All others were Anatmans, individual souls, undoubtedly. There are five activities in respect of the universe beginning with Anugraha (liberation) and ending with Sarga (creation). These activities devolve on lord because he was Isa and not anyone else. It is to make his Brahmatva understood that his phallic emblem rose up. The Isatva is to be known as the embodied form and that symbolic form was indicative of lord’s Brahmatva. Since it has all the characteristic features of His phallic emblem, it shall be His symbol. The phallic symbol and the symbolised Siva are non-different. Hence the phallic emblem is identical to Siva and is therefore worthy of worship. If phallic emblem of this sort is installed, He can be considered installed, though His idol is not installed.

The result of installing the phallic emblem is the attainment of similarity with Him. If a second phallic emblem is installed, the result is union with Lord. The installation of the phallic emblem is primary and that of embodied idol is secondary. A temple with the embodied idol of Siva is unfructuous, if it has no phallic image.

Brahma and Visnu wanted to know from lord Siva characteristic feature of the five –fold duties beginning with creation. On this, lord told them that the permanent cycle of the five-fold duties consists of creation, maintenance, annihilation, concealment and blessing. Sarga is the creation of the world, Sthiti is the maintenance, Samhara is the annihilation, and Tirobhava is the removal and concealment.

Liberation from the cycle of birth and death is blessing. These five are His activities but are carried on by others silently as in the case of the statue at the Portal. The first four activities are concerned with the evolution of the world and the fifth one is the cause of salvation. All these constitute His prerogatives. Devotees – observe these activities in the five elements Sarga (creation) in the Earth, Sthiti (maintenance) in the waters, Samhara (annihilation) in the fire, Tirobhava (concealment) in the wind and Anugraha (liberation, the blessed state) in the firmament. The Earth creates everything; everything is removed by the wind and everything is blessed by the firmament. Intelligent men must know the same. In order to look after these five fold activities, lord Sadasiva has, four in the quarters and fifth in the middle a total of five faces.

Lord further told Visnu and Brahma that in view of their austerities, they had received the first two activities – creation and maintenance. The two were successful in gratifying the lord and were blessed therefore.

The other two activities (annihilation and concealment) have been assigned to Rudra and Mahesa the fifth one of Anugraha (liberation) cannot be taken by any other. Both Brahma and Visnu had forgot all the previous arrangement but not so by Rudra and Mahesa. Rudra and Mahesa were assigned equality inform, dress, activity, vehicle, seat, weapons etc to lord Siva.

Brahma and Visnu’s delusion was the result of their not meditating lord. Hence both of them had to recite the mantra Omkara to acquire lord’s knowledge. It shall quell their false pride as well. Omkara originally is indicative of Siva. This mantra is identical to lord Siva.

The syllable “A” came first from the northern face; the syllable “U” from the western the syllable “M” from the southern and the Bindu (dot) from the eastern face. The Nada (mystical sound) came from the middle face. Thus the complete set cropped up in five-fold form. Then all of them united in the syllable of “OM”.

The two sets of created beings – Nama (name) and Rupa (form) are pervaded by this mantra. It indicates Siva and Sakti. From this also is born the five-syllabled mantra (Namassivaya). It indicates all knowledge. The syllables “NA” etc. follow the order of the syllables “A” etc. From the five-syllabled mantra, the five mothers were born. The Siromantra is born of that. The three-footed Gayatri also came out of the four faces.

The entire set of Vedas and crores of mantras were born of that. Different things are achieved through different mantras but everything is achieved through Omkara alone. By this root mantra, the very enjoyment as well as salvation is achieved. All the royal mantras are auspicious and directly accord enjoyment.

The lord in the company of his consort Ambika assumed the role of the preceptor for both of them. He screened them and placed his lotus-like hand on their heads as they faced the north and slowly taught them a great mantra. The two disciples received the mantra by repeating it thrice, along with the requisite Yantra and Tantra duly expounded. By ways of fees, the disciples dedicated themselves.

Iswara told both Brahma and Visnu that truthful extract of every-thing was narrated to them with demonstration. They will have to recite as directed by the Goddess, the Om mantra that is identical to lord. This would stabilise their knowledge. Permanent fortune shall stand by them. On the Caturdasi day and on the day with Ardra star, the recital of this mantra would give them everlasting efficacy. The recital of this mantra at the time when the transit of the sun is in the Ardra star is million-fold efficacious. In the context of worship, Homa and Tarpana, the last quarter of the star Mragasiras and the first quarter of Punarvasu must always be considered at par with Ardra. The vision is to be had at early dawn and within three muhurtas (two hours twenty four minutes) thereafter.

Caturdasi is to be taken when it continues up to midnight. It is only upto the early part of night and joined with another thereafter. Although the phallic and embodies form are equal, the phallic form is excellent for those who worship. Hence for those who seek salvation, latter is preferable to the former.

