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Navagraha

Posted by: Ajay Gupta in

Navagraha :-


Graha (from Sanskrit ग्रह gráha -- seizing, laying hold of, holding) is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi (earth). In Hindu Astrology, the Navagraha (Sanskrit: नवग्रह, nine seizers or nine influencers) are some of these major influencers.

"The Sanskrit word captures the idea that these nine grahas are living energies which put out waves of energy. These waves of energy affect our awareness. ... this indicates ... the active power of these celestial energies to seize our consciousness when we come under their influence or to take hold of what we focus on."

Accordingly to some, Grahas are the "markers of influence", that point out the karmic influence on the behavior of living beings. They themselves are not causative but can be compared to traffic signs.Unfortunately, the term Graha was linked to the term "planet" of our solar system, as five members of Navagraha (the nine grahas) happen to be planets; but the Surya (sun), Chandra (moon), Rahu (north or ascending lunar node) and Ketu (south or descending lunar node) are not "planets" according to modern astronomy. This misconception is sometimes used as arguments against the validity of astrology. However, a fact common to all the navagraha is that they have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac.

"Graha" is sometimes also translated as "celestial body", but Rahu and Ketu are not celestial bodies either, but are only positions in the lunar path. A third translation is celestial god or demi-god, but again, Rahu and Ketu are demonic Asuras , not benign deities like Devas. Thus the term 'graha' in this contexts applies to the nine (9) planetary or cosmic deities, spirits, spiritual beings-entities, etc. The term however mostly refers to any spirit(ual) force in general.Indeed, according to the astrological treatise Prasna Marga there are many other spiritual entities called grahas or spirits. All (excepting the navgrahas) are said to have been born of the anger of Lord Shiva or Rudra. Most grahas are generally malefic in nature but there are a few that may be good. The book called The Puranic Encyclopedia, under the heading 'Graha Pinda', gives a list of such grahas (spirits or spiritual entities, etc), that are said to afflict children, etc. Also in the same book in various places the names of spirits (grahas) are given, like 'Skhanda graha' that is said to cause miscarriage(s),

Load Surya :-

Surya (Devanagari: सूर्य, sūrya) is the chief solar deity SUN, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa, of Indra, or of Dyaus Pitar (depending by the versions). He has hair and arms of gold. His chariot is pulled by seven horses, which represent the seven chakras. He presides as "Ravi" over "Ravi-war" or Sunday. and one of his wife Aditi

In Hindu religious literature, Surya is notably mentioned as the visible form of God that one can see every day. Furthermore, Shaivites and Vaishnavas often regard Surya as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively. For example, the sun is called Surya Narayana by Vaishnavas. In Shaivite theology, Surya is said to be one of eight forms of Shiva, named the Astamurti.

He is said to be of Sattva Guna and represents the Soul,the King, highly placed persons or Father.

Load Chandra :-

Chandra (Devanagari: चंद्र ) is a lunar deity. Chandra (moon) is also known as Soma and identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in his hands a club and a lotus. He rides his chariot (the moon) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. He is connected with dew, and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. He is also called Nishadipati (Nisha=night; Adipathi=Lord) and Kshuparaka (one who illuminates the night). He as Soma, presides over Somvarm or Monday. He is of Sattva GunaMind, the Queen or Mother. and represents the Mind, the Queen or Mother.

He is married to daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. He has therefore 27 wives, representing twenty seven Nakshatras (constellations). Budha (the planet Mercury) was born to Soma and Taraka.

Load Mangala :-

Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the god of Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka ('one who is red in colour') or Bhauma ('son of Bhumi') in Sanskrit. He is the god of war and is celibate. He is considered the son of Prithvi or Bhumi, the Earth Goddess. He is the owner of the Aries and Scorpio signs, and a teacher of the occult sciences (Ruchaka Mahapurusha Yoga). He is of Tamas Guna in nature and represents Energetic action, confidence and ego.

He is painted red or flame colour, four-armed, carrying a trident, club, lotus and a spear. His Vahana (mount) is a ram. He presides over 'Mangal-war' or Tuesday.



Load Budha :-

Budha (Devanagari: बुध ) is the god of the planet Mercury and the son of Chandra (the moon) with Tara (Taraka). He is also the god of merchandize and protector of Merchants. He is of Rajas Guna and represents Communication.

He is represented as being mild, eloquent and of greenish colour. He is represented holding a scimitar, a club and a shield, riding a winged lion in Ramghur temple. In other illustrations , he holds a sceptre and lotus and rides a carpet or an eagle or a chariot drawn by lions..

Budha presides over 'Budh-war' or Wednesday. In modern Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi,Kannada and Gujarati, Wednesday is called Budhvara; in Tamil and Malayalam it is Budhan.

Load Brihaspati :-

Brihaspati(Devanagari: बृहस्पति ) is the name of a Vedic deity, personification of piety and religion, the chief offerer of prayers and sacrifices, represented as the Purohita of the gods with whom he intercedes for men. He is the Lord of planet Jupiter. He is of Sattva Guna and represents knowledge and teaching.

According to Hindu scriptures, he is the guru of the Devas and the arch-nemesis of Shukracharya, the guru of the Danavas. He is also known Guru, the god of wisdom and eloquence, to whom various works are ascribed, such as the "atheistic" Barhaspatya sutras.

He is described of yellow or golden colour and holding a stick, a lotus and his beads. He presides over 'Guru-war' or Thursday.


Load Shukra :-

Represents planet Venus.

Shukra (Devanagari: शुक्र ), the Sanskrit for "clear, pure" or "brightness, clearness", is the name the son of Bhrigu and Ushana, and preceptor of the Daityas, and the guru of the Asuras, identified with the planet Venus (with honorific, शुक्राचार्य Shukracharya).

