Śivalinga Pūjā 1–Preliminary Prayers & Purification
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2022-08-28

Pūjārī Śubham Tiwārī performs the complete Śivalinga pūjā.

The reason for Siva's assuming the phallic form (extracted from Śiva Purāṇa, Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 12)

The sages asked Sūta: “The phallic form of Siva is worshipped throughout the world. Is there any special reason for the same?”

Śrī Sūta replied: “There is an excellent forest Daruvana. There were many excellent sages there, great devotees of Siva who were always engrossed in meditation on Siva. O great sages, they performed the worship of Siva incessantly thrice a day. They eulogised Siva with different devotional hymns.

Once the leading brahmin devotees of Siva engrossed in the meditation of Siva went into the forest for bringing sacrificial twigs. In the meantime Siva himself assuming a very hideous form came there in order to test their devotion. He was very brilliant but stark naked. He had smeared ashes all over his body as the sole ornament. Standing there and holding his penis he began to show all sorts of vicious tricks.

It was with a mind to do something pleasing to the forest-dwellers that Siva, favourite of the devotees, came to the forest at his will. The wives of the sages were extremely frightened at this sight. The other women excited and surprised approached the lord. Some embraced him. Others held his hands. The women were engrossed in struggling with one another.

Meanwhile the great sages came there. On seeing him engaged in perverse activities they were pained and infuriated. The sages, deluded by Siva’s Maya and plunged in grief, began to say—“Who is this ? Who is this ?” When the naked sage did not reply, the great sages told that terrible Purusa: ‘‘You are acting pervertedly. This violates the Vedic path. Hence let your penis fall on the ground.”

Suta said: “When they said thus, the penis of that Avadhuta, who was Siva of wonderful form, fell down instantly. That penis burnt everything in front; wherever it
went it began to burn everything there. It went to Patala; it went to heaven; it went all over the earth; it never remained steady anywhere. All the worlds and the people were distressed. The sages became grief-stricken. Whether gods or sages no one had any peace or joy.

All the gods and sages who did not recognize Siva became sad. They assembled together and hastened to Brahmā and sought refuge in him. O brahmins, after going there, they bowed to and eulogised Brahmā. They narrated what had happened to Brahmā the Creator. Brahma heard them. He realised that they had
been deluded by Siva’s Maya. 

After bowing to Siva, he told the excellent sages: “O brahmins, you though wise do such despicable things. Then why complain against the ignorant who act likewise. Who can wish for happiness after offending and antagonising Siva thus? If a person does not welcome and serve a guest at midday, his virtue is taken away by the guest, who in return deposits his sin in him. What then of Siva himself as a guest? 

As long as the penis does not become stationary there cannot be anything good in the three worlds. I am telling you the truth. O sages, you must do such things as will make the penis of Siva steady. Please ponder over this in your minds.”

Suta said: Thus urged, the sages bowed to Brahma and said—“O Brahma, what shall be done by us? Please guide us in that task.’ 

When the great sages asked him thus, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, said: “Let the gods propitiate goddess Parvatl and pray. If she can assume the form of the vaginal passage that penis will become steady. O excellent sages, listen. I shall tell you the mode of procedure. Act accordingly with love and devotion. She will be thus pleased. Make an eight-petalled mystic diagram of a lotus and place a pot over it. Water from holy centres shall be poured into the pot along with the sprouts of Durva and barley. The pot shall be invoked with Vedic mantras. It shall be worshipped according to the Vedic rituals after remembering Siva. 

The penis shall be bathed with that water, O great sages. When the sprinkling is made with Satarudriya mantras it will become stable. Parvati in the form of the Vaginal passage and an auspicious arrow shall form as the pedestal wherein the phallus shall be installed in accompaniment of the Vedic mantras. Lord Siva shall be propitiated with the offerings of sweet scents, sandal paste, fragrant flowers, incense and other things as well as by food offerings and other forms of worship. With prostrations, holy hymns, musical instruments and songs he shall be propitiated further. Svastyayana mantras shall be repeated and the devotees shall proclaim the victory of the lord.

If this is performed there will be stability, to be sure. There will not be any aberration in the three worlds. There will be happiness always.”