The others too may install the phallic form with Omkara mantra and the embodied form with the five-syllabled mantra, with excellent articles of worship and adore with due homage. This will make it easy for them to attain His region.


Narration of Siva Temples

Siva’s all temples accord salvation. The Earth, fifty crores of yojanas in extent, abounding in mountains and forests, supports the people at the bidding of Siva. The lord has himself raised up these temples and holy centres in different places for the liberation of the residents of these localities. These temples whether self-risen or not, in view of their being accepted (as their frequent resort) by the sages and Devas are intended for the redemption of the people.

An intelligent man shall resort to Ganga or the Kaveri River; certainly the sins will be quelled thereby. There are many holy centres yielding Rudraloka. Only by good conduct, good predilections and good concepts as well as by being sympathetic can the devotee derive the benefit, not otherwise. Meritorious actions performed in a holy centre flourish in many ways. Sinful acts committed in a holy centre, though slight, become manifold.

If the sin committed in a holy centre is only for livelihood, the merit will destroy that sin. Merit accords prosperity and quells physical, verbal and mental sins. The mental sin is adamantine in sticking to the sinner and it continues for many Kalpas. The mental sin can be wiped off only by meditation and not otherwise. Japas and the physical sin wipe off the verbal sin by forcefully causing the emaciation of the body. Sins committed by means of wealth can be wiped off by making charitable gifts and not otherwise, though crores of Kalpas (aeons) may elapse.

Hence those who wish for happiness must refrain from committing sins.

Description of Fire – sacrifices.

Householders who have started their Aupasana rite shall maintain the rite in the sacrificial fire kept in a vessel or pit always. The offering in the fire in the evening for the fire-god is the bestower of prosperity. The offering in the morning for the sun god is conducive to longevity. This is called Agniyajna in as much as it enters the sun during the day.

The different sacrifices Sthalipaka etc. for the propitiation of Indra and other gods by offerings in the fire are called Devayajna. The rites of Caula (ceremony of tonsure) etc. are performed in the ordinary fire.

The regular study of the Vedas is called Brahmayajna. A Brahmin shall perform this constantly for the propitiation of gods. This is to be practiced by all and hence no special rules are prescribed.

At the beginning of the first creation, the omniscient, merciful lord Mahadeva created the different weekdays for the benefit of the entire world. Lord Mahadeva, the global physician, the omniscient, the panacea of all panaceas, made the first day his own day that bestows good health.

Next he created the day of Maya, Illusion, the bestower of prosperity. Afterwards when the birth of Kumara was attended with some mishaps, he created the day for the sake of surmounting mishaps and idleness. With a desire to bless the worlds and for their nurture and protection, he created the next day dedicated to Visnu, the protector of the worlds. The next day created by the lord is for the sake of longevity of the worlds dedicated to the creator of the three worlds, Brahma, called also Paramesthin, who is the bestower of longevity too. Hence this day too bestows longevity.

The last two days are the bestowers of worldly enjoyments and removers of premature death respectively. The world made the sun etc. is His own manifestations and is firmly established in solar cycle, Jyotiscakra, the lords of different days. Their worship in their respective days accord the respective benefits viz: - health, riches, removal of sickness, nourishment, longevity, enjoyment of pleasures and prevention of death respectively. It is said that respective merits of the different days are secured through the gratification of the gods. Siva is the ultimate bestower of the fruits accruing from the worship of other gods as well.

In the ailments, of the eyes or head or for quelling leprosy, the sun shall be worshipped and the Brahmins fed for a day, a month, a year or three years. If the action meritorious or otherwise that has begun to fructify is sufficiently strong, the ailment, old age etc. are alleviated. The repetition of the mantras of the favourite deity accords the respective benefits of the day of the week. The first day of the week dedicated to the sun has the special merit of the removal of sin, especially for Brahmins.

For the sake of riches, the intelligent devotee shall worship Lakshmi etc. on Monday with cooked rice soaked in ghee and shall feed Brahmin couples.

For alleviating ailments, the devotee shall worship Kali and others on Tuesday.

He shall feed Brahmins with an Adhaka a measure of cooked rice, the pulse, black gram and green gram. The scholarly devotee shall worship Visnu with curd-rice on Wednesday. Sons, friends, women folk etc. will always be well nourished forever.

A person who seeks longevity shall worship the deities for their gratification, with sacred threads, cloth, milk and ghee on Thursday. On Friday for the sake of enjoyment of worldly pleasures, the devotee shall worship devas with concentration. Brahmins should be propitiated with the cooked food consisting of six flavours. Good cloth should be presented to women to gladden them. The wise devotee shall worship Rudra and others on Saturday that wards off premature death, by performing Homa with gingerly seeds. He shall make gifts to the Brahmins and feed them with cooked rice and gingerly seeds. Thus worshipping the deities he shall derive the fruit of good health etc.

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