Shiv lingam – an anecdote from Shiv Purana

Shiv lingam – an anecdote from Shiv Purana

Just as on earth there are humans who vie with each other to know who is superior or more powerful Gods too have similar egos! Once Bhagwan Vishnu and Brahma wanted to establish who is more powerful between them. They decided to have this established.

The argument was taking a serious turn when the Lord of Lords Shiv appeared in the form (pillar – स्तंभ) of flame that rose from the earth and its head appeared to disappear into the skies. A voice (Lord Shiv’s)told from within that whoever between them could find out the head of the pillar of flame will rightly be said to be the most powerful.

Lord Brahma took the form of a swan ( हंस) while Lord Vishnu, a pig. But neither of them was able to find its head. This incident established the fact that Lord Shiv’s presence is very powerful and that no one can claim to be peerless before him. Both Vishnu and Brahma accepted this and humbly bowed their heads in reverence to Lord Shiv (Lingodbhava). (Drawn from Shiv Purana-शिवपुराण)

Banalinga - Self Manifested Symbol Of Lord Shiva

Banalinga can be described as the smooth and round shaped pebbles that usually found in River Narmada, which symbolizes Lord Shiva. It is also referred as Narmada Shiva Linga. In Hindu culture, Banalinga acts as the most scared and auspicious symbol of Lord Shiva when worshiped on regular basis fulfil desires of its devotees. It has been believed that worshiping just a single Banalinga is very much equivalent to worshiping crore of various other lingas.

Banalinga is considered as a form of Lord Shiva that has been self-manifested, due to this reason it is considered as holiest and anionic symbol of Lord Shiva. The shape of Banalinga is normally of swan’s egg or jambu fruit and has been found in various colors such as honey color  blue, white and emerald-hued. Banalingas in the shape of hen egg or lotus seed are considered as the best quality of this symbol. Any individual can worship this symbol to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. It can also be kept at the place of worship without any normal or regular rituals of the invocation for divine presence as Banalinga already carries the divine energy of Lord Shiva in it. 

Origin & Importance Of Bana Linga

Bana Linga is a unique form of Shivling. The Shivling is different from others due to the striations on it by a natural process. The Bana Linga is naturally appeared symbol. The striations differ in sizes that range from a size of a needle to the size of a hand. It has believed that the Bana Linga was formed when the Lord Shiva ruined the place of the demons, which was referred as Tripuri. During that period some of the stones fall from the place, Tripuri in the Narmada River and got transformed into Bana Linga.

The name of the Linga came from one of the Demon Banasura, who was a dedicated devotee of Lord Shiva. It has been believed that the Banasura was performing austerities to get blessing or to please the Lord Shiva at the back of River Narmada and during that period collected all the Lingas that fall, due to this reason in the Linga was getting referred as Bana Linga since that time. There are many numbers of believers and stories behind the origin of Bana Linga.

Bana Linga is very much similar to the shape of teat of cow or an egg, which comes in various shades such as honey, blue, black beetle, green and dark red. In some rare cases it can also be found in the shape of lotus, conch, banner, mace etc. It can be worship at home itself that helps in getting happiness, prosperity as well as desire fulfillment.