Shivling Puja brings wealth and salvation, secret from Shiv Puran

Lord Shiva is the deity of creation and liberation. In Kaliyug, Lord Shiva is always omnipresent. Lord Shiva is the visible deity in Kaliyug, whose divine presence is seen daily in the form of the Shivling. It is said that among all ages, Kaliyug is the most dreadful, yet attaining God in Kaliyug is the easiest. Many scriptures and religious texts describe this. Shiv Puran also reveals the mysteries related to Kaliyug. It explains how one can attain both wealth and liberation while living in Kaliyug. Let us understand how the worship of Lord Shiva can make a person prosperous.

Shiv Puran states that nothing is superior to the worship of the Shivling in Kaliyug. This is the definite principle of the scriptures. Sootji explains in Shiv Puran that the Shivling grants both worldly pleasure and liberation. Worshipping the Shivling gives a person material comforts as well as salvation. Thus, in Kaliyug, the one who worships the Shivling finds the doors of liberation open and receives wealth and happiness. Shiv Puran describes three types of Shivlings — superior, medium, and inferior. The Shivling that is four fingers high, beautiful, and has a pedestal is called superior by sages. The one half of that height is medium, and half of that is inferior.

Who can worship the Shivling

Shiv Puran states that every human being has the right to worship the Shivling. Worship with Vedic mantras brings great benefit. Women also have full rights to worship the Shivling. However, the worship performed according to the Vedic method is considered the best. According to Lord Shiva’s own words, one should worship the Shivling through the Vedic path only.

Shiv Puran’s Shivling Puja method

After performing the proper ritual worship of Lord Shankar, one should also worship his eight forms — Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Sky, Sun, Moon, and Yajman. These eight forms represent Lord Shankar. Along with these, one should also worship the names Sharv, Dhav, Rudra, Ugra, Bhima, Ishwar, Mahadev, and Pashupati. Then, with sandalwood paste, rice, and Bel leaves, one should worship Lord Shiva’s family with deep devotion in the order beginning with Ishaan.

Worship these along with the Shivling

Ishaan, Nandi, Chand Mahakaal, Bhringi, Vrish, Skand, Kapardishwar, Soma, and Shukra — these ten belong to Shiva’s family and are worshipped in the ten directions beginning with Ishaan. Then, one should worship Veerbhadra before Lord Shiva and Kirtimukh behind him, followed by the eleven Rudras. Afterward, one should chant the Panchakshar Mantra “Namah Shivaya,” recite the Shatarudriya hymn, offer various praises, and read the Shiv Panchang. Then, one should perform circumambulation, bow down, and finally immerse the Shivling ritualistically.

Which direction to face while doing Shivling Puja

According to Shiv Puran, one should not sit in the east of the Shivling because that direction is in front of Lord Shiva. One should not sit in the north because that is the left side of Shiva, where Goddess Parvati resides. One should not sit in the west because that is the back of the deity. Sitting in the south and facing north is considered the best position for Shivling worship.

How to do Shivling Puja

According to Shiv Puran, one should sit facing north in the south direction and then worship the Shivling. A learned person should apply a Tripundra of sacred ash, wear a Rudraksha mala, and collect Bilva leaves before worshipping Lord Shankar. If sacred ash is not available, one must apply Tripundra using soil. In this way, worshipping the Shivling in Kaliyug opens the path to both wealth and liberation.