He presides over 'Shukra-war' or Friday. He is Rajas in nature and represents wealth, pleasure and reproduction. He is of white complexion, middle-aged and of agreeable countenance. He is described variously mounted, on a camel or a horse or a crocodile. He holds a stick, beads and a lotus and sometimes a bow and arrow.

In Astrology, there is a dasha or planetary period known as Shukra Dasha which remains active in a person's horoscope for 20 years. This dasha is believed to give more wealth, fortune and luxury to one's living if a person has Shukra positioned well in his horoscope as well as Shukra being an important benefic planet in his/her horoscope.

Load Shani :-

Lord Shani(शनि) is one of the navagrahas which are the nine planets in Hindu astrology. Lord Shani is also called as Saneeswaran, Shani Bhagawan, Shaneeshwara, Shani Deva and so on. Shani is a god and is son of Lord Surya (the Sun God) and his wife Chhaya means Shadow goddess. Hence, he is also known as Chayyaputra. Lord Shani is included in the planet Saturn. He is the lord of Saturday and lead metal. The word Shani also represents the 7 day or Saturday in Indian languages.

Lord Shani was born by the sun went into overshadow. He is the enemy of light and is associated by the color black, holding an arrow, two daggers and sword. Lord Shani is also called as the greatest teacher and is known Hindu scriptures as the greatest trouble giver and the greatest well wisher. The crow is vehicle by Lord Shani. His gems are all the black gems and the neelam (the blue sapphire).

Saturn or Shani is the planet of responsibility. It is that symbolizes the ethic of hard work. Lord Shani is the older brother to Yama, the Hindu God of death. Lord Shani represents aloofness as well. Shani Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Jayestha, Krishna Paksha's Amavasya Tithi when "vatsavitri Vrat" also falls.

The origin of word Shani(शनि) comes from the following: Shanaye Kramati Sa: (शनये क्रमति सः) i.e. the one who moves slowly. Saturn takes about 30 years to revolve around the Sun, thus it moves slowly compared to other planets, thus the Sanskrit name शनि. Shani is actually a demi-god and is a son of Surya (the Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya. It is said that when he opened his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological charts (horoscope).

Shani Temple

Shani temple is located at Shirdi village in Ahmednagar District. It is devoted to Lord Shani and is a powerful planet. Shani temple is a small holy fire. It is known as 'dhuni'. A wide picture of Sai Baba placed behind the god of Shani.

Shani Mantra

Nilamjana Samabasam Ravi Putram Yama Grajami| Chaya Marthanda Sambutam Tam Namami Shanaiswaram||

Shani Pilgrimages

  • Shree Shani Kshetra Rameshwar Tirth.
  • Shree Sidh Shakti Peeth ShaniDham
  • Shree Shani Tirth Tirunalaru, Tamil Nadu.
  • Shree Shani Temple Beedh, Maharastra.
  • Shree Shani Tirth Kshetra, Asola, Fatehpur Beri, Mehrauli, Delhi.
  • Shree Shani Mandir Tirth, Ujjain.
  • Lord Shani Temple, Gwalior Kokilavan, Vrindavan.
  • Shanaischara Temple Hassan
  • Shree Shingnapur, Maharastra.
  • Shree Shani Kshetra Nastanpur, Maharastra.
  • Shree Shani Temple, Madivala, Bangalore
  • ani Kshetra Model Tirth Nandur bar, Maharastra.
Shani and Hanuman

The devotion of Lord Hanuman is a panacea for the severe effects of the 'adverse' presence of Lord Shani. In the Hindu Scriptures Ramayana, Lord Hanuman is said to have saved Shani from the clutches of Ravana and in gratitude, Shani promised to Hanuman that anyone prayed to Hanuman, specially on Saturdays, would be saved from the "malefic" effects of Saturn or the effects would be softened.

Load Rahu :-

Rahu(Devanagari: राहु ) is God of the Ascending / North lunar node. Rahu is the Head of Demon Snake that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses according to Hindu scriptures. He is depicted in art as a dragon with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. He is an Tamas Asura who does his best to plunge any area of one's life he controls into chaos. The rahu kala is considered inauspicious.

According to legend, during the Samudra manthan, the asura Rahu drank some of the divine nectar. But before the nectar could pass his throat, Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu) cut off his head. The head, however, remained immortal and is called Rahu , while the rest of the body became Ketu. It is believed that this immortal head occasionally swallows the sun or the moon, causing eclipses. Then, the sun or moon passes through the opening at the neck, ending the eclipse.

Load Ketu :-

Ketu (Devanagari: केतु) is the Lord of Descending/South lunar node. Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. He is considered as Tail of the Demon Snake. It is believed to have a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation. In some special circumstances it helps someone achieve the zenith of fame. He is Tamas in nature and represents supernatural influences.

Astronomically, Ketu and Rahu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere. Therefore, Rahu and Ketu are respectively called the north and the south lunar nodes. The fact that eclipses occur when Sun and Moon are at one of these points gives rise to the story of the swallowing of the Sun by the Moon.

