The Lingam and Being Isha

Nandikeshvara said

Meanwhile Vidhatri and Madhava still stood there, bowing before the lord. Joining their hands, they stood silent on the left and the right. They seated the god with his family on an excellent seat and worshipped him with sacred, auspicious personal articles. Know that personal articles are those that last a short or long time: necklaces, anklets, bracelets, diadems, jewels, earrings, sacrificial threads, upper garments, garlands, silken wreaths, finger rings, flowers, betel leaves, camphor, sandalwood, aloe unguents, incense, lamps, white parasols, fans, banners, yak-tail whisks and other divine objects whose greatness cannot be thought or spoken. All of these are fitting for the lord. Pashupati must be worshipped with them, and ordinary animals cannot gain them. Brahmana, everything excellent is worthy of offering to the lord. Isha wished to set up an order in which all these things should be offered, and so, in his desired order, he handed them separately to those present in the assembly. When these things were accepted there was great tumult. In ancient times Brahma and Vishnu were the first to worship Shankara. As they stood bowing, the one who increases devotion was pleased and spoke to them with a smile.

Ishvara said

Children, I am pleased with how you have worshipped me today, on this great day. From now on this day will be even more sacred. This tithi will be famous as Shiva Ratri and will be loved by me. A person who worships the sign of my lingam on this day effectively worships the one who creates, preserves and destroys the universe. Without deceit, to the best of his strength, a person must worship me properly, mastering his senses and fasting through day and night on Shiva Ratri. The fruits of constantly worshipping me for a whole year are gained at once by worshipping me on Shiva Ratri. This is the period when my dharma increases, like the tide in the ocean when the moon rises. This is the day on which my sacred temple should be set up and festivals held. Children, in ancient times the day on which I appeared in a form with parts as a column of fire was the day when the star Ardra was in the ascendant in the month of Margashirsha. One who sees me and Uma when Ardra is in the ascendant in Margashirsha becomes my friend. If he worships my sign of the lingam, I love him more than Guha. On that auspicious day the mere sight of me brings enough fruit. The fruit of worshipping me cannot be put in words.

Apart from that, on the battlefield I showed myself in the form of a lingam. Since I stretched out as a lingam, that place will be known as Lingasthana. This column has no beginning or end. Sons, but so that the universe may see and worship it, it will become small. This lingam will give pleasures. It is the means of enjoying pleasures and gaining liberation. Seeing it, touching it or meditating on it frees beings from the cycle of birth. The lingam that arose looked like a mountain of fire. From now on it will be known as Arunachala. There will be many other greater holy places there. Living or dying there will bring beings liberation. Chariot festivals and other auspicious activities by all who live there, gifts, oblations and japa will bring fruits a crore times greater. Among all my sacred fields this will be the greatest. As soon as embodied beings remember me here they will be freed. This very beautiful field will therefore be the greatest, full of all good fortune. This auspicious place will bestow every kind of liberation. Worshipping me, Ishvara, there in my sign of the lingam will bring the fruits of five kinds of liberation: salokya, samipya, sarupya, sarshti and sayujya. May all of you quickly accomplish your desires.

Nandikeshvara continued

So the illustrious one showed favour to the humble Vidhatri and Madhava. When they had fought each other earlier, their soldiers had died. With his own powers he revived them with showers of amrita. To dispel their foolish enmity he spoke to them again.

Ishvara said

My own form is of two kinds, with parts and without. Since no one else has these two forms, no one else is Ishvara. Sons, I first showed myself as a formless column and later in this form. I have spoken of my partless form as the brahman and my form with parts as Isha. These two forms exist only in me and no one else. So no one else, not even you two, can ever claim to be Isha. Though this is very surprising, it is because ignorance enveloped you that you took yourselves for Isha. I rose from the ground there to destroy your sense of ego. So drop your pride and fix your mind on me as Isha. By my favour everything in the worlds is manifest. What a guru has stated has again and again been cited as proof. It is out of affection for you that I reveal this mystery of the brahman. I am the supreme brahman. My own nature is both with parts and without. To show favour I take the forms of the brahman and of Isha. Brahma, Keshava, sons: when I am great and make great, I am the brahman. My self is impartial and all-pervading. Doubtless no other beings have this self. By my favour, at the beginning, I made the universe from the lotus. Since I am Isha, all these activities flow from me and from no one else. To make my nature as the partless brahman understood, I presented myself as the lingam. After that, to make my form as Isha known, I appeared in this form. This was the result of my form as Isha and should at once be recognized as my being Isha. This form with parts, which materialized at once, should be known as my being Isha. The partless column signifies my being the brahman. My lingam is my symbol and sign. Sons, the two of you will worship it every day. It stands for my self and will always bring people into my presence. This lingam is no different from me and must always be greatly worshipped. Sons, wherever a lingam like this is set up, I am present. If a lingam is set up, the fruit is likeness to me. If a second lingam is set up there, the fruit is union with me. The setting up of the lingam is important; its nature is of minor importance. It becomes a sacred field when one thinks of the lingam, and the signs are present everywhere.