The Glory of Lord Shiva

Aum! Nama Shivaaya!  I bow down to the glorious supreme controller of the universe, Maha-Deva (The Great Deva). He who is the lord of all beings Sarveshwara, and he who is the lord of all gurus (Jagad Guru). I bow down to the entity who is the destroyer of Tripurantaka. He who is the consort of Gauri, the most compassionate. The being of complete benevolence and care, he who is easily pleased. He who is the complete composition of light Jyothirmaya, he who is the lord of all yogins Yogeeshwara, who is the store house of all knowledge gnyaaneshwara. He who is known by many names, Nilalohita, Neelagriva, Neelakanta, Shambhu, Sadashiva, Rudra, Hara, Bhairava, Bholenath (the innocent) Tryambhaka (three eyed) Trilochana (three Eyed) Vishvanatha (Lord of all) Chandrashekara (controller of the moon) Maheswara (greatest of the Eshwaras) Digambara, Dakshinaamoorthi.


 
He is the ocean of mercy, he comes running to his devotees. He is pure renunciation, he is the complete form of dispassion. He has no love of anything but his bhakthas. He only cares for those who come to him. He burns the sins of those who utter his holy name. The great Mahadeva, is the regenerator. It is a mistake to call him the destroyer, when your body is old and full of ailments, he quickly bestows upon you a fresh body with rigorous health he wants to take all his devotees to his lotus feet quickly, and save them from continual, mundane rebirth. 

When Brahma and Vishnu wanted to find out who is mightier
 he assumed the jyothirmaya roopam!

He is far more easier to please than Hari. The embodiment of mercy, love and compassion comes running to all who worship him. A little love and a few chants of his holy name, and that is enough to infuse delight in him. Such is potency, such is magnitude for mercy. He is the quickest bestower of boons. His heart is full of compassion, he quickly gave the most powerful weapon (the pashupatastra) to Arjuna for his meagre tapas. How large is his heart? He appeared to bhageeratha, when all the gods were not able to help him. He withstood the full force of the ganga (which had the potency to annihilate the entire planet) on his head just to please his devotee. How kind is he? He made Raavana the demon king of Lanka invincible because he pleased him with his Saama Veda chanting. He flew with tremendous speed to save Markendeya from the clutches of death for his small penance. Oh Shankara! (the sweet)! How easily he is pleased. He gave his darshanam to the hunter, Kannapa. He harvested a field the size of 25 football stadiums for the pariah (untouchable) Nandanar his and took him directly to his abode. In madurai, he took the form of sundareshwara and carried the Earth on his forehead for the sake of a devoted lady. Look at his unbounded love for his devotees! When the four sanat kumaras were lost, looking for a guru, he quickly descended to initiate them. When vishwamitra wanted to prove his might, he quickly gave him the brahmastra, to show him that tapas is more mighty than strength. When Brahma and Vishnu quarrelled over who is greater, he assumed his mighty infinite form, the Jyothirmaya roopam to show them the pointless nature of their argument. When the devas were terrified of the Hala Hala (poison) which came from the churning of the ocean, he gladly drank the poison to save the Devas! So Kind! Ready to injure himself than to hurt his Bhakthas! When mahavishnu pleased Siva with his worship, he quickly bestowed upon him the sudarshana chakra. He lived in the house of Pattinattu Swami for many years as his adopted son, and dissappeared after giving him this note "not even a broken needle will follow you after death" upon reading this note, Pattinattu swami attained gnyaana. What are you waiting for? Why are not attempting to reach Siva right NOW?

Just as fire burns wood, the name of the Kind Compassionate Shiva burns sin. Chant his name incessantly, with love and see how he takes care of you. The glory of Shiva is indescribable. Its omnipotent, omnicient, invincible! Shiva is the kindest of the gods. He is the greatest of the gods. Many births are required to even think of him, let alone worship him! So why are you waiting? Start now! Chant his holy name and see his capability! All the rishis of Satya yuga worshiped mahadeva from Agastya, Vashishta, Vishvamitra, Aghora Rshi, Atri, Brighu and so on. So many Rshis have worshipped this kind compassionate god, so what are you waiting for? What more sanction do you need? Love Mahadeva and see how he carries you from this yuga of Kali!

Why is Lord Shiva considered as best husband and all girls want husband like Lord Shiva?

Lord Shiva is considered the epitome of discipline, principle and love. He is:

1. Strictly one-woman man/god. No chasing or even eyeing other women.

2. Powerful. (As he is the god of War)

3. Loves his wife. Waited two lifetimes for Sati to be reborn and restored to him.

4. Plays chess with her;  (REF To Lalita Sahasranama: Chathuranga Baleshwari) usually other husbands spend time in front of the TV.

