Narmadeshwar Shivling
Every question on the site tagged Narmadeshwar Shivling, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
Notes from our sources
Which shivlings and murtis at home need praan pratishtha
A Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingam shivling is never given pratishtha, the speaker says. A Shivling of sphatik or munga (mani-manikya), or a vigraha of Sadashiv alone or of the Shiv parivar, can be — the pratishtha vidhi stays the same, with Mahadev-related vidhan. The home vidhi on the channel is a bhaav-based, ordinary pratishtha in Hindi, not the temple's achal pratishtha; those who complain it is long may do a short one and skip it. One caution for any three-eyed deity: in the netra-unmilan, do not open the third eye — that is over-smartness.
How many Shivalingas can be kept at home, and is a Narmadeshwar Lingam auspicious for anyone?
Traditional rules prohibit keeping exactly three Shivalingas at home — keep fewer than three, or four or more, with advanced practitioners keeping 12 corresponding to the Jyotirlingas; worship of the Narmadeshwar Shivalinga is auspicious for all and requires no complex extraction or prohibition.
A Narmadeshwar with a separate arghi, bathed daily and never left bare on top
A Narmadeshwar Shivling with a separate base is preferred, it needs daily water Abhisheka and must never sit empty on top, and it should be accompanied by a Nandi facing it, a wrapped serpent, and a small Trishul.
Any rudraksha may be placed near a Narmadeshwar shivling, and daily chanting differs from formal purashcharana in its rules of sankalpa, duration and conduct.
Any Rudraksha can be placed near a Narmadeshwar Shivling; daily chanting differs from formal Purashcharana in its rules around Sankalpa, duration, and conduct; and a Dev Deeksha for Shiva is arranged at Kashi's Dutt Paduka Temple on Vaishakha Purnima, followed by a Vindhyachal Trikona pilgrimage the next day.
What are the rules for Shivling consecration, multiple Shivlings, and a broken Shivling?
A Narmadeshwar Shivling needs no Prana Pratishtha or Avahana/Visarjana and can be installed directly, but only one Shivling should be kept in a household shrine — a new acquisition means donating or immersing the old one, and a significantly broken Shivling should be replaced and immersed in a sacred river.
Belpatra from a Narmadeshwar Shivling may be consumed for healing, Omkara is reserved for the Yajnopavita-initiated, and Kalsarpa Dosha is eased by worshipping Sadashiva with Vasuki
Belpatra offered on a Narmadeshwar Shivling may be consumed for healing; chanting Omkara is traditionally reserved for those initiated with the Yajnopavita, others chanting without the Pranava prefix; and Kalsarpa/Naga Dosha is best mitigated by worshipping Sadashiva with Vasuki Naga, Narayana with Shesha Naga, or reciting Manasa Devi Sahasranama.
What are the rules for keeping a Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingam in the Bhairava aspect?
It may be kept without a base (Argha) in the Bhairava aspect if that is the devotee's sentiment, since Bhairava is an aspect of Shiva; a Shiva Lingam must still receive daily water Abhishek, sacred marks (Tripundra/Tilak), and a crown or Bilva/flower offering on top.
Can the Abhisheka water (Jalachamana) from a Shivlinga be consumed?
The Abhisheka water from all Shivlingas is not consumed directly, but water from a Narmadeshwar or gem-crafted (Ratna) Shivlinga may be taken for Achamana, only after first being offered to Lord Shiva's attendants (Ganas).
How should a Narmadeshwar be served at home?
Narmadeshwar ji, he tells the questioner who wishes to bring one: absolutely bring it and do the seva. Their daily snan and shringar should take place, and a mukut should certainly be on the head, on the crown.
What may be applied on a parad or Narmadeshwar shivling?
Red sindoor is certainly sindoor. On the "kumkum chandan lepita lingam" that is written, he says he has told this before at the time of Shivratri: if there is a shivling of mercury, a parad shivling, then in that you will not do the lepan of sindoor and the like. If it is Narmadeshwar, then in that you can do bhasma, ashtagandha and above it the lepan of kumkum. The lepan of sindoor is not to be done — the orange sindoor is not to be applied. Sindoor is applied on the arghi, which is held to be the svaroop of Parvati ji; it is not applied on the shivling.
Is it right to recite the Siddh Kunjika Stotra daily before leaving home?
A listener says she does not leave the house every day without doing the Ma Siddh Kunjika Stotra. Do it, he says. Asked whether the arghi of a Narmadeshwar shivling can be given abhishek in the form of Ma, he says absolutely, it can be done.
What of a self-manifested shivling whose shape is not like a shivling?