Associated characters :-

Each of the graha has associations with various characters, such as colors, metals, etc. The following table gives the most important associations:

Character Surya Dev (sun) Chandra (Moon) Mangala (Mars) Budha (Mercury)
Color Copper White Red Green
Gender Associated Male Male Male Neutral
Element Fire Water Fire Earth
God Agni Varuna Subramanya Vishnu
Metal Gold/Brass Silver Brass Brass
Gemstone Ruby Moonstone/Pearl Red Coral Emerald
Body Part Bone Blood Marrow Skin
Taste Pungent Salt Acid Mixed
Food Wheat Paddy Rice Lentil Greengram
Season Summer Winter Summer Autumn
Direction East North West South North
Day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday


Character Jupiter Venus) Shai (Saturn) Rahu
Ketu
Color Gold White/Yellow Black/Blue Smoky Smoky
Gender Associated Male Female Neutral - -
Element Ether Water Air Air Earth
God Indra Indrani Brahma Nirriti Ganesha
Metal Gold Silver Iron Lead Lead
Gemstone Yellow Sapphire Diamond Blue Sapphire Hessonite Cat's Eye
Body Part Brain Semen Muscles - -
Taste Sweet Sour Astringent - -
Food Bengalgram Beans Sesame - -
Season Winter Spring All Seasons - -
Direction North East South East West South West -
Day Thursday Friday Saturday - -

Hanuman

Posted by: Ajay Gupta in

Hanuman:-

Hanuman ((Sanskrit: हनुमत्), (Hanuman); nominative singular (हनुमान्), (Hanumān), (Tamil: அனுமன்)), known also as 'Anjaneya' (son of Anjana) or Maruti (or Maruti nandan), is one of the most popular concepts of devotees of God (bhakti) (devotion to God) in Hinduism and one of the most important personalities in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. His most famous feat, as described in the Hindu epic scripture the Ramayana, was leading a monkey army to fight the demon King Ravana. Hanuman is considered as siranjaeevi (to live eternally). He is the monkey God, strong, full of valour, with various skills and powers. At the same time, he is wise, a great gnani, yogi and a brahmachari. He had only one thought that of serving his Lord Rama with utmost humility and devotion. He is known as Siriya Thiruvadi. He is considered to be an amsam of Lord Siva. He is known by various names - Hanuman - (His jaw & cheek had gone in when struck by the Vajrayudha of Indra), Anumandhayya - (in Karnataka), Aanjaneyalu - (in Andhra Pradesh), Aanjaneyan - (son of Anjana), Maruthi - (son of Vaayu - in Maharashtra), Anumandhan, Vaayunandhan, Kesarinandhanan (son of Kesari), Aadhitasishyan and Siriya Thiruvadi (vahanam for Rama).

He is worshipped in the temples as Bhaktha Hanuman & Veera Hanuman. He is seen seated humbly in front of Rama vigrahmas in the Rama sannadhis. There are also separate temples for Hanuman. As Bhaktha Hanuman he is seen holding both hands together in prayer. He is seen as Veera Hanuman, holding the mace in one hand & the sanjeevi parvatham in the other. Devotees are blessed with courage, valour, wisdom, gnanam when they pray to him. He is very happy when he hears the Rama namam. Hence, repeating the Rama namam is one of the best ways to get his blessings.

Birth:-

Hanuman was born to 'Anjana', a female vanara in the Brahmagiri hills near Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra. According to the legend, Anjana was an apsara or a celestial being, named 'Punjikasthala', who, due to a curse, was born on the earth as a female vanara. The curse was to be removed upon her giving birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is also said that Hanuman was born on Anjaneya Hill, in Hampi, Karnataka, near the Risyamukha mountain on the banks of the Pampa, where Sugreeva and Sri Rama met. There is a temple that marks the spot.

Along with Kesari, her husband, Anjana performed intense prayers to Shiva to beget Him as her Child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the boon they sought. Hence, the Hanuman is also known as "Maharudra" because he was born out of the boon given to Anjana by the Shiva who is also known as Rudra. The Valmiki Ramayana, (Yuddha Kanda) states that Kesari is the son of Brihaspati and that Kesari also fought on Rama's side in the war against Ravana.

Different stories are told explaining Hanuman's birth. One is that at the time that Anjana was worshipping Lord Shiva, elsewhere, Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, was performing the Putrakama Yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding, payasam, to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result.

Being Anjana's son, Hanuman is also called Anjaneya (pronounced Aanjanèya), which literally means "arising from Anjani".

Sri Aurobindo states that "vanara" does not refer to "monkey": "Prajapati manifests as Vishnu Upendra incarnate in the animal or Pashu in whom the four Manus have already manifested themselves, and the first human creature who appears is, in this Kalpa, the Vanara, not the animal Ape, but man with the Ape nature", i.e. primitive man such as Homo erectus.

Hanuman, in one interpretation, is also considered as the incarnation of Shiva or reflection of Shiva also known as Rudra. Others, such as followers of Dvaita consider Hanuman to be the son of Vayu or a manifestation of Vayu, the god of wind. When Ravana tried to enter the Kailash (the abode of Shiva) called Lord Shiva "a monkey". Lord Shiva in return cursed Ravana that a monkey would burn his Lanka. Shiva took the form of Hanuman.

References to Hanuman in classical literature could be found as early as those of 5th to 1st century BC in Panini's Astadhyayi, Abhiseka Nataka, Pratima Nataka, and Raghuvamsa (Kālidāsa).

Childhood, education, love, and curse :-

As a child, assuming the sun to be a ripe mango, he once took flight to catch hold of it to eat. Indra, the king of devas observed this and therefore threw the Vajra (thunderbolt) at Hanuman, which struck his jaw. He fell back down to the earth and became unconscious. Upset, Vayu went into seclusion, taking the atmosphere with him. As living beings began to be asphyxiated, Indra withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt, and the devas revived Hanuman and blessed him with multiple boons. A permanent mark was left on his chin (hanuhH in Sanskrit), explaining his name.