5. Physically attractive, but tends to disguise it with ashes rather than vainly show off with other women.

6. Encourages his wife to chart her own course in life -- killing demons (Mahishasura Mardini etc), visiting devotees, etc.

7. Uses love rather than violence to calm down wife when she is in the Kali form.

8. He is the only god who gave his half part of the body to his wife, along with half of his spiritual Tapas (Heat), austerity and  Strength.

All women want husbands who are faithful, devoted, loving, intelligent.

The Shatarudriyam

The legendary Shatarudriyam, also called Rudra Namakam, Rudradhyaya or simply Rudram, is a series of verses dedicated to Lord Shiva as Rudra. In the Krishna Yajur Veda, Taittiriya Samhita, there are 7 cantos, and 44 prasnams. The Shatarudriyam (Rudram) comes in the 4th canto 5th Prasnam. The chant consists of 11 anuvakams and 1234 padams. This chant is said to have been seen or heard by aghora rishi when he was deep in mediation to Lord Shiva. This section is considered one of the holiest padhas in entire vedam as it describes the lord in all his aspects from the charioteer to the rider of the chariot. From the horse to the owner of the horse etc.

Rudram is an unparalleled hymn addressing Rudra (an epithet of Lord Shiva) where he is extolled as the supreme deity, second to none. From the Smrithis in the  Shiva Purana, Yagnyavalkya smrithi, and Yama smrithi to  shruthis such as the Jabala Upanishad and the Kaivalyopanishad, Rudram is held at the height of supremacy and claims to bestow immortality to the devotee. This hymn is also famous for the legendary Panchakshara Mantram known as Namaḥ Śhivāya which occurs in the eighth anuvaakam (also the holiest of the 11 anuvaakas) and extols the auspicious nature of Rudra. The legendary Maha Mrithyunjaya mantra is also present in the last anuvaaka where it extols Rudra as the great conqueror of death. It is believed that he who chants the Rudradhyaya will be honoured in all the Lokams including Brahma Lokam. 

The hymn is split into two parts. Namakam and Chamakam. The namkam has the 11 anuvaakas and is chanted with a Namo at the beginning and at the end of each verse from the second anuvaka to the ninth. The Chamakam ends in 'cha me' for the entire hymn, hence the name Chamakam. The Namakam extols various aspects of the supreme while the Chamakam requests boons from Shiva. The repeated phrase, 'cha me' literally means, "and to me [be this granted]", accompanied by a list of desirables which are primarily necessary appurtenances for Vedic sacrifices. The hymn invokes, apart from Agni and Vishnu at the beginning, a pantheon of Vedic deities that are successively linked with Indra to enable the yajamana or sacrificer/patron to successfully perform Vedic fire sacrifices or yagnyas, such as the Agnishthoma, Somayaga, and the Ashwamedha.

Praise for Rudram

Kaivalya Upanishad (Last 2 verses) 

यः शतरुद्रियमधिते सोआग्निपुतो भवति ।|

सुरापानात् पूतो भवति|
ब्रम्हाहत्यात् पूतो भवति|
क्र्त्याक्र्त्यपुतो भवति|
तस्माद्विमुक्त्माश्रितो भवति|
अत्याश्रमी सर्वदा सक्रद्  वा जपत् अनैन  ज्ञानमप्नाऐति|
Yah Sátarudriyamadhite so’agniputo bhavati surapanatputo bhavati brahmahatyatputo bhavati krtyakrtyatputo bhavati tasmadavimuktamasrito bhavati atyasrami sarvada sakrdva japat

He who studied the Satarudriya is freed from all sins like drinking, brahmahatya, doing prohibited actions etc. Through this he has his refuge in Shiva, the Supreme Self. One who belongs to the highest order of life should repeat this always.

Jabala Upanishad Section 3 verse 2. 

किं जप्यएन अम्रुतत्वं नो ब्रुहि इति

Kim Japyena amrutatvam no bruhi ithi
“Tell us by what holy recitation (japa) one attains immortality”?

स हो वाच याज्ञवल्क्य शातरुद्रीयेणेति

Sa ho vaacha Yagnyavalkya Satarudreeyaneti
Yajnavalkya replied "BY JAPA of Satarudreeya" 

एतानि ह वा अम्रुतस्य नामधेयानि एहतैर्हवा भवति
“These are the names of the immortal one. Reciting these, one verily attains immortality."