A questioner asks about a shivling that manifested by itself whose shape is not like a shivling — what in Odisha they call a patal-phoota shivling. Asked from where it manifested, the speaker says this matter applies only to Narmadeshwar ji: the original shivlings are not of much shape. They are given a shape by rubbing and grinding, and there is no special dosha in that either; but if you wish to keep it in an entirely exact natural form, then it will never be found exactly in shape and size.
He declines to speak on the Odisha patal-phoota shivling, having no knowledge of its pauranic mahatmya
As for the patal-phoota shivling of Odisha that the questioner speaks of, the speaker says he cannot say whether some pauranic mahatmya of theirs or a reference to them exists, because he has no knowledge of it. He knows only about Narmadeshwar ji.
Is a shivling shaped from a Narmada stone acceptable?
Asked whether it is right that stones are given a shape and made to look like a shivling, from the stones of Narmada ji, the speaker answers: absolutely, you can accept it. Every pebble has been held to be Shankar, so absolutely you can accept it.
What is the household abhishek setup he suggests?
Whatever Shivling is in the house — be it a Narmadeshwar ji, be it of sphatik, whichever Shivling you do pujan upon — seat Shiv ji in one large thali, with the stand, or without the stand if you do not wish to keep it.
Why must a household's shri vigraha never cross the threshold?
We cannot make them transgress the kshetra, the speaker says; we cannot make them transgress the chaukhat, the dehri of our house. If the shila of Jagdamba or the Narmadeshwar were to cross the threshold, then all the shubhra shaktis gathered there, all the energy of our japa and tapa that is gathered, is destroyed.
Should a Narmadeshwar Shivling be taken to a temple?
He tells Surya ji to keep Narmadeshwar ji at home itself; there is no need to take it to a temple.
Is there a dosha in keeping a Narmadeshwar shivling in the bedroom?
Asked about a Narmadeshwar shivling kept inside the house in the sleeping room, which is used only for food and sleep, and whether there is any dosha in that room: if it is in the sleeping room, then even so, if there is a small temple, put a curtain and the like so that it stays covered — that is, make the effort, if it can be done, so that contact with you does not happen. He also says the mandal of Bhagavan Dattatreya will be made later.
Can a negative power take the puja offered on a Shivling?
The speaker says the puja done upon a Shivling can never be taken by any negative power — but only a Narmadeshwar Shivling or a pran-pratishthit Shivling in a temple. If you pick up a stone yourself and set it down and worship it, nothing can be said there; anything at all may then happen.
Can other deities be worshipped upon a Narmadeshwar Shivling at home?
Asked whether, if a Narmadeshwar Shivling is worshipped at home, the puja of Maa Kali along with Bhairav ji and Datt Maharaj may also be done on the ling murti, the speaker says that although all the devi-devatas are established in a Shivling, you may do it for anyone at all; there is no difficulty of that kind.
Should a Narmadeshwar Shivling be brought if a sphatik Shivling is already there?
Absolutely not, the speaker says: if a sphatik Shivling is already there, then do the pujan of that one alone. Why bring a Narmadeshwar? So long as Bhagavan is seated in that form, so long as their grace is there, let their seva-puja alone take place. Only if — god forbid — they should ever be broken, or take upon themselves the effect of some particular graha or nakshatra, should you then bring some other Shivling.
Is it a dosha not to do daily jalabhishek of a parad shivling at home?
Absolutely it is a dosha, he answers. He says it again and again: if you are to keep any form of Shiva at home, and especially if you keep a shivling, then the abhishek of the shivling is the most necessary thing of all. The abhishek of a shivling and of a shaligram shila must both take place daily. It is not even five minutes' work — take one lota of water, bathe them while doing simple naam jap, apply tilak, place unbroken rice above, put on the crown, and it is done.
Should one go to a Shiva temple for deepdaan if there is a Narmadeshwar at home?
The question put to him is whether, having Narmadeshwar ji at home, one should go to a Shiva temple to perform deepdaan, and whether the same fruit obtained from the temple shivling is obtained from the shivling at home. He notes first that having a Narmadeshwar shivling and a shaligram shila at home is a good thing, and that everyone should have them at home.
Which materials are proper for a shivling established at home?
A sphatik shivling may be established, he says. A glass one should hardly be established — do not establish one of glass. You may do sphatik; you may do Narmadeshwar ji.
What should be done with a home shivling when travelling for months?
Asked what to do about the nitya seva if one must be away from home for seven months and there is a Narmadeshwar shivling at home, he says: if there is Narmadeshwar ji, Shaligram ji, a Devi shila, a Sonbhadra shila, a sphatik shila and so on for chakrarchan, then before going, whatever lamp is running should be completed. Many people light an akhand jyot so that it goes on burning until they return — do not make this mistake.
Can an old brass shivling be replaced with a Narmadeshwar?
