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News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
Remember These Rules When Offering Water To The Shivling This Sawan
Last Updated: Offering water to the Shivling is highly auspicious. However, do not break these rules, as mentioned in the scriptures. The holy month of Sawan will start on July 11 this year and conclude on August 9. During this month, pouring water on the Shivling is considered highly auspicious. However, not following the rules during Jalabhishek can result in sin. 1/9 Never use a steel or iron vessel to hold the water, as they are considered inauspicious metals. Instead, choose a silver, bronze, or silver vessel. (Image: AI-generated)
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Do not break these rules while offering water to the Shivling during the month of Sawan
The Sacred Month of Sawan and the Significance of Jalabhishek The holy month of Sawan, which is especially dear to Lord Mahadev, will begin this year on 11 July and conclude on 9 August, the day of Raksha Bandhan. Devotees of Lord Shiva eagerly await this auspicious time every year. According to Hindu beliefs, it is customary to perform Jalabhishek (ritual water offering) on the Shivling during this month. Offering water to the Shivling, particularly on Mondays, is believed to bring immense spiritual merit. According to Celebrity Astrologer Parduman Suri, the scriptures also emphasize caution while performing Jalabhishek, something many devotees remain unaware of. Violating the prescribed rules of Jalabhishek can result in sin rather than virtue. As stated in the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva told Sanatkumara that the month of Shravan is especially close to his heart. The Shiv Purana also mentions that offering water on the Shivling destroys sins. It was during Sawan that the legendary Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) occurred, and Lord Shankar consumed the poison (Halahala) to save the universe. To reduce the impact of the poison, the gods and goddesses poured water over Lord Shiva, thus beginning the tradition of Jalabhishek. In the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, Sage Angira states that spending the month of Shravan in self-restraint—controlling the mind and senses and eating only once a day, grants the same merit as bathing in numerous sacred rivers. Important Guidelines to Follow During Jalabhishek To ensure your worship is auspicious and by scriptural rules, keep the following points in mind: Always perform Jalabhishek while sitting or bowing down. Never pour water over the Shivling while standing straight, as this is considered disrespectful. Do not use a conch shell (shankh) to offer water to Lord Shiva. According to mythology, Lord Shiva destroyed the demon Shankhachud, and conch shells were later formed from his bones. Since Shankhachud was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, it is appropriate to use a conch for offering water to Vishnu or Goddess Lakshmi, but not to Lord Shiva. Never offer Tulsi leaves to the Shivling. As per the Shiva Purana, Tulsi's husband, the demon Jalandhar, could not be defeated due to her unshakeable chastity. Lord Vishnu assumed Jalandhar's form to break this chastity, after which Lord Shiva killed him. Tulsi, enraged by this, cursed Lord Shiva and withdrew the spiritual essence from her leaves when offered to him. Offer only unbroken rice grains (akshat) to Lord Shiva. Broken rice is considered incomplete and impure for religious offerings. Bilva (Bel) leaves are highly sacred in Shiva worship. According to the Skanda Purana, the Bel tree is the abode of goddesses such as Girija, Maheshwari, Dakshayani, Parvati, Gauri, and Katyayani. Thus, offering Bel leaves pleases both Lord Shiva and these divine feminine energies. However, torn or damaged leaves should never be offered. Do not offer kumkum (vermilion) to Lord Shiva. Kumkum symbolizes marital bliss, whereas Lord Shiva is a renunciate (Vairagi), and its use is considered inappropriate in his worship. Avoid offering turmeric. Turmeric is associated with feminine beauty and fertility, whereas the Shivling represents masculine energy. Therefore, turmeric is not suitable for Lord Shiva's worship. Refrain from offering red flowers to Lord Shiva. Similarly, flowers like Ketaki and Kevda are also forbidden. White flowers, which symbolize purity and peace, are especially pleasing to Lord Bholenath. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Tight security arrangements in place for Kanwar Yatra
