Ram Dayal Rakesh

Mithila is a mystical and mythological land. It has been a legendary and sacred pilgrimage place, renowned in the field of philosophy. Yajnavalkya, the great sage, Maitrei and Gargi, famous women philosophers, were born in Mithila.
Shaivism and Vaishnaism are two prominent religions of this mysterious land. Though Lord Buddha the Light of Asis was born in Lumbini, but Buddhism is not prevalent in Mithila. It is a matter of wonder and moreover a subject of research.
Shaivism is the oldest religious cult prevalent in Mithila and it has a deep impact on the life and culture of the people of this land. Consequently, there is a Shiva temple in each and every village of Mithila. It is believed that if Lord Shiva is invoked sincerely, he is pleased immediately and fulfills the desires and ambitions of his devotees in no time. So Shaivisn is very popular and still predominantly prevalent in Mithila.
Our country Nepal is known as a holy land of Lord Shiva because of the world famous temple of Lord Pashupati from the Vedic period. This truth has also been proved that Shiva is a Vedic God. He is also believed to be a God of creation, sustenance, decadence and destruction. It is believed that there is a strong philosophical background of Shaivism in Mithila from time immemorial. Thus Shaivim has a distinct and deep influence on the daily life of the Hindu community in Mithila.
The people of Mithila worship Lord Shiva Maheshwar (the great Lord of all gods) on the auspicious occasion of Shivaratri that is thirteenth day of dark, fortnight of phalguna (mid February-March), Kalhan in his Rajatarangani states that on this auspicious occasion, the king had also observed it with great respect and reverence. The court artists performed several programmes of dancing and singing. Poetic gatherings were also organised. The poets were praised and rewarded for their works. Feasts were served to the invited guests on this holy occasion.
Alberuni has stated that "on the following nights…. they worship Mahadev during the whole night remaining awake, and they do not lie down to sleep and offer to him perfumes and flowers.

On Shivaratri, people of all classes go to nearby temples to worship the 'lingam' an iconic representation of Shiva. Lingam is believed to have five faces. Four faces are carved on four directions and the fifth face faces upward. There are eight forms of Lord Shiva: the eight forms constitute the five gross material elements the sharra, the sun and the moon. Their descriptions are as follows:-
Sharra :- This form of Lord shiva consist of the earth holds the mobile and immobile beings.
Bhara:- This form of the supreme soul consists of water that encircles the entire world.
Ugra:- This form of the Lord Shiva is the wind that holds the outer and inner universe and throbs by itself.
Bheema:- This form consists of the firmament (Ether) that pervades everything and affords space to all.
Pashupati:- This form of lord shiva is the support of individual soul which delivers them from bondage.
Ishana:- This form of Lord Shiva is the sun that moves about in the heaven brightening the entire universe according to the Rupamandana, should have the colour as pure as that of the crystal, his head should be adorned with a Jatamukuta ornamented with the crescent moon and his hands should have the Akshamala, Trishula, Kapola and Aabhaya.
The Lord of the north-east region of the universe is called Ishana. The deity Ishana representing the Karmasada has a perfectly white body representing the flower of the Kunda (a kind of jasmine) or the full moon, having five heads adorned with Jatamukutas; bearing on each face three eyes, ten arms and two legs. He is standing on a Padmasana and keeps in his right hands the Sula, Parsu, Khadga, Vajra and Abhaya and in the left ones the Nagapasa,ankusa ghanta, and agni.He is beautiful adorned with all ornaments, draped in fine clothes and is with a smiling countenance full of peacefulness.
Mahadeva:- This form of Lord Shiva is the moon of nectarine rays that strengthens and flattens the universe.
Rudra: This form of Lord Shiva dwells in every creature as his soul. The whole universe is pervaded by this form of Rudra.

