SHIVA MAHAPURANA : CONTINUES..............................12....................... THE WORSHIP OF PARTHIVA LINGA

SHIVA MAHAPURANA :
CONTINUES..............................12.......................

THE WORSHIP OF PARTHIVA LINGA :
Suta then explains the greatness of worshipping a Parthiva Linga-:
"Parthiva Linga is the most supreme among all the Shivalingas. All the aspirtions of he deities as
well as men are fulfilled by the worship of Parthiv linga. During the era of Satya, jewel was
considered to be of prime importance, where as during Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga, gold and
mercury had the prime importance respectively. In the present era of Kali, a Parthiva Linga holds
this place of honor. The worship of Parthiva Linga begets more virtues than even penance. Just
as Ganga among the rivers, Kashi among the sacred places of pilgrimages, Omkar among all the
mantras are considered to be superior, In the same way Parthivalinga is considered to the
supreme among all the Linga. Worshipping, a Parthiva linga with a 'Nishkam bhava' helps a man
to attain liberation."
Suta elaborately describes about the methods of doing worship of Parthiva Linga:-
"After becoming fresh in the morning, a man should wear a rudraksha garland in his neck and
apply Bhasma (ash) on his forehead. He should then worship the Parthiva Linga. He should
chant the various names of Shiva, while worshipping the Parthiva Linga, like Har, Maheshwar,
Shambhu, Shoolpani, Mahadeva, etc. After worshipping the Parthiva Linga, it should be
immersed in the river, Then the mantra - OM NAMAH SHIVAY should be canted with
complete devotion. This is the method which has been described in the Vedas for the worship of
Parthiva Linga."
The numbers of Parthiva Linga differ according to one's desires. For example a man who is
desirous of learning and knowledge must worship one thousand Parthiva Linga. A man who is
desirous of wealth must worship. One thousand five hundred Parthiva Lingas. A man who is
desirous of attaining salvation must worship one crore Parthiva Lingas.
Parthiva linga, which is equivalent to the height measured by the four fingers and which has been
established on a beautiful pedestal, is considered to be the best. Parthiva Linga which is the half
of the above mentioned height is considered to be medium; and still half than the second category is considered to be inferior Parthiva Linga. It is better and advisable to worship a single
Parthiva Linga daily, because it is equivalent to the worship of the whole world. Nobody is
barred from worshipping Shiva, except the people whose ancestors had been cursed by the sages
like Dadhichi, Gautam. Such people should also worship the eight idols (earth, water, fire, air,
sky, sun, moon and the host) alongwith the Parthiva linga. A brahmin should worship Parthiva
linga as per the methods described in the vedas. Worship should be done, facing north.
...................12..............................................WILL BE CONTINUED