SIVA POOJA

SIVA POOJA AND MEDITATION

TRY IT ON YOUR OWN

Kalanginathar is one of the 18 sidhars (enlightened souls of sidha practices of yoga). He is said to be the Guru of Bogar, a saint who made the idol of Palani Murugan purely out of the herbs. During one of his meditations, Swami Sivanandha (founder of Lakshimi Pooja Dyana Mandram) had a vision of Kalanginathar. It was Kalanginathar who presented this method of Siva pooja. Our body is a temple and God is with us in the form of life. All our past karmas manifest as diseases in this birth. In order to remove past karmas, we have to practice tapas. This Siva pooja removes past karmas, illnesses, and negative forces. It also liberalizes the soul and gives clarity of mind.

Material Required:

Banana LeafRice ( small quantity )

2 coconuts

Brass pot

Turmeric or Sandalwood powder

Beetle leaves and nuts

Fruits

A cup of milk

A few coins

kum kum

Small copper piece with the word "Reeng" written on it

A brass lamp

Photo of Lord Siva or statue

Arrangement for Pooja Material :

Place a statue or photograph of Lord Siva on the altar. Place a banana leave on the floor and add a cup of rice in the center of it. Place the brass pot on the center of the rice. Fill the brass pot with water and add a little bit of turmeric powder,rosewater and flowers. Add in a few pieces of cut lime inside the pot.Place the copper piece with "Reeng" written on it inside the pot. Make a ball of the turmeric powder and place kum kum on it. Place some leaves of grass ( Arugumpull ) on the turmeric ball. This turmeric ball represents Lord Ganesha. Place a few coins in front of Ganesha. On the top of the brass pot place a few mango leaves and put a coconut on it. The other coconut to be broken on and one half of it. Place beetle leaves and nuts with fruits. Place a cup of milk on the leave. Light the brass lamp and start the pooja.

Method :

Salutation to your mother, father, guru, family devatha and Satguru Kalanginathar.Imagine rays of light from the universe entering your body and filling every cell in your body with divine light. Now say repeatedly "I am not this body but I am the divine soul". Chant this mantra, "Om Gam Ganapathaye Namaha" and offer some saffron rice to Lord Ganesha. Chant "Om Siva Om Siva Om Siva" 3 times and offer some flowers to the kumbam. Take deep and slow breath a few times and keep observing the breath.

Japa:

Focus your attention on the Moolathara ( this is a point at the lower most part of the Spine) and chant "Om Aiyum Kleeyum Sauvum Sivaya Nama" 108 times.

Next focus your attention at the center of your chest and chant the same mantra 108 times.

Further, place your attention at the third eye between the eye brows and continue to chant the same mantra 108 times.

Refocus your attention on the Moolethara and chant the mantra "Om Om Sivaya Nama" 108 times.

Move to the chest and center of forehead accordingly and chant the same mantra 108 times.

After Japa, spread the divine light all over your body and into each cell. As you become filled with divine light imagine you are Lord Siva yourself and remain in this state ( Mahayoga) for 20 minutes. In this state the state "I" chops and you are merged with the divine force. End the pooja with aarathi. The water from the brass pot to be sprinkled on yourself, drink some of the water and the remaining to pour over your head at the end of normal bath.

OM SIVAYANAMA