The twelve Jyotirlingas as follows:
Although the entire universe is in the form of phallus (Jyotirlinga) of Lord Shiva, the Shiva Purana attaches special importance to twelve Jyotirlingas stationed on the earth. The food offerings (prasadam) of these jyotirlingas shall be taken and other shall be fed with the same. By doing so sins are reduced to ashes instantaneously. They are:
Somanatha Jyotirling: Place of Apppearance Veraval, located 54 kms far from junagarh, state of Gujarat, nearest airport Rajkot.
Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga Place of Appearance, Avantika (Ujjain), location Ujjain state of M.P. nearest airport indore.
Kedarnatha Jyotirling Place of Appearance: Rudra Prayag Location Rudra Prayag, State of Uttaranchal, nearest airport – Delhi
Bhim Shankara jyotirlinga; Place of Appearance: Dakini Located 160 kms. far from Pune State of Maharastra, nearest airport Pune,
Vishweshwora jyotirlinga; Place of Appearance Kashi (Banaras) Located Varanasi State of UP Nearest Airport Varanasi
Rameshwaram Jyotirling; Place of Appearance Setubandha (Ramnatham) Location: Rameshwaram. State: Tamilnadu
Girishneshwara yotirling Place of Appearance Berul (Shivalaya)Located 27 kms. from Aurangabad Sate: Maharastra, Nearest Airport, Aurangabad.
Nageshwara Jyotirling Place: Darukarana Located 210 kms from Aurangabad State: Maharastra, Nearest Airport, Aurangabad.
Triyambakeshwara Jyotirling Place: Brahmagiri Located 39 kms from Nasik State: Maharastra Nearest Airport, Mumbai
Vaidyanatha Jyotirling Place: Parli Located 230 kms from Aurangabad State: Maharastra, Nearest Airport Aurangabad
Omkareshwara Jyotirling Place: Bank of the Narmada Located 80 kms from indore State M.P. Nearest Airport Indore,
Mallikarjuna Jyotirling Place Srishaila Located 250 kms from Hyderabad State: Andhrapradesh, Nearest Airport Hyderabad.
Maurisheshwar Jyotirling: The people of Mauritius regard it as thirteenth Shivalinga.
It has been stated before that Shiva is very complex and complicated God. I would like to quote here:
"Shiva is probably the most complicated of Hindu deities indeed even Hindus themselves recognize this by putting this shrine in th temple separate from those of other deities."
Jeaneane Fowler: Hinduism P.33.
According to the ancient scripture, Shiva manifests himself in the form of a huge flaming linga (Jyotirlinga) on the auspicious occasion of Shivaratri to bestow his gracious mercy on His devotees. They worship Him and keep vigil whole night at least with one leaf of the Bilwa tree. They also fast on the auspicious occasion of Shivaratri.
According to the Isana Samhita, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a huge Jyotirlinga, to determine who is the greatest divinity among trinity (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma). To decide the quarrel and determine the divinity the three gods agreed that he should be considered the greatest, who should first find out the end of the blazing clum of fire, which was burning before them. According to this agreement, Vishnu undertook to reach the base and Brahma the top, but they never succeeded in this search in thousand years of time. They returned being disappointed and desperate. They confessed the superior supernatural power of Lord Shiva. This proves supremacy of Shiva over Vishnu and Brahma.
All people irrespective of caste and creed are permitted to worship Shiva on this holy occasion. The poor people are satisfied by pouring pure water with Bilwa trees' leaves and fresh flowers. Rich people offer sweets and several kinds of gifts to Lord Shiva on this auspicious occasion. Lord Shiva especially prefers the offering of Bilwa leaves, (Bel or Bengal quince (Shriphal) meaning the fruit of plenty) Dhatura (thorn apple), Akchhat (rice, and sandal paste.)
Devotees of Shiva throng to the Shiva temples to offer prayers on this pious occasion. They sing devotional songs which are called Nachari. They sing and dance on this delightful day because Lord Shiva also dances heavenly dance of Creation, Preservation and Destruction. Music itself has been originated from the damaru (a musical instrument) of Lord Shiva. So the devotees of Lord Shiva spend the whole night reading the Shiva Purana and chanting Shiva bhajans.