On ascertaining Surya, the Hindu deity of the sun, to be an all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the sun and requested that Surya accept him as a student. Surya refused, claiming that as he always had to be on the move in his chariot, it would be impossible for Hanuman to learn effectively. Undeterred by Surya's refusal, Hanuman enlarged his body, placed one leg on the eastern ranges and the other on the western ranges, and with his face turned toward the sun made his request again. Pleased by his persistence, Surya accepted. Hanuman then moved (backwards, to remain facing Surya) continuously with his teacher, and learned all of the latter's knowledge. When Hanuman then requested Surya to quote his "guru-dakshina" (teacher's fee), the latter refused, saying that the pleasure of teaching one as dedicated as him was the fee in itself. Hanuman insisted, whereupon Surya asked him to help his (Surya's) spiritual son Sugriva. Hanuman's choice of Surya as his teacher is said to signify Surya as a Karma Saakshi, an eternal witness of all deeds. Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages in the forests by snatching their personal belongings and by disturbing their well-arranged articles of worship. Finding his antics unbearable, but realizing that Hanuman was but a child, (albeit invincible), the sages placed a mild curse on him by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. It is hypothesised that without this curse, the entire course of the Ramayana war might have been different, for he demonstrated phenomenal abilities during the war. The curse is highlighted in Kishkindha Kanda and Sundara Kanda when Jambavantha reminds (the quietly wondering) Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita. The specific verse that is recited by Jambavantha is :

पवन तनय ब्ल पवन समाना बुद्धि विवेक विज्ञान निधाना |

कवन् सो काज कठिन जग माही जो नहि होय तात तुम्ह पाहीं ||

Rough translation:-

You are as powerful as the wind (Hanumanji was the son of Pawan, God of wind);
You are intelligent, illustrious & an inventor.
There is nothing in this world that’s too difficult for you;
Whenever stuck, you are the one who can help.

Presence in the present age :-

Hanuman as depicted in Yakshagana, popular folk art of Karnataka

There have been numerous prophets who claimed to have seen Hanuman in modern times, notably Madhvacharya (13 Century A.D.), Tulsidas (16th century), Sri Ramdas Swami (17th century)and Raghavendra Swami (17th century), Swami Ramdas (20th century).

Others have also asserted his presence wherever the Ramayana is read (in Sanskrit, not translated):

  यत्र यत्र रघुनाथ कीर्तनम् तत्र तत्र क्रित मस्तक अन्जलिं बष्पावरी परीपूर्ण लोचनम् मारुतिं नमश्च राक्षस अंतकम्।

Which means:

  That wherever the deeds of Sri Rama are sung,
  At all such places does Hanuman cry tears of devotion and joy,
  At all such places does his presence remove the fear of demons.

This can be found in many other texts like Vinaya Patrika by Tulsidas, Mahabharta by Ved Vyasa, Anand Ramayan and many others with slight variation in language/Sentence. Even the places where holy function of Ramayanpath is taking place, there is a special puja and space (or asan) reserved for Hanuman.

Temples and worship:-

A temple to Hanuman near Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka
The largest Hanuman Murti outside of India, located in Trinidad and Tobago
Temple of Hanuman at Nerul Navi Mumbai

Admired for his great strength, Hanuman is traditionally prayed to by wrestlers and boxers in India and Southeast Asia. There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avataras of Vishnu are installed. Hanuman temples can be found in many places for the reason that the area and the surroundings are free from rakshasas and 'evils'. This was a presentational 'Varam' to him by Rama and Sita. Hanuman idols are found on mountain roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.

Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir, located in the Punjab town of Phillaur, is Asia's tallest temple of lord Hanuman ji. The total height of temple is 121 feet and Hanuman ji statue's height is 67 feet. This is a very famous temple in Punjab, people from all over the world come to see it.

There is a statue of Lord Hanuman at Nandura[citation needed]. The height of statue is 105 feet high situated besides national highway no. 6. From here Shegaon (temple of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj famous in Maharashtra) is around 40 km ahead.

Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a Hanuman temple located in JP Nagar Bangalore. The temple is located on a hillock.

The Hanuman temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is situated inside SIES complex. The Hanuman idol is 33 feet (10 m) tall and is installed on a pedestal of height 12 feet (4 m), bringing the total height to 45 feet (14 m). In the picture shown, Hanuman has silver coverings (Silver Kavasam). The 10 mtr height idol is sculptured out of single granite stone.

Similarly, a 32 feet (10 m) idol of Sri Anjaneyar was entrenched in 1989[2] at Nanganallur in chennai, India. The distinguished factor of the idol is that it was molded out of a single rock.

Other large Lord Hanuman idols:-

A 30 foot Murti of Anjaneyaswamy, in Ponnur near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.

An 85-foot (26 m) Karya Siddhi Hanuman murthi was installed at Carapichaima-Trinidad and Tobago, by Avadhoota Dattapeetham Pontiff Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda. (Tallest in the Western hemisphere and second tallest in the world)

Panchamukha Hanuman :-

Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami. The place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanuman is now known as Panchamukhi, wherein a temple for him has been built. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. A 40 feet (12 m) tall monolithic green granite murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in Thiruvallur, also in Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar.

Hanuman assumed this form to kill Mahiravana, a powerful rakshasa black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the Ramayana war. Mahiravana had taken Lord Rama and Lakshmana captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Hanuman assumed His Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the rakshasa, and freeing Rama and Lakshmana.

This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana", is another name of Hanuman).

A 67 foot Murti of Lord Hanuman Ji has been installed at Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir, located in the Punjab town of Phillaur.

A 40 foot Murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed at Tiruvallur, near Chennai, India.

A 36 foot Murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed at Panchavatee,Pondicherry, called as Viswaroopa Jayamangala Panchamukha Sri Anjaaneyaswamy.

A 32 foot Murti of Adhivyadihara Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyaswamy,Nanganallur,Chennai which is molded out of a single rock.

A 3 foot Murti of Sri Panchmukha Hanuman has been installed at OKapi farm 15.7 kms west of Lusaka Zambia from New Mumba Road. While the mandir is under construction, daily puja is offered in the mornings and evenings.