Mahabharata:

Rudrajapi vimuchyathei mahapathakapankarath 
Samyak jnanam cha labhate thena muchyet bandhanath
Anena Sadrusam japyam nasthi satyam sruthow smruthow

He who chants Sri Rudra gets released from the cage of mahapatakas (heinous sins) gets good knowledge and by that he is released from bondage. There is verily nothing else in the Srutis and Smritis similar to Sri Rrudam for being and fit to be chanted. 

Kurma Puranam

Bhasmoddholitha sarvango rudradhyayana thatparah aradhyaan harih Sambhum krutwa pasupatam vratam

Lord Hari undertook the observance of pasupata vrita by worshipping Shambu (Shiva) with the Sri Rudra Mantra. His Body completely smeared with sacred ash, vibhoothi. 

Method of Chanting.

Rudram can be chanted with the accompaniment of a yagnya or without it. Chanting alone would make it Japa. 

1. Reciting the entire  Sri Rudram – 11  Anuvakas (chapters) of  Namakam once followed by 11 Anuvakas of Chamakam, is the most common method practised in day- to- day worship. 
2. Reciting  Namakam 11 times followed by first ,second canto of  Chamakam for  each Namakam  recitation is known as Rudraikadasini (Ekadasha Rudram). 
3. Eleven Rudraikadasini make one Laghu Rudram (121 times recitation). This is usually done by 11 priests each chanting Rudram 11 times  simultaneously.
4. Eleven Laghu Rudrams make one Maha Rudram (1,331 times) and
5. Eleven Maha Rudrams make one Ati Rudram (14,641 times) 

Rudra, The epithet of Lord Shiva: an Introduction

Rudra, ( रुद्र), is associated as the Rig Vedic storm god, known for his benevolence and endowment of knowledge. The name loosely translated comes as the Howler, the Roarer. The name in actuality has 4 root meanings, (1) Dreadful or terrific, (2) Great or Large (3) Drive away evil (4) Worthy of praise. Another meaning is that the root word "Ru" is usually considered to teach and "dra" is considered as flow. Thus we get flow of knowledge. As a result, Rudra is considered the deity who teaches knowledge to all those who seek it. He is seen as the destructive force of nature as well. Unlike classical theology, Shaiva Siddanta views god a being present in everything. Shiva is not merely just a creator who looks after the universe, but is present in every animate/inanimate good/bad beautiful/ugly entity. The unique aspect of his worship is that the devotee worships all his cosmic forms.

Rudra: The Fierce one

However, despite this, one must not confuse oneself with the thought that Rudra is a destructive force, who punishes and destroys. Quite the contrary, Rudra is a benevolent deity who confers prosperity, offspring and cattle. Not only is he known for bringer of prosperity but also of knowledge. The verse RV 6.49.10 calls Rudra as " The Father of the Universe" (bhuvanasya pitaraṃ)

  

bhuvanasya pitaraṃ ghīrbhirābhī rudraṃ divā vardhayā rudramaktau
bṛhantaṃ ṛṣvamajaraṃ suṣumnaṃ ṛdhagh ghuvema kavineṣitāsaḥ (RV 6 :49:10)

 Translation: 

Rudra by day, Rudra at night we honour with these our songs, the Universe's Father. Him great and lofty, blissful, undecaying let us call specially as the Sage impels us ( RV 6.49.10)^*The Rig Veda, trans. Ralph T.H. Griffith [1896]

The Sage Rudra

The verse RV 2.33.9 calls Rudra as "The Lord or Sovereign of the Universe" 
(īśānādasya bhuvanasya)

sthirebhiraṅghaiḥ pururūpa ughro babhruḥ śukrebhiḥ pipiśehiraṇyaiḥ īśānādasya bhuvanasya bhūrerna vā u yoṣad rudrādasuryam (Rig veda 2:33:9 )

 Translation

With firm limbs, multiform, the strong, the tawny adorns himself with bright gold decorations: The strength of Godhead never departs from Rudra, him who is Sovereign of this world, the mighty. The Rig Veda, trans. Ralph T.H. Griffith [1896]

He is pleased by chanting the legendary Rudram which occurs in the Krishna Yajur Veda of the Vedas. Rudram is also known as Shatarudriya, Rudraprashna or Rudradhyaya. The Jabala upanishad, from the vedas claim that he who chants the Shatarudriya obtains immortality. The text Shri Rudram is also famous for its mention of its Shaivite Panchakshari Mantra (NAMA SHIVAAYA) which is considered as the holiest of all mantras within the Yajur Veda. The Panchakshari mantra occurs in the middle of Sri Rudram and hence considered the most important within the Shatarudriya. The chanting of Shatarudriyam is considered of utmost benefit which has the capacity to burn sins and confer wealth and prosperity to the chanter.

