Upalingas and the procedure of Shiva linga worship

The total number of Jyotirlingas is estimated to be 64. Of these 12 are prominent which we have described earlier in article Story of Jyotirlinga. The details of other lingas are not known. Besides these, there are some more Lingas known as Upalingas. Some of them, listed below, are mentioned in our Puranas.

1. Atrishwar Linga – worshiped by Sage Atri in the Chitrakoot mountain forest. According to the Puranas, Devi Ganga appeared there and offered water from the spring to the Muni. It was from that spring, the river Mandakini emerged. 
2. Mahabaleshwar Linga – This emerged mainly at Gokarna at Karnataka and parts of it at Murudeshwar, Dhareshwar & Gunavante in Karnataka. The incident behind appearance of this Linga is mentioned in Ramayana.
3. Batuknath Linga – appeared due to the intense tapasya of Sudarshan – son of Dadhichi muni.
4. Lord Shiva manifested as Hatakeshwar Linga in Daruka forest of Uttaranchal.
5. Rishishwar Linga manifested at Naimisha Aaranya.
6. Laliteshwar Linga manifested on the way from Devaprayag and Kedarnath.
7. Pashupatinath Linga manifested at Kathmandu, Nepal.

Procedure of Shiva Linga worship as mentioned in Puranas

As mentioned in previous article - Structure of Shiva Linga - worship of Shiva Linga is worship of Lord Shiva. It was also mentioned that Lingas are made of different materials. While constructing / manufacturing the Shiva Linga, it is necessary to continuously chant the mantra “OM NAMAH SHIVAY”. This makes the Lingam holy and sacred. 

It is believed that the best time for worship of Shiva Lingam is mid-night. The mantra “OM NAMAH SHIVAY” is chanted continuously throughout the worship. It is a belief that chanting the mantra 5 crore times is highly fruitful. Worship consists of following essential steps.

1. Avahana (Inviting)
2. Aasana (Seating), 
3. Padyam (Washing feet of God)
4. Argya (Offering water)
5. Snanam (Offering bath)
6. Anulepana (Applying sacred ash)
7. Gandham (Applying kumkum, sandlewood paste, etc)
8. Naivedyam (Offering fruit, food, etc)
9. Tambulam (Offering beatle leaves and nuts)
10. Paneeyam (Offering of Ganga water, coconut water etc)
11. Vastram (Offering clothing)
12. Alaankar (Decorating with flowers, bilva leaves, white flowers, etc)
13. Aachamya (Offering Ganga water for sipping)
14. Aarti (Offering camphor, dhoop or deep)
15. Mantrapushpa (Offering vedic hymns)
16. Namaskar 

It is believed that it is more beneficial and fruitful to perform worship on the bank of a river, particularly the bank of holy rivers like Ganga, Narmada, Yamuna, Kaveri, Godavari etc. People often go on pilgrimage to Pancha bhoota sthala Jyotirlinga to perform the worship. It is considered ten times beneficial and fruitful if worship is performed in cow shades, tulsi vrindavan, sea shores or mountain tops. Worship of Shiva Linga made in sphatika (quartz) is considered to be the holiest. The months of Kartik and Magh are considered to be holy periods for worship of Shiva.

In the upcoming articles we will give locations of Jyotirlinga and Pancha Bhootha sthalam.