Every Face of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has significance :-

  • Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success.
  • The Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and fearlessness.
  • The west facing Garuda removes black magic and poisons.
  • The north facing Varaha, showers prosperity, wealth.
  • The Hayagriva mukha faces the Sky. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face. Hayagriva gives Knowledge and good children.

Worship & offerings:-

Anjaneyar is worshipped with offerings of butter & Vadaimalai (a garland of vadais). Butter is applied to the mouth & tail of the Hanuman vigrahams in temples. Devotees pray to the Lord & apply dots of kumkumam to his tail (from the starting point to the tip) in the images kept at home.

A simple prayer to Anjaneya

Asaathya Saadhaka Swaamin 
Asaathyam Thavakim vadha 
Raama Dhootha Kribhaa Sindho 
Math Kaaryam Sadhakka Prabho


Shree Hanuman Chalisa :-

Whoever recites Hanuman Chalisa (40 stanzas praising Hanuman), written by Shree Tulsi Das, for 40 mornings, will beget health, wealth, happiness, courage, valour and wisdom. Devotees reading this Chalisa 108 times will overcome all obstacles. 

Hanuman Dhyanam

adhulitha baladhamam swarna sailaaba dheham
dhanu jvana krusaanum jgnaninaa makrakanyamõ |
sakala gunanithaanam vaanaraannamatheesam
raghupathy priyabakthim vaadha jaadham namaami || 

koshpatheekrutha varasim masakeekrutha rakshasam |
ramayana mahamalarathnam vandheh anilaathmajam || 

yathra yathra raghunatha keerthanam
thathra thathra kruthamathookanjjalim |
bashbaqwari paripoorna lochanam
maruthim namatha raksha-shanthakam || 

Shreeguru charana saroja raja
nija manu mukura suDhaari |
varanoun raghuvara vimala yasu
joa dhaayaku phala chaari || 

budhdhiheena thanu jaanikae
sumirou pavana kumaarae |
bala budhdhi viDhyaa dhaehu mohi
harahu kalesa vikaara|| 

jaya hanumaan nyaan guna saagara|
jaya kapeesa thihoon loka ujaagara|| 1 

raama dhootha athulitha bala Dhaamaa|
anjani puthra pavanasutha naamaa|| 2 

mahaveer vikrama bajrangee|
kumathi nivaara sumathi kae sangi|| 3 

kanchana varana viraaja suvaeshaa|
kaanana kundala kunchitha kesha|| 4 

haatha vajra ou dhvajaa biraajai|
kaanDhae moonja janaeoo saajai|| 5 

shankara suvana kesari nandhana|
thaeja prathaapa mahaa jaga vandhana|| 6 

vidhyavaana guni athi chaathur|
raama kaaja karibae koa aathur|| 7 

prabhu charithra sunibae koa rasiyaa|
raam lakhana seethaa mana basiyaa|| 8 

sukshma roopa Dhari siyahin dhikhaavaa|
bikata roopa dhari lanka jaraavaa|| 9

bheema roopa Dhari asura samhaarae|
raamachandhra kae kaaj sanvaarae|| 10

laaya sanjeevana lakhana jiyaayae|
shree raghuveer harashi ur laaye|| 11

raghupathi keenhee bahutha badaayee|
thum mama priya bharathahi sama bhaayee|| 12

sahasa vadhana thumharo jasa gaavain|
asa kahi Shreepathi kanta lagaavain|| 13

sanakaadika bramhadhi muneesaa|
naaradha saaradha sahitha aheesaa|| 14

jama kubaera dhigapaal jahaan thae|
kavi koavidha kahi sakae kahaan thae|| 15

thum upkaara sugreevahin keenhaa|
raam milaaya raja pada dheenhaa|| 16

thumharo manthra vibeeShan maanaa|
lankaeshwar bhayae sab jaga jaanaa|| 17

yuga sahasra yojana para Bhanoo|
leelyo thaahi maDhura phala jaanoo|| 18

prabhu mudhrikaa maeli mukha maahin|
jalaDhi laanDhi gaye achraja naahin|| 19

dhurgama kaaja jagatha kae jaethae|
sugama anugraha thumharae thaethae|| 20

raam dhuaarae thum rakhwaarae|
hoath na aagnyaa binu paisaarae|| 21

sab sukh lahai thumhaari charanaa|
thum rakshak kaanhoo koa darnaa|| 22

aapana thej samhaaroa aapai|
theenon loaka haank sae kaampae|| 23

bhooth pishaash nikata nahin aavai|
mahaaveer jab naam sunaavai|| 24

naashai roga harai saba peedaa|
japatha niranthara hanumatha veera|| 25

sankata sae hanumaan chudaavai|
mana krama vachana dhyaana joa laavai|| 26

sab para raam thapasvee raajaa|
thinakae kaaj sakala thum saajaa|| 27

aura manorath joa koee laavai|
soayi amitha jeevana phala paavai|| 28

chaaron jug parathaapa thumhaaraa|
hei parasidhdhi jagatha ujiyaaraa|| 29

saaDhu santha kae thum rakhwaarae|
asura nikandhana raam dhulaarae|| 30

ashta sidhdhi nava nidhi kae dhaathaa|
asa bara dheen jaanakee maathaa|| 31

raam rasayana thum rae paasaa|
sadha rahoa raghupathi kae daasaa|| 32

thumharae bhajana raam koa bhaavai|
janma janma kae dhukh bisraavai|| 33

antha kaala raghupathi pura jaayee|
jahaan janma hari bhakth kahaayee|| 34

aura dhaevathaa chiththa na Dharayee|
hanumatha saeyeesarba sukh karayee|| 35

sankata katai mitai sab peeda|
joa sumirai hanumatha bala veeraa|| 36

jai jai jai hanumaana goasaayeen|
krupaa karahu gurudaeva kee naayeen|| 37

joa sath baar paaTa kara koiyee|
chootahi bandhi mahaa sukh hoayee|| 38

joa yaha padai hanumaan chaaleesaa|
hoya sidhdhi saakhee goureesaa|| 39

thulalaseedaasa sadhaa hari chaeraa|
keejai naaTha hrudhaya maham daeraa|| 40

bhavana dhanaya sankata harana mangala moorthy roop
raam lakhana jaanaakee boaloa jai hanumaan kee|| 

************ Jai Bajranbali **************

Lord of Success

Posted by: Ajay Gupta in

Ganesha:-

Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश; Ganesha.ogg listen (help·info)), also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of other affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.

Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara), patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.

Ganesha emerged as a distinct deity in clearly recognizable form in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta Period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors. His popularity rose quickly, and he was formally included among the five primary deities of Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya, (Sanskrit: गाणपत्य; gāṇapatya), who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, arose during this period. The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.

Ganesha:-  the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.

The Lord of Success :-
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

Significance of the Ganesha Form :-
Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

How Ganesha Got His Head :-
The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.

Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride :-
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."

Ganesh Chaturthi :-
An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesh Chaturthi, which typically falls in late August or early September. The festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, when images (murtis) of Ganesha are immersed in the most convenient body of water. In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed this annual Ganesha festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event. He did so "to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them" in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra. Because of Ganesha's wide appeal as "the god for Everyman", Tilak chose him as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule. Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesha in pavilions, and he established the practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day. Today, Hindus across India celebrate the Ganapati festival with great fervour, though it is most popular in the state of Maharashtra. The festival also assumes huge proportions in Mumbai and in the surrounding belt of Ashtavinayaka temples.
Temples:-
In Hindu temples, Ganesha is depicted in various ways: as an acolyte or subordinate deity (pãrśva-devatã); as a deity related to the principal deity (parivāra-devatã); or as the principal deity of the temple (pradhāna), treated similarly as the highest gods of the Hindu pantheon. As the god of transitions, he is placed at the doorway of many Hindu temples to keep out the unworthy, which is analogous to his role as Parvati’s doorkeeper. In addition, several shrines are dedicated to Ganesha himself, of which the Ashtavinayak (Sanskrit: अष्टविनायक; aṣṭavināyaka; lit. "eight Ganesha (shrines)") in Maharashtra are particularly well known. Located within a 100-kilometer radius of the city of Pune, each of these eight shrines celebrates a particular form of Ganapati, complete with its own lore and legend; together they "form a mandala, demarking the sacred cosmos of Ganesha".
A statue of Ganesha carved in wood
There are many other important Ganesha temples at the following locations: Wai in Maharashtra; Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh; Jodhpur, Nagaur and Raipur (Pali) in Rajasthan; Baidyanath in Bihar; Baroda, Dholaka, and Valsad in Gujarat and Dhundiraj Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Prominent Ganesha temples in southern India include the following: : the Jambukeśvara Temple (Ucchi pillaiyar kottai) at Tiruchirapalli; at Rameshvaram and Suchindram; Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in TamilNadu; Hampi, Kasargod, and Idagunji in Karnataka; and Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh.

