ShataRudriya: 100 Lingas & their 100 worshippers

Mahashivratri, a night transcending mere celestial alignments, marks an extraordinary confluence of divine energy and spiritual awakening. As we delve into the mystical night dedicated to Lord Shiva, we honour him as a deity and the Adi Guru—the primal guru, the quintessence of infinite wisdom and the ultimate source of enlightenment amidst the most profound darkness. Bhagwan

On this night, the celestial dance of Lord Shiva, symbolising the cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction, resonates with the rhythmic heartbeat of the universe. It is the dance of Ananda Tandava, the dance of bliss, where Shiva embodies the cosmic laws that govern existence. Concurrently, we recount the tale of his divine union with Goddess Parvati. This confluence exemplifies the harmony of masculine and feminine energies, nurturing the universe's balance and perpetuating the cycle of life.

As the northern hemisphere of our planet tilts in a way that augments this spiritual upsurge, Mahashivratri offers a unique opportunity to align with this celestial rhythm. It is a time when nature urges us to reach our spiritual pinnacle. Acknowledging this cosmic invitation, the tradition of staying awake through the night with a vertical spine is observed, facilitating the natural ascent of energies and enabling a profound connection with the divine.

On this night, the cosmos pays homage to Lord Shiva in various forms and manifestations. Each entity creates its own rendition of the Shivlinga, which signifies the universal reverence for the lord. It is a testament to the diverse yet unified expressions of devotion, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Lord Shiva himself.

As we embark on this journey through the sacred night of Mahashivratri, let us immerse ourselves in the wisdom of the Skanda Purana, which glorifies the recitation of the ShataRudriya. This potent chant, a hymn of a hundred names of Shiva, is said to bestow the ultimate grace, fulfilling desires, annihilating sins, and liberating the soul. On this divine night, as we resonate with the chant and the ritualistic worship of Lord Shiva, we not only seek his blessings but also aspire to experience the vast expanse of emptiness that Shiva embodies, awakening to the cosmic dance of existence that pulsates within us all.

According to the Skanda Purana, those who rise early every morning and recite the ShataRudriya will please Lord Shiva, who will then grant them all their desired boons. There is nothing on Earth more sacred than this. It is the secret of all the Vedas. Reciting the Shatarudriya destroys all sins committed through mind, speech, and actions. If sick, those who chant the Shatarudriya will be freed from their illness; if imprisoned, they will be released from their bonds; and if they are frightened, they will be liberated from their fears. A scholar who recites these hundred names and worships Lord Shiva with the same number of flowers and bows to him a hundred times will be freed from all sins. These hundred lingas, their hundred worshippers, and the hundred names of these lingas are all considered to be destroyers of all faults.

Lord Brahma worships the golden lingam of Lord Shiva and chants the name "Jagatpradhan" while being seated in his position. Lord Krishna has established a black stone Shivling in the land area and worships it"Urjit". The great sages like Sanaka perform their desired practices by worshipping the heart-shaped lingam named "Jagadgati". The Saptarishis worship a lingam made of Darbha grass called "Vishwa-Yonik". Sage Narada worships the Shivling envisioned in the sky, named "Jagat-Beej". King Indra worships a diamond lingam with the name "Vishwatma". The Sun God worships a copper lingam and chants"Vishwasrij".

The Moon continuously chants"Jagat-Pati" while worshipping a pearl lingam. The Fire God, Agni, worships an Indranilamani (blue sapphire) lingam and chants"Vishveshwar". Jupiter worships a topaz lingam and chants the name "Vishwa-Yoni". The guru of demons, Shukracharya, worships a Shivling made of ruby, known as "Vishwakarma". Kubera, the lord of wealth, worships a gold lingam and chants"Ishwara". The Vishvedevas worship a silver lingam known by the name "Jagadgati". Yama worships a lingam made of brass and conducts worship by the name "Shambhu". The Vasus worship a bronze lingam and chant the name "Swayambhu".

The Marut gods chant"Umesh" or "Bhutesh" while worshipping a lingam made of three kinds of iron. Demons worship an iron lingam and chant the name "Bhootbhavya Bhavodbhava". The Guhyakas worship a glass lingam and chant the name "Yoga". Sage Jaimini worships a lingam made of Brahmadharmaya Shivling and chants"Yogeshwar". King Nimi visualises a Shivling in everyone's eyes and chants the name "Sharva" in worship. Dhanvantari worships a Gomaya lingam, known as "Sarvalokeshwar". The Gandharvas worship a wooden lingam and chant the name "Sarvashreshta". Lord Ramachandra worships a lapis lazuli lingam and chants"Jyeshta". Banasura worships an emerald lingam and conducts worship called "Vashishtha". Varuna worships a crystal lingam known by the name "Parameshwar". The serpent deities worship a coral lingam and chant"Loktryankar". Goddess Saraswati worships a pure pearl lingam and chants"Lokatryashrit". Saturn worships a lingam made of whirlpool (vortex) on the new moon of Saturday midnight at the confluence of the ocean, chanting the name "Jagannath". Ravana creates a lingam from jasmine flowers, worships it, and chants"Sudurjaya". The Siddhas worship a mental lingam and chant the name "Kamamrityujaratig". King Bali worships a sacrificial lingam and chants the name "Gyanatma". Marichi and other great sages worship a virtuous lingam and chant"Gyanagamya". Gods performing good deeds worship a lingam of good deeds and chant "Gyanjneya". The great sage who lives on foam worships a foamy lingam and chants"Sudurvid". Sage Kapila worships a sandy lingam and chants the name "Varada".?