The Mahashivaratri festival is related to this folk story too. A hunter whose name was Suswar was compelled to spend the night on the branches of Bilwa tree on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri without food. So he wept bitterly on that night. His tears rolled down on the image of Lord Shiva with withered leaves of the Bilwa tree.
In the Hindu mythology Shiva is described an intimately associated with this tree. The devotees of Shiva tie to their pig- tails (Shikha) the bel leaves because they are considered sacred and pious and pleasing to their favourite Lord). If he is invoked with these offerings, he is supposed to be pleased soon. He assumed that this true devotee was worshipping him sincerely.
Consequently He blessed the hungry hunter. It is believed that he was born in a royal family in the pre-birth. So Mahashivaratri is considered the festival of rags to riches in true sense of the term because Lord Shiva is the all seeing guardian- deity of Hindus. He does not distinguish between pauper and prince devotees. He is a truelly liberal, generous and democratic God of this universe. So he is very popular in this atomic age too. He is also easily pleased and satisfied immediately. So his devotees worship him whole heartedly on this auspicious occasion.
The world famous temple of Pashupatinath (Lord of animal) is situated on the bank of Bagmati river Kathmandu.
He has five faces representing five elements such as earth, water, fire, air and ether. Each face has three eyes which also represent birth, life and death. So he is called Panchen. He is also called Ardha -narishwor (half male and half female) human form.
The river Ganga is supposed to be originated from his matted hair. He has crescent moon on his head. He has a garland of serpents around his neck. He wears a tigerskin (Bagh chhala) around his waist. He rubs ashes on his body. He has trident in his hand. He conveys the message of satyam (truth )Shivam (good), and Sundaram (beauty) to the Hindu world. So he is worshipped in the whole Hindu world with reverence and respect.
Lord Shiva is the perennial source of energy and creativity for all living and non living beings. The famous temple of Shiva is located at jaleshwar which is called Jaleshwarnath temple where most of the Maithil people go to worship him on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri. Many people go to pour water bringing far from the river Gnga in earthen pot on this occasion to Vaidyanath Dham in Bihar which is also called Babadham. They pay homage to Vaidyanath who is also Shiva. Vidyapati a great poet of Mithila was true devotee of Lord Shiva. He wrote many devotional songs dedicated to him which are called Nachari and Maheshbanis. They are sung on the auspicious occasion of Shivaratri festival by his devotees.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra of Lord Shiva has immense supernatural power which can provide salvation. Once sage Dadhichi, the excellent devotee of Lord Shiva had some differences with king kshura who in a fit of fury, severed his limbs with his thunder bolt.
There upon sage Dadhichi remembered Shankacharya who rejoined his severed limbs and rendered him hale and hearty once again. He also gave him the excellent Mahamr ityunjaya Mantra. Sage Dadhichi by chanting constantly of this Mantra propitiated Lord Shiva who blessed him with such a strong and sturdy body as the thunderbolt itself. The sacred Mantra runs as follows:
"Om Tryambakam Yayamahe,
Sugandhim Pustivardhakam
Urvarukamia Bandhanam rity or mukshiya Mamritat.”
It means: I bow down to that three eyed Lord Shiva who is full of sweet fragrance and who nourishes human beings. May he provide me sweet fragrance and which nourishes human beings. May he free me from the bondage of this mundane existence and death just as a ripe Kakri (cucumber) is separated from the creeper. May he fix in immortality. This mantra of great efficacy guards and protects a person from premature and untimely death accidents, poisons, incurable diseases and bestows immortality by his blessings." I quote.
"The very word 'Shiva' literally means auspicious or beneficial or conducive to happiness' the various forms of Lord Shiva as the bestower of Eternal bliss, knowledge and immortality have been described scriptures. or asuspicious one. His name shiva means Bright one, Happy one.
Shiva the auspicious, is known by many names (Mahadeva, Bhava, Nataraja, Mahayogi, Bhairava, Pashupati, Vishwanath, to name only a few." (Elements of Hindu Iconography: P. 377.)

(The author writes regularly about culture and religion)