Keeping Shivlings: A Guide for Devotees

Dear Friend,

As you mentioned, you have two Shivlings that you love and want to continue worshipping. It's great to see your devotion and care for them. While some people might have concerns, rest assured that it is indeed possible to keep both Shivlings at home, provided you follow certain practices.

Consider Placing One Shivling Elsewhere

The best suggestion is to keep one Shivling at your home for regular worship and puja, and the other in a safe and dedicated space like your garden or balcony, unless you have tulsi plants there. This arrangement allows you to keep both Shivlings while still adhering to traditional practices.

Alternative Solutions for Shivling Placement

Here are a few alternative places where you can house your Shivlings:

Running River: If possible, place one Shivling in a running river near your home. Alternatively, you can take it to a holy river like the Ganga for worship. Peepal Tree: Another option is to place your Shivling under a peepal tree. Ensure it is safe and in a secure area like a temple compound or premises. Adi Purusha Mandap: Keep one Shivling in a dedicated puja ghar (prayer room) for daily physical puja/abhishek. The other can be used as a decorative object in the puja mandap or elsewhere, moving it and cleaning it as needed.

Pradosha Time and Daily Worship

During Pradosha, it is an ideal time to perform abhishekam to your Shivling. This period is believed to be auspicious for offering prayers and seeking blessings from Lord Shiva, as Vishnu, Brahma, and other deities are said to visit and render their darshan.

Worshipping Sivalingam at Home

Yes, it is possible to worship Lord Shiva in the form of a Sivalingam at home. The deity, Lord Shiva, is compassionate and full of love, always ready to benefit His devotees. However, it is important to follow certain protocols, such as keeping a Nandi (Bull) in front of the Sivalingam and a matching size idol of Goddess Parvati next to it.

Offerings to Lord Shiva

According to the teachings of siddha Saint Thirumoolar, represented in his Thirumantiram, make offerings to the divine in the form of:

A green leaf to the Lord (typically, for Shiva, it is the Bael leaf or Bilva leaf). A mouthful of food to animals. A handful of food to the poor. Sweet words to others.

These acts of kindliness and devotion also contribute to your spiritual journey and the accumulation of punyam (merit).

Conclusion

In summary, you can indeed keep Shivlings at home. By following these guidelines, you can continue to worship Lord Shiva and deepen your devotional practices, ensuring that both Shivlings are cared for and respected.