108 Names Of Lord Ganesh :-
   

  1. Akhuratha :- One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
  2. Alampata :-  Ever Eternal Lord
  3. Amit :- Incomparable Lord
  4. Anantachidrupamayam :- Infinite and Consciousness Personified
  5. Avaneesh :- Lord of the whole World
  6. Avighna :- Remover of Obstacles
  7. Balaganapati :- Beloved and Lovable Child
  8. Bhalchandra :- Moon-Crested Lord
  9. Bheema :- Huge and Gigantic
  10. Bhupati :- Lord of the Gods
  11. Bhuvanpati :- God of the Gods
  12. Buddhinath :- God of Wisdom
  13. Buddhipriya :- Knowledge Bestower
  14. Buddhividhata :- God of Knowledge
  15. Chaturbhuj :- One who has Four Arms
  16. Devadeva :- Lord! of All Lords
  17. Devantakanashakarin :- Destroyer of Evils and Asuras
  18. Devavrata :- One who accepts all Penances
  19. Devendrashika :- Protector of All Gods
  20. Dharmik :- One who gives Charity
  21. Dhoomravarna :- Smoke-Hued Lord
  22. Durja :- Invincible Lord
  23. Dvaimatura :- One who has two Mothers
  24. Ekaakshara :- He of the Single Syllable
  25. Ekadanta :- Single-Tusked Lord
  26. Ekadrishta :- Single-Tusked Lord
  27. Eshanputra :- Lord Shiva's Son
  28. Aath Gadadhari :- One who has The Mace as His Weapon
  29. Gajakarna :- One who has Eyes like an Elephant
  30. Gajanana :- Elephant-Faced Lord
  31. Gajananeti :- Elephant-Faced Lord
  32. Gajavakra :- Trunk of The Elephant
  33. Gajavaktra :- One who has Mouth like an Elephant
  34. Ganadhakshya :- Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
  35. Ganadhyakshina :- Leader of All The Celestial Bodies
  36. Ganapati :- Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
  37. Gaurisuta :- The Son of Gauri (Parvati)
  38. Gunina :- One who is The Master of All Virtues
  39. Haridra :- One who is Golden Coloured
  40. Heramba :- Mother's Beloved Son
  41. Kapila :- Yellowish-Brown Coloured
  42. Kaveesha :- Master of Poets
  43. Kirti :- Lord of Music
  44. Kripalu :- Merciful Lord
  45. Krishapingaksha :- Yellowish-Brown Eyed
  46. Kshamakaram :- The Place of Forgiveness
  47. Kshipra :- One who is easy to A! ppease
  48. Lambakarna :- Large-Eared Lord
  49. Lambodara :- The Huge Bellied Lord
  50. Mahabala :- Enormously Strong Lord
  51. Mahaganapati :- Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
  52. Maheshwaram :- Lord of The Universe
  53. Mangalamurti :- All Auspicious Lord
  54. Manomay :- Winner of Hearts
  55. Mrityuanjaya :- Conqueror of Death
  56. Mundakarama :- Abode of Happiness
  57. Muktidaya :- Bestower of Eternal Bliss
  58. Musikvahana :- One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
  59. Nadapratithishta :- One who Appreciates and Loves Music
  60. Namasthetu :- Vanquisher of All Evils and Vices and Sins
  61. Nandana :- Lord Shiva's Son
  62. Nideeshwaram :- Giver of Wealth and Treasures
  63. Omkara :- One who has the Form Of OM
  64. Pitambara :- One who has Yellow-Coloured Body
  65. Pramoda :- Lord of All Abodes
  66. Prathameshwara :- First Among All
  67. Purush :- The Omnipotent Personality
  68. Raktamra :- One who has Red-Coloured Body
  69. Rudrapriya :- Beloved Of Lord Shiva
  70. Sarvadevatman :- Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings
  71. Sarvasiddhanta :- Bestower of Skills and Wisdom
  72. Sarvatman :- Protector of The Universe
  73. Shambhavi :- The Son of Parvati
  74. Shashivarnam :- One who has a Moon like Complexion
  75. Shoorpakarna :- Large-Eared Lord
  76. Shuban :- All Auspicious Lord
  77. Shubhagunakanan :- One who is The Master of All Virtues
  78. Shweta :- One who is as Pure as the White Colour
  79. Siddhidhata :- Bestower of Success and Accomplishments
  80. Siddhipriya :- Bestower of Wishes and Boons
  81. Siddhivinayaka :- Bestower of Success
  82. Skandapurvaja :- Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)
  83. Sumukha :- Auspicious Face
  84. Sureshwaram :- Lord of All Lords
  85. Swaroop :- Lover of Beauty
  86. Tarun :- Ageless
  87. Uddanda :- Nemesis of Evils and Vices
  88. Umaputra :- The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)
  89. Vakratunda :- Curved Trunk Lord
  90. Varaganapati :- Bestower of Boons
  91. Varaprada :- Granter of Wishes and Boons
  92. Varadavinayaka :- Bestower of Success
  93. Veeraganapati :- Heroic Lord
  94. Vidyavaridhi :- God of Wisdom
  95. Vighnahara :- Remover of Obstacles
  96. Vignaharta :- Demolisher of Obstacles
  97. Vighnaraja :- Lord of All Hindrances
  98. Vighnarajendra :- Lord of All Obstacles
  99. Vighnavinashanaya :- Destroyer of All Obstacles and Impediments
  100. Vigneshwara :- Lord of All Obstacles
  101. Vikat :- Huge and Gigantic
  102. Vinayaka :- Lord of All
  103. Vishwamukha :- Master of The Universe
  104. Vishwaraja :- King of The World
  105. Yagnakaya :- Acceptor of All Sacred and Sacrficial Offerings
  106. Yashaskaram :- Bestower of Fame and Fortune
  107. Yashvasin :- Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
  108. Yogadhipa :- The Lord of Meditation

Vakrtund Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha |
Nirbhignam Kurumedaya Sarva Karyashu Sarvada |

Lord Shiva - The Destroyer

Posted by: Ajay Gupta in

Lord Shiva :-

Shiva (pronunciation: [ʃɪ.ʋə]; Sanskrit: शिव, Śiva, lit. "Auspicious one" ) is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of the five primary forms of God.

Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva). Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Devī are three of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.

Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Maya, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance.

In some other Hindu denominations, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva represent the three primary aspects of the divine in Hinduism and are collectively known as the Trimurti. In this school of religious thought, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.

Attributes :-

Shiva with Parvati. Shiva is depicted three-eyed, with a crescent moon on his head, the Ganga flowing through his matted hair, wearing ornaments of serpents and a skull necklace, and covered in ashes, and Trisula and Damaru are seen in the background.