Meerut: Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across the Meerut Range of Uttar Pradesh—including the districts of Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Hapur—for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, to ensure a peaceful and safe pilgrimage during the holy month of Shravan, officials said here on Monday. A total of 119 security barriers will be installed along the 540-kilometre-long Kanwar route in the region. This includes 25 each in Meerut and Bulandshahr, 51 in Baghpat and 18 in Hapur. The route has been divided into 57 zones and 155 sectors for better monitoring and management, they said. To aid 'kanwariyas' (pilgrims), 184 rest points and 838 temporary camps are being set up—464 in Meerut, 176 in Bulandshahr, 90 in Baghpat and 108 in Hapur, they added. Special vigilance will be maintained in 184 mixed-population areas that fall along the pilgrimage route. Given the expected footfall at major temples such as Pura Mahadev (Baghpat), Augharnath temple (Meerut), Brijghat (Hapur), Ambakeshwar Mahadev (Bulandshahr) and Sabli temple (Hapur), dedicated arrangements have been made to manage crowd flow and ensure safety, officials said. Authorities have also planned alternate routes for heavy and light vehicles to regulate traffic during the yatra period. With contingencies in mind, disaster response teams from the SDRF and NDRF, along with local divers, have been kept on alert. Control rooms at the range and district levels have been set up for real-time monitoring using CCTV cameras and drones. Meerut Range DIG Kalanidhi Naithani said that a social media monitoring cell has been activated to track and respond swiftly to any misleading or inflammatory posts. He also directed the deployment of women police personnel for the safety of female pilgrims and instructed the establishment of Lost and Found centres at key locations. The Kanwar Yatra is set to begin on July 11, marking the start of the Shravan month. During the yatra, devotees collect holy water from the Ganga at sites such as Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri and Sultanganj, and offer it at local Shiva temples through the ritual of 'Jalabhishek'—a tradition rooted in Hindu mythology, including references to the 'Samudra Manthan'.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Devotees gather at temples in numbers to witness Debasnan Purnima in state
Ranchi: The Jagannathpur Temple in Dhurwa witnessed a sea of devotees on Wednesday as thousands gathered for the annual Debasnan ritual of Lord Jagannath, held on the auspicious Purnima Tithi of Jyeshtha month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The ceremonial bathing marked the beginning of the Lord's Anasara period, a 15-day phase of seclusion during which it is believed that the deity falls mildly ill from excessive ritualistic bathing. For nearly two hours, devotees performed Jalabhishek of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, using 51 earthen pots each, filled with sacred water blended with curd, milk, ghee, turmeric, rose water, flowers, and ashwagandha. The rituals were followed by Mangal Aarti, recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, and offering of Malpua bhog. Thakur Sudhansu Nath Shahdeo, chief priest of the Jagannathpur temple, said, "The Snan Yatra is not just symbolic, it reflects our devotion. After this ritual, the Lord is believed to catch a fever, and hence we place him in the Garud Kaksh for rest." During the 15-day Anasara, the idols remain out of public view until Netra Daan (renewal of divine sight) on June 26, followed by the grand Rath Yatra on June 27, when the deities will be taken out in a majestic chariot procession. This year's rath (chariot) is being constructed using three kinds of wood: mango, sal, and jamun, with steel reinforcements for added strength. Last year's Rath Yatra generated Rs 1.97 crore, and temple authorities expect higher participation and revenue this time.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kalash Yatra to highlight spirit of Op Sindoor
Varanasi: The colours of Operation Sindoor will be evident during the traditional Kalash Yatra of Nirjala Ekadashi here on Friday. Amidst the waving of national tricolours, water from the Sindh, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers apart from Sangam will be offered to Lord Vishwanath. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Providing details of the events to be organised on this auspicious occasion, representatives of Suprabhatam, Kashi Mokshadayini Seva Samiti and Shiv Barat Samiti said that Nirjala Ekadashi will be celebrated to honour Operation Sindoor and the valour of the armed forces. Water from the Sindhu, Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi rivers has already reached reached Kashi, they added. A total of 1,008 women will fill their urns with the Gangajal and the water received from these four rivers at Dashaswamedh Ghat at 6.30 am. They will then march towards Kashi Vishwanath Dham via Godowlia and Bansphatak to offer Jalabhishek. To add grandeur to the Kalash Yatra, PAC bands, shehnai, Damru groups, a tableau of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati seated on a large Nandi, specially decorated chariots with distinguished saints and music vehicles will also be part of the religious procession. Participants will keep waving the tricolour flag in the procession. They will also offer Sindoor and the Tricolour to the deity, said the representatives, including Umashankar Agarwal, Deepak Bajaj, Manish Tulsiyan, Dilip Singh, Nidhidev Agarwal, and Rajeev Gupta.