Nandanar: The ardent Shiva Bhaktha

There was, during the thirteenth century, a group of devout Shaivite saints called the Nayanars. They loved Lord Shiva with all their hearts and were given the title Nayanar because miraculous events occurred in their presence. Sixty three such saints existed. This is the story of the twelfth saint: Nandanar. 

 

Nandanar was born to the lowest caste in the Hindu Caste system. He lost his father at a very early age, and while growing up, heard stories of Lord Shiva and fell deeply in paternal love for the Pitre Deva (Fatherly God). He used to sing his glories daily, compose songs just to please him and hence developed a deep rapport with his loving father, Lord Shiva. It just so happened that Nandanar was from the pariyah caste (untouchable). He was considered so low that it was a sin to even touch him. However, he had the heart of gold and loved god with such deep passion that he would spend hours dreaming about the Lord. 

Nandi: Even today it sits slanted

Nandanar lived as a farmer and worked for a Brahmin landlord. Though the landlord was never abusive, he never treated him with respect. One day he wanted to visit a Shiva temple in Thirupangur. That day, it was crowded with people and he was unable to see past the heads and as he was an untouchable, he was not allowed into the temple. 

He moved to a corner to get a glimpse of the Lord but could not do so as his pet bull Nandi was blocking the view. Then he sang a self composed song to his pet bull Nandi and the stone idol miraculously moved to allow the saintly devotee to see the lord.  

Just so a Shaivite can see

Nandi at Night

 Over joyed by the ability to see his god he went home singing and dancing. Unfortunately he had taken his only day off and his landlord was very angry with him. He promised to work harder. As he was working he remembered that Arudra Darshana was coming up in a few days. Arudra Darshana is celebrated as a very holy day to worship Lord Shiva. As such, he wanted to go to Chidambaram to see and worship him. Unfortunately his landlord refused to give him leave and said that he will fire him if he took off. Nandanar begged and begged, pleaded and implored, fervently, and finally the landlord said, if he could harvest 250 acres (about 230 Football stadiums) of land he would go. With three days till the Arudra Darshana, he knew it was impossible to do so.  

He spent the whole night crying, begging Lord Shiva, realising that it is impossible to go to Chidambaram. The next day, the entire field of 250 acres was harvested and the landlord fell at the Brahmins feet because he had a dream Shiva and his Army of Ganas were harvesting his entire field. The landlord gave him some money and sent him off.

As soon as he reached the temple, as he was an untouchable, the priests kicked him out of the temple and he began crying to lord shiva again. He spent the whole night crying, as the very next day was the holy day. That night, Shiva came in the dreams of these beastly priests and told them that a holy saint is wishing to see him. Despite this the priests still did not let him through. Finally the Diksheethar agreed to let him in, if he walks across fire. Nandanar was overjoyed, he screamed "HARA HARA MAHADEVA!!" and walked through hot coal but felt no pain and ran into the temple hugged the idol, and disappeared, merged into the soul of god. 

Kannapa Nayanar

There was, during the thirteenth century, a group of devout Shaivite saints called the Nayanars. They loved Lord Shiva with all their hearts and were given the title Nayanar because miraculous events occurred in their presence. Sixty three such saints existed. This is the story of the tenth saint: Kannapa Nayanar. 

There was once a hunter who knew nothing- he was both illiterate and uncivilized. It just so happened that one day by chance, when he was hunting in the forest,  he fell upon a small temple dedicated to lord Shiva. The instant he looked at the Lingam (a special stone dedicated to and representing the Lord) he fell insanely in love with it. He would sing, dance, and visit it everyday. 

One day, a thought struck him when he was playing with his Lingam (which he called Lord Shiva): he had never fed his lord. "My dear lord! I forgot all about your hunger! Please forgive me, my lord" he cried, and went searching for some food. Finding a boar, he slaughtered the beast and offered it to his lingam. "Why aren't you eating my lord? Is it because you are thirsty? Yes! That must be it! I will bring you some water my lord!" he exclaimed, and ran down to a nearby stream.Carrying the water in his mouth, the hunter spit it all over the Lingam. "You still havn't eaten my lord! I KNOW!! The food is not cut!! I shall sever it for you!!" He proceeded to defile the sanctity of the small temple with the flesh of the dead pig. The ignorant hunter then placed the dripping carcass all over the Lingam. "My Lord! You are STILL not eating! I know, you must be feeling shy about eating in front of me! I will come back tomorrow and you should have eaten by then!" 