  • Third eye:- Shiva is often depicted with a third eye, with which he burned Desire (Kāma) to ashes. There has been controversy regarding the original meaning of Shiva's name Tryambakam (Sanskrit: त्र्यम्बकम्), which occurs in many scriptural sources. In classical Sanskrit, the word ambaka denotes "an eye", and in the Mahabharata, Shiva is depicted as three-eyed, so this name is sometimes translated as "having three eyes". However, in Vedic Sanskrit, the word ambā or ambikā means "mother", and this early meaning of the word is the basis for the translation "having three mothers" that was used by Max Müller and Arthur Macdonell. Since no story is known in which Shiva had three mothers, E. Washburn Hopkins suggested that the name refers not to three mothers, but to three mother-goddesses who are collectively called the Ambikās. Other related translations have been "having three wives or sisters" or were based on the idea that the name actually refers to the oblations given to Rudra, which according to some traditions were shared with the goddess Ambikā.
  • Blue throat:- The epithet Nīlakaṇtha (Sanskrit नीलकण्ठ; nīla = "blue", kaṇtha = "throat") refers to a story in which Shiva drank the poison churned up from the world ocean. (See Halāhala.) The Hari Vanśa Purana, on the other hand, attributes the colour of Shiva's throat to an episode in which Vishnu compels Shiva to fly after taking him by the throat and nearly strangling him.
  • Crescent moon:- Shiva bears on his head the crescent moon. The epithet Chandraśekhara (Sanskrit: चन्द्रशेखर "Having the moon as his crest" - chandra = "moon", śekhara = "crest, crown") refers to this feature. The placement of the moon on his head as a standard iconographic feature dates to the period when Rudra rose to prominence and became the major deity Rudra-Shiva. The origin of this linkage may be due to the identification of the moon with Soma, and there is a hymn in the Rig Veda where Soma and Rudra are jointly emplored, and in later literature, Soma and Rudra came to be identified with one another, as were Soma and the moon.
  • Matted hair:- Shiva's distinctive hair style is noted in the epithets Jaṭin, "the one with matted hair", and Kapardin, "endowed with matted hair" or "wearing his hair wound in a braid in a shell-like (kaparda) fashion". A kaparda is a cowrie shell, or a braid of hair in the form of a shell, or, more generally, hair that is shaggy or curly.
                           Shiva bearing the descent of the Ganges River as Parvati and Bhagiratha and the bull Nandi look, folio from a Hindi manuscript by the saint Narayan, circa 1740.
  • Sacred Ganga:- The Ganga river flows from the matted hair of Shiva. The epithet Gaṅgādhara ("bearer of the river Gaṅgā") refers to this feature. The Ganga (Ganges), one of the major rivers of the country, is said to have made her abode in Shiva's hair.
  • Ashes:- Shiva smears his body with ashes (bhasma). Some forms of Shiva, such as Bhairava, are associated with a very old Indian tradition of cremation-ground asceticism that was practiced by some groups who were outside the fold of brahmanic orthodoxy. These practices associated with cremation grounds are also mentioned in the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism. One epithet for Shiva is "inhabitant of the cremation ground" (Sanskrit: śmaśānavāsin, also spelled Shmashanavasin), referring to this connection.
  • Tiger skin:- He is often shown seated upon a tiger skin, an honour reserved for the most accomplished of Hindu ascetics, the Brahmarishis.
  • Serpents:- Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake.
  • Trident:- (Sanskrit: Trishula): Shiva's particular weapon is the trident.
  • Drum:- A small drum shaped like an hourglass is known as a damaru (Sanskrit: ḍamaru). This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation known as Nataraja. A specific hand gesture (mudra) called ḍamaru-hasta (Sanskrit for "ḍamaru-hand") is used to hold the drum. This drum is particularly used as an emblem by members of the Kāpālika sect.
  • Nandī:- Nandī, also known as Nandin, is the name of the bull that serves as Shiva's mount (Sanskrit: vāhana). Shiva's association with cattle is reflected in his name Paśupati, or Pashupati (Sanskrit: पशुपति), translated by Sharma as "lord of cattle" and by Kramrisch as "lord of animals", who notes that it is particularly used as an epithet of Rudra.
  • Gaṇa:- The Gaṇas (Devanagari: गण) are attendants of Shiva and live in Kailash. They are often referred to as the Boothaganas, or ghostly hosts, on account of their nature. Generally benign, except when their lord is transgressed against, they are often invoked to intercede with the lord on behalf of the devotee. Ganesha was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence Ganesha's title gaṇa-īśa or gaṇa-pati, "lord of the gaṇas".
  • Mount Kailāsa:- Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is his traditional abode. In Hindu mythology, Mount Kailāsa is conceived as resembling a Linga, representing the center of the universe.
  • Varanasi:- Varanasi (Benares) is considered as the city specially loved by Shiva, and is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. It is referred to, in religious contexts, as Kashi.

Avatars:-

Shiva, like some other Hindu deities, is said to have several incarnations, known as avatars. Adi Shankara, the 8th-century philosopher of non-dualist Vedanta, was named "Shankara" after Lord Shiva and is considered to have been an incarnation of Shiva. In the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman is identified as the eleventh avatar of Shiva.

Temples:-

One hundred and eight Shiva lingas carved on the rock at the banks of River Tungabhadra, Hampi

In Shaivism, Shiva is the god of all and is described as worshipped by all, including Devas (gods) like Brahma and Indra, Asuras(demons) like Bana and Ravana, humans like Adi Shankara and Nayanars, and creatures as diverse as Jatayu, an eagle, and Vali, an ape. Deities, rishis (sages), and grahas (planets) worshipped Shiva and established Shivalingas in various places.

The holiest Shiva temples are the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. They are Somnath—Prabhas Patan, Nageshwar—Dwarka, Mahakaleshwar—Ujjain, Mallikārjuna—Srisailam, Bhimashankar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath [Uttaranchal - Guptakashi], Kashi Vishwanath—Varanasi, Trimbakeshwar—near Nasik, Rameswaram—Rameswaram, Grishneshwar—near Ellora and Vaidyanath—Deoghar.

In South India, five temples of Shiva are held to be particularly important, as being manifestations of him in the five elemental substances:

Pancha Bhudha Sthalams:-

  • Thiruvanaikaval(Sri Jambhukeswar) - appu - water
  • Thiruvannamalai(Sri Arunachaleswar) - thEyu - fire
  • Thirukkalahasthi(Sri Kalahastheeswara Nathar) - vAyu - air
  • Kanchipuram(sri Ekampareswar) - pruthvi - land
  • Chithambaram(Sri Natarajar) - AkAsam - sky 


    Other notable temples in India include:-

     
  • Vemulawada in Karimnagar District of Andhra Pradesh
  • Kaleswaram in Karimnagar District of Andhra Pradesh
  • Draaksharamam in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh
  • Bhramaramba-Mallikarjuna Temple in Srisailam at Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh
  • Thayumanavar in Tiruchirappalli
  • Meenakshi Sundareswar in Madurai
  • Brihadeeswarar in Thanjavur
  • Nellaiappar in Aragalur(Tirunelveli) District of Tamilnadu
  • Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal and the pilgrimage site of Kailash Mansarovar are noteworthy. The world-famous Amarnath Yatra to the Amarnath ji Cave in Kashmir (India) is also significant.