Ancient Shaivites laid down elaborate puja rituals in the Agama texts. These are still followed in temples across India by trained priests.
Sanskrit Wording:
Sanskrit Wording:
Sanskrit Wording:
Sanskrit Wording:
Sanskrit Wording:
The simplest ritual worship of Shiva involves pouring water and milk over the linga decorating it with bel leaves, flowers, ash, vermillion and sandal paste; making an offering of sweets; lighting lamps and singing hymns to the glory of the lord.
Monday, Somvar, the day of the moon, is considered especially auspicious by Shaivites. This is not surprising considering the close relationship between Shiva and his ward Chandra, the moon-god.
Water
Water is poured on the linga to cool Shiva down, for by entering his shrine we disturb his love-sport with Shakti.
Besides water, milk and curds are poured over the linga too.
Bel Leaves
The leaves and fruits of the bel (also called bilva) tree are very dear to Shiva. Some say that this wood-apple tree {Aegle Marmelos) greout of Parvati's sweat. Others say that when Goddess Laxmi didn't find a lotus for her shivalinga she offered it her breasts instead. These( became the bel fruit. Bel leaves are never offered to Vishnu, just as tulsi sprigs adored by Vishnu, are never offered to a linga. This practice is a remnant of medieval Shaivite-Vaishnavite rivalry.
Datura Flowers
The linga is often decorated with the flowers of this wild plant. Its capability to produce poisonous fruits may ha something to do with this.
Rudraksha Beads
The berries of this unique tree, the Elaeocarpus Ganitrus, are holy to Shiva and his bhaktas. It is supposed to possess magical powers and can cure many diseases. It is believed that these beads came from the tears of Rudra which he shed on contemplating the end of the world. Rosaries of 108 beads are worn by many devotees of Shiva.
A one-faced berry, the ekamukhi rudraksha, representative of the single absolute truth, the brahman, is the rarest and the most powerful.
The panchamukhi rudraksha is the coimnon five-faced berry which represents the five elements and the five senses that are under Shiva's control.
Bhang
Bhang is a narcotic tamasic drug which arouses the senses and fills the mind with a feeling of tranquility. This is an intoxicating drink made out of the leaves of the Indian hemp, Cannabis Indica. The decoction is mixed with sweetened milk and taken by bhaktas on Shiva's holy nights, the shivaratris.
Hermits use their chilum to smoke the resin from its dry leaves, ganja, and lose themselves in narcotic dreams.
Sacred Marks
Ash, symbol of destruction, purification and rejuvenation, is very holy to Shiva. Devotees often make sacred marks, three parallel horizontal lines, on the forehead and arms using this vibhuti or bhasma. This holy mark of Shiva, the tripundra, represents many things: the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the three worlds destroyed by Shiva.
Typically, all applications, be they of ash, oil, paste, perfumes or even dung, are usually made horizontally by Shaivites and vertically by Vaishnavites.
Sometimes the whole forehead of the bhakta is smeared with ash. Austere Shaivite ascetics, sadhus, take "ash-baths" and cover every part of their bodies with ash taken from the sacred hearth, dhunis, of their leader.
Another sacred mark of Shiva is the ardha-chandra, a half moon drawn with sandal paste or red-oxide (sindoor), with a dot, bindu, in the crescent. This is the symbol of Shiva-Shakti.
Still another sacred mark amongst Shaivites is the trishut or trident, the weapon of Shiva.
Hymns
Devotees often sing songs and chant hymns that describe Shiva's beauty, extol his virtues, celebrate his cosmic triumphs and in general, express their adoration for his attitude towards life. Through these bhajans and kirtans they hope to propitiate him and secure his benign grace. He is after all Shambhu, bestower of happiness. Hymns in Sanskrit are chanted by priests. But the devotional songs of the laity are almost always in vernacular.
Many devotees chant the Shiva-chausa, a folk-hymn of 40 verses. Others chant the 1008 sacred names of Shiva. Some restrict themselves to just one name and repeat that either 108 or 1008 times. This japa keeps the devotee's mind focussed on the lord.
The most common chant, mantm, of Shaivites is: "0m namah Shivaya" � Salutations to Shiva. While consuming the intoxicating bhang or smoking the chilum, sages shout "Jai, Jai Shiv-Shankar, Jai Shiv-Shambho" � Victory to Shiva, the benevolent and benign lord. Others yell, "Barn barn Bhole" � Praise be to the guileless god. While riding into battle Indian soldiers who seek divine support shout, "Har har Mahadev" � In the name of the greatest god, the seizer, the router.
By just uttering the name of the lord, divine grace is assured and salvation ensured. So it is said, so it is believed.
