365bet娱乐

683 Mahadeva-Worship Dr. A. P. Karmarkar has studied the aspect of linga worship fully and has come to the conclusion that the cult of linga and yoni as symbolising the generative and reproductive aspects of nature had come into vogue during the proto-Indian period and moreover, both these elements were identified with the supreme being Siva and Amma, the 37 mother goddess. The Brahma-purana relates the account of Longodbhava of Siva, when actually a quarrel for supremacy ha had arisen between Visnu and Brahma. This story is invented just to show and enhance the importance of Siva, and much more so that of the linga (A.135). The important places of linga-worship referred to by the Brahma-purana are Ramesvara in the Utkalapradesh (A.28), the Mahakala linga in Avanti (A.43), a linga on the bank of the river Godavari near the Kartikeyatirtha (A.128) and at the vanisamgamatirtha (A.135), kiskindhatirtha, (A.157), the linga known as Siddhesvara at the purnatirtha (A.122). It seems that during the time when the Brahma purana, was composed, the longa-worship was widely prevalent as it refers to many lingas. 37 The climax of devotion is Karmarkar A.P., The religious of India, Vol.1, P.85.

684 shown when a hunter committed suicide on seeing the linga l of lord Siva plunged in blood (A.169). The Brahma purana, further, states the mode of worship as follows: After taking a bath, one should observe a vow of silence and the senses should be kept under control. After that one should go thrice round the temple. Then one should bathe lord Siva with ghee and milk and should anoint him with fragrant candana and kesara. Then various flowers, bilvapatras, and lotuses should be offered to him. Then follows a recitation of vaidic and tantric mantras, and the mulamantras consisting of more names. After that one should offer dhupa and light and naivedya and play the musical instruments. It is said that one who worships lord Siva in this way goes to Sivaloka. In the siva The region covering a distance of two and a half yojanas surrounding lord Siva is considered as bestowing pleasure and liberation. Ekamrakaksetra, lord Siva resides by the name of Bhaskaresvara and by worshipping lord Siva there, one gets the knowledge of the highest type of Yoga from lord Siva. Lord Siva being a yogin par excellence, his capacity to teach Yoga is emphasized here (41.55-86). Elsewhere the Brahma-purana provides the mantras to be recited at the time of worshipping lord Siva. It states nd after page no. 686 Nade cnone have No 685 in bound after

6876 senses, and offers worship to Siva with flowers, dhupa, lamps and stotras gets the fruit of 1,000 Asvamedhas (43.65-70). By reciting the words 'Namah Sivaya' the anger, fear, infatuation, ignorance, desire, poverty and unhappiness disappear (177.1-17), He is worshipped by offering Pancamrta and various types of food (122.195-206). The devotees invoke him by the samans loke 'Hayi Hayi Hare Hayi Huva Hava' (40.44). Orie who worships him begets sons (124.133). Lord Siva is worshipped at all the tirthas situated on the banks of the river Gautami (As.170-175). This worship also shows tantric influence.