Shivopasana Mantras

शिवोपासनामन्त्र

निधनपतये नमः । निधनपतान्तिकाये नमः । ऊर्ध्वाये नमः । ऊर्ध्वालिड्गाये नमः । हिरण्याये नमः । हिरण्यलिङ्गाये नमः । सुवर्णाये नमः । सुवर्णलिङ्गाये नमः । दिव्याये नमः । दिव्यलिङ्गाये नमः । भवाये नमः । भवलिङ्गाये नमः । शर्वाये नमः । शर्वलिङ्गाये नमः । शिवायेनमः । शिवलिङ्गाये नमः । ज्वलाये नमः । ज्वललिङ्गाये नमः । आत्माये नमः । आत्मलिङ्गाये नमः । परमाये नमः । परमलिङ्गाये नमः । एतत सोमस्य सूर्यस्य सर्वलिङ्गस्थापयति पाणिमन्त्रं पवित्रम् ।।

nidhana-pataye namaH | nidhana-patAntikAye namaH | UrdhvAye namaH | Urdhvali.ngAye namaH | hiraNyAye namaH | hiraNyali.ngAye namaH | suvarNAye namaH | suvarNali.ngAye namaH | divyAye namaH | divyali.ngAye namaH | bhavAye namaH | bhavali.ngAye namaH | Sarvaye namaH | Sarvali.ngAye namaH | SivAye namaH | Sivali.ngAye namaH | jvalAye namaH | jvalali.ngAye namaH | AtmAye namaH | Atmali.ngAye namaH | paramAye namaH | paramali.ngAye namaH | etat somasya sUryasya sarvali.ngasthApayati pANimantraM pavitram ||

Salutations to the Lord, the Dissolver of the Universe. Salutations to Lord, the Ender of the Lord of Dissolution. Salutations to the Highest One. Salutations to the Highest Icon the Lord. Salutations to the Golden One. Salutations to the Golden Icon the Lord. Salutations to the Splendrous One. Salutations to the Splendrous Icon the Lord. Salutations to the Effulgent One. Salutations to the Effulgent Icon of the Lord. Salutations to the Source of All (outflow at creation). Salutations to the Icon of the Lord, the Source of All. Salutations to the Suppressor of All (inflow at dissolution). Salutations to the Icon the Lord, the Suppressor of All. Salutations to the Auspicious One. Salutations to the Auspicious Icon of the Lord. Salutations to Brilliant. Salutations to the Brilliant Icon of the Lord. Salutations to the Soul of All. Salutations the Icon of the Lord, the Soul of All. Salutations to the Supreme One. Salutations the Supreme Icon of the Lord. All is purified upon repetition of these mantras holding in the hand the Linga Icon, which represents Soma and Surya.

~ Mahanarayana Upanishad (XVI.1-2) of the Krsna Yajurveda
(Taittiriya Aranyaka X.16.1-2 of the Krsna Yajurveda)
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The above comes to us from the Taittiriya Aranyaka (X.16.1-2) of the Krsna Yajurveda. Since the tenth chapter of the Taittiriya Aranyaka is called the Mahanarayana Upanishad (or Yajniki Upanishad), it is equally correct to say that these mantras come from the Mahanarayana Upanishad. The above mantras are called the Shivopasana Mantras (mantras for worship of Shiva), and are recited at the end of the chanting of the Sri Rudram hymn. What is most interesting about this above passage is the final mantra in the series. Two important points are made in the final mantra: the image of holding Linga icon in the hand; and that the Linga icon represents Soma (Moon) and Surya (Sun). Holding the small Ishtalinga icon in the palm of the hand is an important part of daily Vira Shaiva puja. Whether the above has any connection to Vira Shaivism is not known. More importantly, what the last mantra shows is that iconic (murti) worship is present in this Upanishad, and the murti is said to be representative. What does it represent? Soma and Surya. In Tantric texts, one finds that Soma stands for Shakti, and Surya stands for Shiva. The Linga icon, therefore, is the Oneness of Shakti and Shiva. This passage from the Mahanarayana Upanishad establishes using Vedic mantras the worship of the Shiva Linga icon, and briefly elaborates its meaning using Vedic imagery.

More to come on Shiva-Shakti and Shiva Linga icon in future posts.

|| ॐ नमः शिवाय ||

© Agnideva, 2007