for the pleasure of Shiva.

||शिवार्पणम्||