The son of Saraswati, Saraswat Muni, worships the goddess of speech in speech and chants the name "Vagishwar". The attendants of Shiva worship a statue-like lingam of Lord Shiva and chant the name "Rudra". The celestial beings worship a golden lingam from the Jambu river and chant"Shitikantha". Buddha worships a conch lingam and chants the name "Kanishtha". The Ashwini twins worship an earthen lingam known as "Suvedha". Lord Ganesha makes a lingam out of flour and worships it"Kapardi". Mars worships a butter lingam by the name "Karala". Garuda worships a lingam made of food (rice) and chants the name "Haryaksha". Kamadeva worships a jaggery lingam and chants the name "Ratid". Goddess Shachi worships a salt lingam and chants the name "Vabhrukesh". Vishwakarma creates a palace-shaped lingam and worships it by the name "Yagya". Vibhishana worships a dust lingam and chants the name "Suhrittama". King Sagar worships a sprout lingam and chants the name "Sangat". Rahu worships an asafoetida lingam and sings the name "Gamya". Goddess Lakshmi worships a Lepya lingam and chants the name “Harinetra".

Yogic men worship the lingam present in all beings and chant"Sthanu". Humans worship various kinds of lingams and chant the name "Purusha". Stars (Nakshtra) worship a luminous lingam and chant"Bhag" and "Bhaswar". Kinnaras worship a metallic lingam and chant the name "Sudeepta". Brahma Rakshasas worship a bone lingam and chant the name "Devadeva". The Charanas worship a tooth lingam and chant the name "Ranhas". The Sadhyas worship a lingam representing the seven worlds and chant"Bahurupa". The seasons worship a lingam made of Durva grass and chant"Sarva". Apsaras worship a vermilion lingam and chant the name "Abhushan". Urvashi worships a sindoor (vermilion) lingam and chants"Priyavasan". The teacher worships a Brahmachari (celibate) lingam and chants"Ushnivi". Yoginis worship a lingam made of Alaktaka (a cosmetic) and chant"Suvabhruka". Siddha Yoginis worship a lingam made of Srikhand (a sweet) and chant the name "Sahasraksha". Dakinis worship a meat lingam and chant the name "Sumidhusa".?

The Manus worship a lingam known as “Girish", made of food. Sage Agastya worships a rice lingam and chants the name "Sushanta". Sage Deval worships a barley lingam and chants the name "Pati". Sage Valmiki worships a lingam made of anthills and chants"Cheeravasa". Pratardana worships an arrow lingam and chants the name "Hiranyabhuja". The demons worship a mustard seed lingam and chant"Ugra". The Danavas worship a sinless lingam(Nispawaj)and chant"Dikpati". Clouds worship a water lingam and chant the name "Parjanya". The king of Yakshas worships a black gram lingam and chants"Bhootpati". The ancestors worship a sesame seed lingam and chant"Vrishapati". Sage Gautama worships a Godhulimaya lingam and chants the name "Gopati". The forest dwellers worship a fruit lingam and chant"Vrikshavruta".?

Lord Kartikeya worships a stone lingam and chants the name "Senanya". Ashvatara Naga worships a grain lingam and chants the name "Madhyama". The sacrificer worships an offering lingam and chants the name "Shruvahasta". Yama worships an iron lingam and chants the name "Dhanvi". Parashurama worships a barley sprout lingam and chants the name "Bhargava". Pururava worships a ghee lingam and chants the name "Bahurupa". Shrimandhata worships a sugar lingam and worships by the name "Bahuayuga". Cows worship a milk 'dugdhamaya' lingam and chant"Netrasahastraka". Faithful wives worship a Bhartrimaya lingam and chant the name "Vishwapati". Tr-Narayana worships a wool lingam with the name "Sahasrasirsha". Prithu worships a Takshakalim lingam known by the name "Sahasracharana". Birds worship a sky lingam with the name "Sarvatmaka". The Earth worships a fragrance lingam and chants the name "Dvitanu". The Pasupata sect worships an ash lingam and chants"Maheshwar". The sages worship a knowledge lingam with the name "Chirasthana". Brahmins worship a Brahma lingam with the name "Jyeshta". Sheshanaga worships a Gorochana (a substance) lingam and chants"Pasupati". Vasuki Naga worships a poison lingam and chants the name "Shankar". Takshaka Naga worships a Kalakuta (poison) lingam and chants"Bahurupa". Karkotaka Naga worships a Halahala (poison) lingam and chants the name "Pingaksha". Shrungi worships a poison lingam and chants the name "Dhurjati". The son worships a paternal lingam and chants the name "Vishvarupa". Goddess Shivadevi worships a mercury lingam and chants the name "Tryambaka". Aquatic beings worship a weapon lingam and chant the name “Vrishakapi".

If you have read so far, then I wish you SHUBH MAHASHIVRATRI as your prayers are already done!

NAMAH SHIVAYA!