King Phoenix ji writes that for eight years he has been worshipping a brass shivling joined to an arghi. If you wish to do their visarjan and bring Narmadeshwar ji, then by all means bring them, the speaker answers. Do a special pujan of Narmadeshwar ji. If their visarjan is to be done, then do their seva-puja, and then do the visarjan with mewa and mishtan, at a good place.
What abhishek is prescribed for one who feels prayashchitta for past harm?
If you have knowingly done harm to someone in your life, if someone's life has been ruined on account of you, and you are afflicted by such a dosha — whether you remember your paap or not — but a feeling of Prayashchitta is arising in your mind, then perform the abhishek of Bhagavan Shiva with gur and dahi, daily. You will obtain forgiveness very quickly, he says. Set the dahi at home from cow's milk and do not use packet dahi.
Does the shivling dosha apply to a rudraksha shivling?
To one who wishes to have the daily Shravan anushthan published on the channel performed, and who has a Narmadeshwar: from a Rudraksha shivling no shivling dosha is going to attach, he says. The shivling that will go is the rudraksha one, precisely because someone may already have a shivling in the house. He says he will try to make a separate video on what pujan can be done upon these.
Can a Shivalaya be built on the second floor of a house?
If you are speaking of a special, complete Shivalaya of a temple, then it cannot be built, the speaker says — have a Shiv mandir built only according to the full vidhi niyam of a Shiv mandir. Generally, if you keep a sphatik Shivling and the like at home and do pujan, you will get the complete fruit; if you do the pujan of Narmadeshwar ji, you will get it too. But wanting to make a Shivalaya on the dev floor of the house, as much of this is happening nowadays — making a mandir at home — is not proper, because a mandir has its own vastu shastra. When a Shiv mandir is installed, the ground below it becomes the condition of patal; your entire ground below becomes the place of those ganas who dwell in it, and that will be a difficulty.
In which direction should one face while offering water to Narmadeshwar?
Offer it from any direction, brother, they are all excellent, the speaker says. If you go into the niyam, then one should not offer water or do puja from the north side, the side toward which the arghya runs. The southern direction is the most excellent of all — that is, in the direction exactly opposite to the arghya. But at home this is not possible for everyone, at least because offering the arghya to the north means the whole arrangement of keeping Narmadeshwar ji will be toward the north, and then your house walls are on the south side, so how will you do their abhishek from there. In a temple, however, since it stays open on all four sides, if you do the abhishek there facing the southern direction, from the southern direction, then it is the most excellent of all.
Who has the right over something offered on a Shivling?
Once something has been offered upon a Shivling, no human being has any right over it — only Chanda, one gan of Bhagavan Shiva, has the right over it. So when you offer a fruit, Chanda's right is established over it; but when you offer milk you go and give it to anyone at all to drink. Why so? This is a matter of dosha attaching, he says, so it should not be given. In the Banalinga, that is the Narmadeshwar, it is held that what is offered upon it may be given to someone — though there are differences even in this, and in his view it should not be given.
Where to do the Dattatreya 108-name tarpan
The speaker says the Tarpana with the 108 names of Bhagavan Dattatreya should not be done on a Narmadeshwar Shivling. As he has explained before, it is best done on a Peepal tree; if it has to be done at home, do it in a vessel, because doing it on a shivling would not be proper.
Which shivling should a householder keep?
According to him — or rather, he corrects, according to the learned — a householder who holds the desire for dhan, dhanya and sukh should keep either Narmadeshwar ji or a shivling made of ratnas, whether of sphatik, of panna, or whatever is within your capacity. Sphatik shivlings anyone can keep comfortably; Narmadeshwar ji anyone can keep comfortably, and they should keep them.
Which images cannot be treated in that abbreviated way?
After that, he says, do their shringar and then sit for pujan. But even in that, for Shiva ji this will not do. For Shiva ji, or any stone shila you have kept — Shaligram ji, Shiva ji, Narmadeshwar or any other shivling, and besides these a Sonbhadra shila, a Swarnamukhi shila, whatever you keep — for all of them you should then have snan and shringar performed in sequence.
What is the alternative if there is no shivling?
Asked whether there is any alternative if there is no shivling, he says: absolutely there is an alternative — go to the market and bring one bought. For two or three hundred a fine Narmadeshwar ji shivling will be found; even a small one, it will be found.
What does he say about a Narmadeshwar that grows at home?
A listener writes of a Narmadeshwar at home that is growing. He tells Shashikant that this is an out-of-syllabus question, brother — we are not so knowledgeable. He asks to be shown such a divine shivling too: if these are growing, that is, if they are living Narmadeshwar ji, then this is a wonderful subject.
Is a video possible on the pran pratishtha of a shivling?
