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Why did Rama send Hanuman away during the consecration of Shiva-linga in Rameshwaram?
After Ravana was killed Rama had to atone for the sin of killing a Brahmin. All the saints advised Rama to install Shiva-linga in order to be freed from this sin. Criticizing Guru, mother or father, negligence in performing the annual rites of parents, abortions, killing of cow are heinous sins. Installing a Shiva linga per the procedure specified in the scriptures is the most supreme way to redeem oneself from these sins.
Rama decided, ‘This is the most auspicious moment. Hence right now we should get a Shiva linga from Kashi and install it here.’ Hanuman alone could rush to Kashi at such unimaginable speeds and fetch the Linga. Hence Hanuman was given this task. ‘Hanuman, I never get an opportunity to repay you, but seem to be calling you for every trivial task. Please do me a favour by going to Kashi” requested Rama.
Hanuman replied, “It is my privilege that you seek my services. There is no dearth of attendants who are ready to serve you. Instead you still think of me and call me. Isn’t that my privilege? I am so fortunate.”
Hanuman rushed at the speed of wind and reached Kashi. However when he saw crores of Shiva-lingas he was in dilemma. Which Linga was he to carry back to Rameshwaram? What were the specifications for the linga to be installed? Should it be big or small? Should he select a white linga, a black linga or a narmada bana linga? hn despair He called out, “Rama, what am I to do now?”
He then prayed to Shiva, sought his guidance and rushed back. Scholars in Tamilnadu declare that with Shiva’s blessings Hanuman picked up four Shiva lingams i.e. 2 in his hands, one in the tail and one in the mouth. Scholars from other parts of India state that he brought 3 Shiva lingams of which the 2 held in the hands fell en-route due to the speed at which he was moving. There are many sacred pilgrim centres in India which contain the pieces of the lingams that fell from Hanuman’s hands as he was returning to Rameshwaram. Only the lingam held in his tail was intact when he reached.
Meanwhile the auspicious time for consecration of Shiva-linga was coming to an end hence Mother Seeta made a Shiva-linga with sand (saikata linga) which Rama consecrated. With this He washed away the sin called Brahma-hatya doṣa (sin incurred by killing a Brahmin).
When Hanuman arrived in Rameshwaram with the Shiva-linga in the tail he observed that another Shiva-linga was already installed. He grieved that he failed in accomplishing Rama’s task. Consoling him Rama said, “Hanuman, the Shiva-linga brought by you is very dear to me. I shall consecrate it near to the main linga. In future time period people who visit Rameshwaram will have to first have darshan of Hanumadīśwara Shiva-linga and only thereafter have darshan of the main Shiva-linga. Only then their trip will be rendered fruitful”.
Rama continued, “I will now tell you a great secret why I had to send you away during the consecration of the main Shiva-linga here. For the consecration of this Shiva-linga created by Mother Seeta, I had invoked praṇa (life-force). In other words, I had invoked Shiva himself! Had you been present, you would have entered and merged into that Lingam. You would have thought, ‘Rama is asking me to enter into the lingam. Why should I delay?’ With this thought you would have instantly entered the Lingam and remained in it permanently. So I had to send you away.
Hanuman you will stay with me as long as I live on earth. Thereafter you will still continue to remain on earth propagating devotion towards Rama. In the future period of time you will become Brahma. This is my sankalpa.”
From this it is evident that Hanuman is none other than Shiva!
— Shivaratri 2015
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Shivaratri rituals are pure Vedanta
Shivaratri rituals are nothing but Vedanta. Shiva means Yoga. Shivaratri is therefore very important for yogis and for those who seek liberation. Do not talk unnecessarily today. Today Shiva will be present with his 24 kalas. They are very powerful rays and it is not advisable to miss these rays. All day and night concentrate on your japa. Your doubts and problems will be resolved. Those who seek health will be blessed with good health. Those who seek knowledge will get knowledge.
Every being knowingly or unknowingly seeks liberation. For spiritual practices, body is the medium. Do not encourage weak thoughts as to whether your spiritual practices will be enough to grant liberation and so on. At the same time don’t be egoistic that you are a great spiritual aspirant. There is peculiarity about this sadhana. The body is the cause for all our wavering intellect (buddhi), instability, diseases, sins, talking ill about our Guru or parents and many similar evils. But to cross all these evils, we need to rely once again only on our body. We should treat it as a beautiful flower gifted to us by the Lord and with this attitude we should use the body to overcome our evils. We should not misuse the body.
The body and the mind that have been designed for spiritual practices are being misused and diseased with this wavering mind and other habits. Therefore it is essential to use the body to overcome these defects.
Shivaratri teaches us to use the body so to overcome these evils. It is wrong to associate Shivaratri with some certain special rituals only. It causes confusion. Endless Bhagavan Nama (reciting the name of God) is itself Shivaratri vrata.
–Glimpses of Bhaktimala
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Do not waste food or other resources
Milk and all other ingredients offered tonight to Shiva during abhishekam are collected and without even the slightest wastage they are distributed among all devotees. Only pure water is allowed to flow to the ground so as to increase the ground water. Even a tiny leaf offered to Shiva here is not wasted. It is precious and is used as such.
