Advanced Shiva Puja: Bahya Matrka Nyasa

Question:

In the Advanced Shiva Puja, when one is doing the bahya matrika nyasa “backwards”, should all the actions be in reverse, i.e., om ksam namah…..throat to sternum?

Swamiji Says:

Yes, they are done in reverse in both the bahya nyasa and in the matrika nyasa in the chakras. Both are done forwards and in reverse.

Question:

When “R. 1.4 base” is indicated, is this the Tattva Mudra?

Swamiji Says:

R.1.4 base is also known as tattva mudra.

Shiva Tandava Stotram

Question:

What is the significance of the Shiva Tandava Stotram?

Swamiji Says:

I love Shiva Tandava more because the chanda depicts exactly what the words are saying, than because of the description they convey. Sometimes that happens in poetry, that the way things are being described are more entrancing than the description they convey.

Shiva Lingam

Question:

Shiv Puran says that praying to Shiv Lingam destroy all the sins. Does it destroy all the sins commited in the previous birth also?

Swamiji Says:

If we pray with sincerity then certainly all the past karmas are destroyed. But the effects of Prarabdha Karma must be experienced. Those are the actions which were commenced in the past, the fruits of which will be coming to us in the future. Shankaracharya described the arrow which has left the bow. We cannot change the course of the arrow or have any effect upon the arrow until it lands. Only then can we determine the next course of action.

Question:

Can two lingams be worshiped at the same time?

Swamiji Says:

You can worship more than one lingam, and you can use our puja books with any lingam.

Question:

Which way does the yoni on the Shiva Lingam face during puja?

Swamiji Says:

North.

Question:

Which direction does the Yoni in a Shiva Lingam face? In which direction are we supposed to sit? What is the significance of sitting (or not) directly in front of the yoni?

Swamiji Says:

The Yoni of a Shiva Lingam points to the North. We would face north. We could optionally face east too. In any case we would not sit directly in front of the Yoni as that means we are facing South and really looking at Shiva’s back. Also, if you sit facing the Yoni, if it is a large Yoni, you will not be able to reach to the top of Shiva.

Question:

Is it true that Shiva Puja should always and only be done to the lingam and never to the murti?

Swamiji Says:

We can worship anything that allows us to focus our minds on divinity. The whole idea is to become focused on one thing. When we enter Samadhi, the object that brought us there is no longer important.

Question:

What is the definitive list of Jyotirlingams?

Swamiji Says:

Somanaatham

Srisailam

Mahaakaalam

Omkaaranaatham

Kedaarnaatham

Bhimashankaram

Visveshvaram

Tryambakam

Vaidhyanaatham

Naageshvaram

Raameshvaram

Ghushmeshvaram

Question:

Can Tulsi be offered to Shiv Lingams and if possible, is there any reference to Shashtras?

Swamiji Says:

Yes they can. Please see the story of Karnaghanta, the man with bells in his ears. I know it is in Shiva Purana, but I do not have a citation.

Question:

Can you please explain to us the significance of a Parthiv Lingam?

Swamiji Says:

It means a natural lingam which is made by the worshiper.

Question:

What is the difference between a Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingam and “ordinary” Shiva Lingam?

Swamiji Says:

Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingams come from the Narmada River. They are sculpted completely smooth by the flow from the current of the river waters. Other lingams are sculpted by different means: some by tools, some are unsculpted or natural.

Nandi

Question:

I have a Shiv-Lingam with Nandi. Do I offer abhishek to both?

Swamiji Says:

Yes. You can use Om Namah Shivaya as you offer to Shiva and Om Nandishwaraya as you offer to Nandi.

Yantra for Siva Puja

Question:

I am doing the Advanced Shiva Puja. Can I draw the yantra in sand rather than with water?

Swamiji Says:

Yes, you can use sand. There are many different ways to draw the yantra. If you place a bed of wet sand, you can use a knife or other sharp instrument to draw the yantra in the sand. Then you can color the lines with colored sand. Or you can use a clean surface and draw the yantra with colored sand.