The pran pratishtha of a shivling is not so easy, he answers Meher ji, and it is not done in that way. You should have the whole vidhi-vidhan performed if a pran pratishtha is to be done in a temple; and a video would only be possible if a pran pratishtha were happening somewhere and were shot and put up. If you are asking for the home, the matter is different — at home there is no need at all for a pran pratishtha.
What is the rule for a shivling at home during sutak?
To Bhajan ji he says: whether it is a Narmadeshwar or any shivling at home, it is not to be touched, but a lota of water is to be kept daily in such a vessel that they can be bathed daily. Only the bath is to be given; there is no need to touch the shivling. The shivling will remain at home even in the sutak period, and the rule of sutak applies to it: no shringar is to be done, no flowers or anything to be offered, but a silver bilva leaf and so on should be kept upon the shivling, and at the least Gangajal should be poured on them daily — even if you pour only five drops. Their daily bath should certainly be given.
Which shivling should a householder keep, and does moving it incur a dosha?
If a shivling in the house is right for a householder, the speaker says, then keep a shivling made of ratnas, or keep a Narmadeshwar shivling. Even if you keep one made of ratna, the arghi should be separate and the form of Shiv ji, the form of the shivling, should be separate. Secondly, no dosha attaches from the shivling being moved or shifted.
Should praan pratishtha be done for a shivling kept at home?
Praan pratishtha of a shivling should not be done in the house, nor does it happen, the speaker says: the form of the shivling of any kind, achal or otherwise, itself holds divine shaktis within it. An ordinary pratishtha you may have done, but in his reckoning a very elaborate vidhi of it should absolutely not be done. Narmadeshwar is the best, and needs no praan pratishtha at all.
Can a parad shivling be installed by a householder?
If a householder installs anything relating to parad, the speaker says, following the niti and niyam becomes necessary. According to his own view, if you do not do tantrokta sadhanas and are an ordinary householder, then more excellent than installing a parad shivling is the Narmadeshwar shivling; that is what should be installed.
In which metal vessel is it best to keep a shivling?
Asked in which metal vessel it is best to keep a Shivling, the speaker says that if it is to be spoken of that way, a vessel of silver is the most excellent. You may keep it in brass as well — keep it in brass.
Does a Narmadeshwar Shivling need Pran Pratishtha?
No. Pratishtha in the ordinary sense — we installed him in our home and gave him a place, and now he is the master of the house — should certainly be done. But there is no need to perform the Pran Pratishtha of Narmadeshwar ji.
What must be kept with a Narmadeshwar at home?
If you keep Narmadeshwar ji at home, Nandi ji has to be kept with him, and his Trishul. If the full Shiva-parivar Vigraha comes — with Ganpati ji, Kartikeya ji and Bhagavati — that is better still. And Nandi should be such that his sight reaches the Shivling: Shiva ji should be visible to him.
What should be done about two small shivlings when a Narmadeshwar is being brought?
Three shivlings should not be kept, the speaker says. Look at what the two small shivlings are, who they are and what the matter is; then bring the new one and only after that perform the visarjan of those two.
Can a marble shivling be given visarjan after bringing a Narmadeshwar?
Yes — after bringing the Narmadeshwar, the visarjan of the marble shivling may be performed; there is no difficulty, the speaker says.
How should Shaligram ji be kept and served?
The speaker says there is no separate video for Shaligram ji, but that just as Narmadeshwar ji receives abhishek and shringar by daily rule, so Shaligram ji will also receive daily shringar and pujan and abhishek — and he is never to be separated from the Tulsi leaf. Tulsi leaves will always, daily, remain upon him.
Do pret and pishach lose their hold where a shivling or rudraksha is?
Yes, absolutely, he says. Where there is a Narmadeshwar shivling, whatever is connected with Bhagwan Shiva, where there is a rudraksha and one who wears rudraksha — because as many bhoot, pret and pishach as there are, they are the ganas of Shiva ji; they are the ganas of all the deities, in fact — so they will not be able to take the puja there. They will get peace there; they will be pacified. They will neither be able to take it nor be able to do anything. But the attempt will run in different ways: if they cannot take it, there are other things too, and the tantriks will use those. There are a great many things.
On what may an astra-mantra abhishek be performed at home?
If you are doing the abhishek vidhi at home, either use the tantrokta rudraksha you have — of Harihar, or of Bhairav-Bhairavi, whichever you did it upon earlier. If it is to be done on a shivling, it may be a Narmadeshwar ji, and you may do it on that. But do not do it on a sphatik shivling — do not do an abhishek with any astra mantra on a sphatik shivling. His experience has been that ruin begins to set in. So do not do it at home on a sphatik shivling if you are in grihasthi.
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