In ashram there is no wastage of resources. The vegetables and fruits that remain after feeding birds and deer are used to make compost manure. Special provision has been made for diverting kitchen water for proper use. Government is banning use of plastic. The same has already been implemented in Mysore ashram. Devotees should pledge not to use plastic. Pledge to use only recyclable items. At home pledge not to waste rice, pulses and vegetables. Find some methods by which they can be put to use. Throwing food in dustbin is wrong. It is sinful. At least use this left-over food to feed insects and birds.
Make this pledge right way. “We pledge not to use non-recyclable plastic. We pledge not to waste food’. Plastic does not dissolve in soil. When animals eat plastic and fall sick, that sin transfers to us. Non-recyclable plastic is the real problem. Make sure that the recyclable plastic has been re-used properly. If we all sincerely abide by our pledge, our country will prosper. Our cows will be healthy and will live long. Today, instead of infusing life into these animals we are killing them by carelessly using plastic.
— Shivaratri 2016 speech
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Why should house be kept neat?
Shiva resides in those houses where which kitchen, bedrooms, and living rooms are kept clean. Blankets should be folded soon upon waking up. It is wrong to leave the bed undone and then rushing off for other chores. An undone bed invites laziness and sickness. It keeps calling, “Come, fall sick and put me to use.” Where the bed is done and blanket is folded it ceases to invite. Only at night it will call. Bed sheets should be cleaned regularly. They should be kept hygienically. Smelly bed spreads invite dust and mites.
You perhaps may wonder what could be the connection between cleanliness and Shiva? Shiva is pure and clean like a crystal. A crystal allows us to see through it clearly. Hence our houses should be crystal pure. Our minds should also be clean and pure. Feelings of envy should be driven out completely.
- Shivaratri 2016 speech
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What does Shiva’s form symbolize
Lord Shiva’s 3 eyes symbolize the Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra) and fire (Agni) nādis (subtle energy channels) within us. Among these, the 3rd eye (phāla netra) symbolizes knowledge.
His elephant hide (gaja charma) symbolizes strength. It means that He powerfully destroys all evil forces. The tiger represents unending desires. By wearing its skin He symbolizes that desires have been completely conquered. He wears the crescent moon on his forehead to state that He is the cause of the waxing and waning of the moon. Among the Dakshinamoortis, there is a small sub-division called Yoga Dakshina murti. This form, wherein He wears a garland of skulls around His neck, symbolizes that He absorbs everything finally into Himself.
Therefore Shiva is that form that has a scope for various symbolisms and interpretations. Snakes represent yoga, nādis (subtle energy channels) as well as tremendous energy. He wears the snake, which is the form of death, around His neck and is known as Mrutyunjaya (conqueror of death).
The trident held in His hands, symbolizes that trigunas (three attributes of Nature) and the three divisions of time are under His control. In addition, this trident also symbolizes protection for His devotees, destruction of evil and self-protection.
The alphabets that are used in the vernacular languages originated from Shiva’s drum (dhamaru) during His tandava (dance). With this, it can be inferred that the drum held in His hand symbolizes knowledge! This drum produces melodious music when He performs the dance of bliss (ānanda tandava). At the time of pralaya (destruction), sounds that will crush this entire universe can be heard. Similarly, this drum also causes a fear in the hearts of evil people. The same instrument that is melodious and musical at the time when He is peaceful, turns into a weapon at the time of destruction of evil. The energy levels in it at the time of destruction are far beyond imagination.
In addition, to signify that He is controlling the fickle-mindedness (chanchala), He has the deerskin. He holds the spear called Pāsupatam. This is a very powerful weapon. Energy that can destroy this entire creation can be generated from it.
In His form of Pinākapāṇi, Shiva holds a bow. Similarly, He has also adorned the shankha (conch), shringa, discus, axe, noose, danda (stick), padma (lotus), kapala (skull), khatvānga and so on. Khatvāngam is a special kind of spear-like instrument that is energized greatly with powerful mantras.
Shiva who is known as ‘Kapali’ holds a vessel made out of skull (kapala) in his lotus-like hands, and goes seeking alms. It is not for lack of food that He does so, but it is for showering everlasting blessings. This very skull in another context represents bloodshed & destruction.
Shiva has yet another name, Neelakanṭha because this ever-compassionate Lord, gulped down the poison that emerged during the churning of the ocean and retained it in His throat. He sacrificed Himself for the welfare of the entire universe. Thus Shiva, who is more popular as a destroyer, was actually a benefactor. That is why He became a Vishnu swaroopa (form of Vishnu).
Shining handsomely in a form that captivates the hearts of one and all He is Sundareshwara (sundara means beautiful). Selecting Meenakshi Devi, a form of Shakti, as His bride, He became Ardhanāreshwara (half male-half female). As Gangadhara, He has held the flow of Ganges in his matted locks and then released it onto Earth.
-Bhaktimala 1983, 1982
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