How do I do a Shivaling Abhishek

[Hari Om]

Namastey,

Mahashivaratri is coming in March 2016. So Every year I observe fast and keep a Rudra Abhishek. But I want to know the procedure for doing a Shivaling Abhishek. I know some of them . But I need to know the correct way of doing it. Does anyone here know the steps?

~Hari Om

[Vinayaka]

There is no correct way other than the sincerity in the heart. All through Hinduism there are different traditions in temples and home shrines, in length, in substances used, order of substances used, in decoration. There might be some on-line examples if you searched, but again, they will just show the one way.

The general (very general) steps would be:

-Your mental, physical preparation (Take a shower, breathe)
- Invocation to Ganesha
- Dedication (Sankalpa)
- Abhishekham
- Decoration
- Offerings, waterm deepa, dhupa, naivedyam, flowers.
- Aarti
- Apology

[Hari Om]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

There is no correct way other than the sincerity in the heart. All through Hinduism there are different traditions in temples and home shrines, in length, in substances used, order of substances used, in decoration. There might be some on-line examples if you searched, but again, they will just show the one way.

The general (very general) steps would be:

-Your mental, physical preparation (Take a shower, breathe)
- Invocation to Ganesha
- Dedication (Sankalpa)
- Abhishekham
- Decoration
- Offerings, waterm deepa, dhupa, naivedyam, flowers.
- Aarti
- Apology

Namastey Vinayaka,

But isn't that Shivaling is given a special bath on this day? Even Datura fruit is used for this purpose. I have got these links
http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/mahashivaratri.html
http://shivalingapuja.blogspot.in/20...auhan-and.html

May I please know is it correct or not?

~Hari Om

[Vinayaka]

Again, there is no 'correct' or 'incorrect'. Maha Sivaratri in Smarta or liberal or North Indian Sanatan or Saiva temples will all be different. None are 'correct' or 'incorrect'. Traditions vary. Most likely if you have a tradition, it would be wise to follow that.

Yes, Shivarati is a special day, most especially for Saivas. At the temple I go to we have abhishekhams at 7, 9, 12 midnight, 3, and 6 am. They are all elaborate, with maybe 10 or more substances. Water, milk, curd, panchamirtham, chandanam, vibhuthi, honey, fresh coconut, fruits, sugar cane juice, and rosewater, for starters.

[Hari Om]

Thank You Vinayakji.

[Hari Om]

Hello,

I was going through the complete procedure of Shivaling Abhishekam and read about Lord Shiva.
Is it true that that on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva revealed his Shivaling form?

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by Hari Om

Hello,

I was going through the complete procedure of Shivaling Abhishekam and read about Lord Shiva.
Is it true that that on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva revealed his Shivaling form?

Yes, that's a common statement. As to it's actual validity, I personally have doubts. Since Siva operates outside of time, (He is the only permanent reality) and at that level time isn't even linear, it seems that something else would be going on. Not that it matters much anyway, as He's right there all the time anyway, both with form and without form, and it has no bearing on an individual's ability to perform dharma.

[Hari Om]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

Yes, that's a common statement. As to it's actual validity, I personally have doubts. Since Siva operates outside of time, (He is the only permanent reality) and at that level time isn't even linear, it seems that something else would be going on. Not that it matters much anyway, as He's right there all the time anyway, both with form and without form, and it has no bearing on an individual's ability to perform dharma.

Namastey Vinayakaji,

I agree to the fact that whenever I read about Lord Shiva, Mahashivaratri and His Tandava (The dance of Anger) always comes in the picture.

And many times I have seen the images of Lord Shiva in which he is sitting in front of Shivaling meditation deep into Sadhana.

~Hari Om

[Vinayaka]

Oh gosh. Dance of Anger? Wow.

And here I was thinking it was a dance of bliss.

I don't take a lot of stock in the Puranic Shiva, but yes that's a common image. In South Indian Saiva Sidddhanta, the Puranas are just stories with lessons, and most of us ignore them for any serious study.

[Hari Om]

Pranam Vinayaka ji,

In fact, Lord Shiva Tandava dance is the source of cycle of dissolution, creation and preservation as per Hindu mythology. On one side Rudra Tandava represents violent form of him, while Ananda Tandava depicted Lord Shiva as enjoying. It is believed that Shiva performed Tandava at the night of MahaShivaratri.