Who Does Lord Shiva Meditate On?

Question:

Who does Lord Shiva meditate on (as described in the Shiva Dhyanam)?

Swamiji Says:

Often He meditates on Chandi. Sometimes He meditates upon Vishnu.

Bam Bam Bhole

Question:

What does “BAM BAM BHOLE” mean?

Swamiji Says:

The first letter of the first word of the Ramayan is Ba. The last letter of the last word is Ma. Between Ba and Ma is the entire Ramayan, which is in praise of Shiva’s favorite deity, Vishnu in the form of Ram.

Bhole means simple. Shiva’s life is simple. It consists of the praise of Ram.

Om Namah Shivai

Question:

When would we chant Om Namah Shivai instead of Om Namah Shivaya?

Swamiji Says:

It is just a different version of pronunciation from a different region of India. The meaning is the same.

Adapting the Advanced Siva Fire Sacrifice to Another Deity

Question:

How do you adapt the Advanced Siva Fire sacrifice for another deity?

Swamiji Says:

You would substitute the bija mantras, gayatri, stotras for the appropriate deity where applicable.

Combining Shiva Puja and Rudri

Question:

How best to combine the Siva Puja and the Rudri? Does one do the Beginner Siva Puja in its entirety first (from Kushandika to Pranamah), and then the Rudri in its entirety (from Kushandika to Pranamah)? This means one does the Kushandika and Arati twice.

Swamiji Says:

I would complete the Puja up until the Arati and then chant the Rudri from chapter one through the end of the book. The Rudri also has the Arati and Pranam at the end so you are covered there.

Shiva Puja Beginner Offerings

Question:

In the Shiva Puja, are the following mental offerings: foot bath, milk bath, yogurt bath, ghee bath, honey bath, sugar bath, five nectars bath, sandal paste, cloth, rudraksa, red powder, drinking water?

Swamiji Says:

No, pour a small quantity of each milk bath, yogurt bath, ghee bath, honey bath, sugar bath into a small bowl with each mantra. Then stir until mixed into a smooth blend with five nectars bath mantra. Place the cloth and rudraksha next to the flower in the center of your puja. Then apply the red powder to that flower in the center. Offer food or a piece of fruit and drinking water beside the flower. Then meditate upon Shiva accepting your offerings. Share the prasad at the end of your worship.

Establishing Divine Fire in Advanced Shiva Puja

Question:

On page 241 of the Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna, there is a mantra which says, “ityaadyagne shadangebhyo namahah.” It is translated as: “In this way establish the Divine Fire in the six centers of the body.” What is the practice associated with this mantra? How is the establishment conducted?

Swamiji Says:

Anga nyasa with Ram bija

Mudras

Question:

In the Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna, different sets of mudras are given for establishment in the body and establishment in the fire. Are these mudras unique to this use or are they used in other situations?

Swamiji Says:

They are also used for establishment upon a yantra.

Awakening the Kundalini

Question:

The Shiva and Cosmic Puja books mention awakening the Kundalini. Is practicing kundalini yoga any different from awakening kundalini using bija mantras, as described in the puja books?

Swamiji Says:

Kundalini is the name given to the energy within a sadhak. All yoga is Kundalini yoga.

Question:

When meditating how do you concentrate on the third eye, is it by closing your eyes and trying to look into the mind in that region?

Swamiji Says:

To meditate with concentration on the third eye, look into the mind through the third eye, or look at creation through the third eye.

Color of Shiva

Question:

What color is Shiva when he is not with Kali? Is he white like in the Shiva puja dhyana shlokas, or blue like in the cover of the puja, and every painting I have ever seen?

Swamiji Says:

White with a blue throat.

Shiva Pranam

What does “hetave” mean as in “karana traya hetave”?

Swamiji Says:

For the purpose of, or with the motivation of, offering you the fullness of my soul.

Our bookstore carries Beginner Shiva Puja and Advanced Shiva Puja books. You can obtain the CD of Swamiji chanting the Shiva Puja at Our Music page