Temple where Kannapa saw the Lingam

In the evening, a priest came and was utterly disgusted by what he saw. "MLECHAS!" He bellowed. "Disgusting barbarians! Animals! Who ruined my Temple?" He screamed out loud. No one answered. The priest proceeded to grumble and clean the entire temple, cursing the perpetrator of such a sacrilege.

The next day, the hunter returned and was over joyed to see that his god had eaten his food. He screamed "HARA HARA MAHADEVA!! (Another name for Shiva)" and danced around the temple. With tears of joy streaming down his face, the hunter killed another boar. Just as he had done the previous day, the hunter cleaned, cut and placed the meat on the idol and spat water onto the lingam. The sanctum sanctorum was left defecated with his spit and pig meat. 

As usual, the priest came to pray to the idol, and was furious, screaming and cursed obscenities before once again cleaning the entire temple as he had done the day before. This happened for 3 days, until finally the livid priest decided to notify the king and his guards. The king, shocked to hear this story, decided to personally accompany his guards and destroy this Asura. They hid behind a tree to wait for this maniac demon who keeps defiling this temple. As predicted, the hunter came and began his ritual of spitting on the tree, pouring boar meat and dancing around the temple. 

 

Kannapa, cutting his Eye

Horrified and devastated, the guards and the king lunged at the hunter but were suddenly stopped by a mysterious hand. Lord Shiva hmself had manifested infront them and refused them to touch the hunter. He then asked them to observe a little spectacle:a small drop of blood started to ooze from the eye socket of the lingam. The hunter started screaming in horror, "MY LORD!! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!? WHY ARE YOU BLEEDING?!? YOUR EYE MUST HURT! HERE, TAKE MINE!" And he swiftly cut his left eye and placed it on the Lingam. Instantly, the eye stopped bleeding.

Amar Chitra Katha: Depiction of Kannapa

   

 He was overjoyed and started singing praise in his lord. But then the second eye socket started bleeding! "HAA! I know what to do now! My Lord has an Eye disease." But the hunter was in a quandary: if he pulled out his remaining eye, how would he be able to see where to place the eye on the idol? So he placed his foot on the idol, marking the eye with his big toe, and slit his last remaining eye. Instantly, Lord Shiva manifested himself in front of the hunter and  carried him to heaven. The king, who witnessed this miraculous event, decided to bestow upon the hunter the honorary title of the Shaivite saints (Nayanar) and called him Kannapa- One who gave his eye. For years, he propogated the story of Kannapa Nayanar and made the temple a holy site.

Ancient Shaivite Inscription of Kannapa

THe 

Salutation to Rudra: Shatarudriyam Krishna Yajur Veda

Namaste astu bhagavan-vishveshvaräya mahädeväya tryambakäya tripuräntakäya trikälägni-käläya kälägnirudräya nélakantaäya mrtyunjayäya sarveshvaräaya sadäashiväya shrémanmahädeväya namaha.


Literal meaning:
Namaste Astu: I bow down to Astu (that which exists from Astika: To be) 


Bhagavan: Supreme overlord of the universe.


Vishveshwaraya: Vishwa (All pervasive) Eshvara (Same as Bhagavan) 


Mahadevaaya: Maha (great) Devaaya (as a comparison all demi-gods)


Tryambakaya: Owner of three eyes


Tripurantakaya: Owner of three worlds (Tri = Three, puram = world/city)


Trikaalagni Kalaya: The controller of 3 time frames (Past, Present & Future)


Kalagnirudraaya: Devourer of time with the heat of time


Neelakantaya: Blue Necked (Neela = Blue; Kanta = Neck)


Mrthyunjaya: Destroyer, Victor or Conqueror (Jaya) of Death (Mrthyu)


Sarveshwaraya: (Sarva = All; Eshvara = Same as Bhagavan) Lord of All


SadaShivaya: All Auspicious


Shree Mahadevaya: Greatest of the Great devas.


Full meaning:


I bow down to the living existing supreme being who is the all pervasive overlord, great god of the demigods, endowed with three eyes, controller of the three worlds, The controller of time and the devourer of time through heat, the blue necked god, who is the destroyer (conqueror) of death, the supreme overlord of all, the all auspicious greatest of the great devas. Parameshwara.