Lord Shiva Favourite Things

BHASM, TRIPUND and RUDRAAKSH - are the necessary things required for the Puja(worshipping), which should be bore by person during the worship.

BHASM(Smearing Ash): Lord Shiva wears three white-lined Bhasma or Vibhuti on His forehead in three horizontal stripes - TRIPUND.

BHASM & TRIPUND

RUDRAAKSHA : "Rudra" means Lord Shiva & "akasha" means Eye.

DHAURVA(auspicious grass) and TULSI leaf:DHAURVA(auspicious grass) and TULSI leaf are also offer in worshipping Shiva and definitely the puja with Tulsi's Manjiri is regarded more beneficial.

SESAMUM is not used in worshipping Lord Shiva and the Champa Flower should never be offered.

Two Shells, two Chakrasheela, two ShivLingas, two Ganesh Idols, two Sun Idols and three Durga Idols should not be worshipped together, this invites unhappiness.

'Kartaal' shouldn't be played when the puja of Lord Shiva is going on.

During Lord Shiva's circumambulation the complete circumambulation is not done. The drainage place, from where offered water flows down, should not be crossed, from here the reverse circumambulation is done.

Lord Shiva's half time, Lord Vishnu's four times, Goddess Durga's one time, Sun God's seven times and Lord Ganesha's three times circumambulation should be done.

For SHIVJI among the leaf and the flower BILVAPATRA is of most vital importance. But in the Bilvapatra the Chakra and the Bajra should not be there. The Chakra is a white mark made by the insects on the BilvaPatra, while the Bajra is the thick portion towards the stalk. This part should be broken. The Bilvapatra half eaten up by the insects is also not considered good for worshipping Shiva. While offering the Bilvapatra its glossy surface must be facing the ShivLinga. In the Bilvapatra the range of the leaves vary from 3 to 11. The more the number of leaflets the more beneficial it is considered but even if one of the leaves gets detached from the Bilvapatra of three leaves then it is of no use. FRUIT OF AAK and the DHATURA Flower are also main things for the puja(worship) but the Blue Lotus flower is considered to be best. In its absence any LOTUS FLOWER will do as Lord Shiva is fond of Lotus flower.

TULSI and Bilvapatra are always considered to be pure, they does not become stale.

Tamaal, Aavlaa, Lotus flower and Agast flower - these also stay fresh for another day.

"BHANG"(a Prasad) must definitely be offered to the Lord. It is a wrong notion that the Prasad offered to the Lord Shiva should not be consumed by the devotees. The Prasad which has been touched only to the Shiv Linga should not be consumed.

DAMRU is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation known as Nataraja. A specific hand gesture called Damaru-hasta. Sound or Dhwani is said to have originated from the Damru of Lord Shiva. It is said that every perceivable and unperceivable object in the Universe has a corresponding sound.

Serpents: Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake.

TRISHUL(Trident): Shiva's particular weapon is TRISHUL.

Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The word, 'Lingum' in Sanskrit means, 'symbol'. Shiva Lingum, therefore means symbol of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites.

Crescent moon: Shiva bears on his head the crescent moon.

Ganga: Ganga(river Ganges) is associated with Hindu mythology and is the most sacred river of Hindus. Ganga, symbolically represented on the head of the Lord by a female(Mother Ganga) with a jet of water emanating from her mouth and falling on the ground, signifies that the Lord destroys sin, removes ignorance, and bestows knowledge, purity and peace on the devotees.

Nandi: Nandi, is the name of the bull that serves as Shiva's mount(vahana).

Blue throat: The epithet Nilakantha refers to a story in which Shiva drank the poison churned up from the world ocean. Halahala, the colour of poison was blue.

Tiger skin: Shiva is often shown seated upon a tiger skin.

Kundalas(two ear rings): Two Kundalas, Alakshya(meaning "which cannot be shown by any sign") and Niranjan(meaning "which cannot be seen by mortal eyes") in the ears of the Lord signify that He is beyond ordinary perception. Since the kundala in the left ear of the Lord is of the type used by women and the one in His right ear is of the type used by men, these Kundalas also symbolize the Shiva and Shakti(male and female) principle of creation.

Kamandalu: a water pot(Kamandalu) made from a dry pumpkin contains nectar and is shown on the ground next to Shiva. The process of making Kamandalu has deep spiritual significance

SHIVA likes BILVAPATRA.

VISHNU likes TULSI.

GANESHA like DHURVA.

LAXMI likes LOTUS.

DURGA like RED FLOWER(hibiscus).

The face of leaflet-flower-fruit should be facing downwards while offering to GOD. But BILVAPATRA should be offered reversed and only after removing its stake.

Except during Shivratri, "KUMKUM" is not offered to SHIVA.

Plucking of Tulsi from plant should not be done on the eve of Sankranti, Dwadashi Amavashya, Purnima, Sunday and during evening hours.

The Tulsi's leaf remains intact and well preserved till eleven nights.

Tulsi is offered to Ganesha only on the day of 'Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi'.

DIPAK should not be lightened with another Dipak(lamp).

Kund to SHIVA, Dhatura to Vishnu, Aank to Goddess and Tagar flower to Madar and Surya (Sun God) should never be offered.

From the front portion of KUSHA never sprinkle water on GODS.

The one who is performing the ritual (Puja) should bare TILAK on forehead.

The Jalhari of SHIVA LINGA should always face north.

The smaller the idol of Shaligram the more it is Beneficial.

Aarti should be done in following way:- The Foot of God - 4 times, Naval - 2 times, face - either 1 time or 3 times, after doing this the Aarti should be done collectivelyof all parts - 7 times.

In regulation Aachman (washing of hands after ritual) should be done thrice.

TridevBy this TRIDEV (Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh) will become happy. If we are touching our right ear then it is also equivalent to Aachman.

If we are not getting new leaves of Bilva Patra, the ones which are already offered to, God may be reused after washing the same.

Rice to Vishnu, Tulsi to Ganesha and Bilvapatra to Durga as well as Sun God should not be offered.

Kumhara-Water melon- Coconut should not be broken or cut by a knife by Ladies, its not regarded good.

In every religious work the wife must sit right to husband.

Milk, curd or Panchamrit should never be poured in utensil made of Bronze, as this is equal to wine.

Rakhi should be tied on the left hand of the Females.

On Saturdays JAL (water) should be offered to PIPAL tree and circumambulation should be done but the latter should not be done on Sundays.

While doing Yagya or Shradh, only Black Tils (sesamum) should be used and not white ones.

Never do Pranam with one hand only.

Any Donation work, charity work should be done or alms should be given only by right hand.

While doing pranam(seeking blessings) to elders, touch there right foot by your right hand and there left foot by your left hand.

Never touch the feet of a person who is sleeping.

Shaving shouldn't be done on Ekadashi, Aamavasya, Krishna Chaturdashi, Purnima Fast, and on the day of Shradh.

Hand should be there on the head or it should be covered by any cloth while somebody is puts Tilak on you.

The Lotus flower does not pass away till five nights.

Rice should be offered to GODS after washing it thrice and to ancestors after washing them once.

Fingers should not be put in water, milk and ghee etc, because the touching of nails makes these things inauspicious.