Bound to Lord Siva for Life
How the small Srouta Saiva community of Andhra Pradesh sustains its ancient ways
BY
RAJIV MALIK, HYDERABAD
SPECIAL FEATURE
THE ARADHYA BRAHMINS OF ANDHRA PRADESH CLAIM that the Vedas, the Saiva Agamas and many other Hindu scriptures deem the practice of
lingadhara—the wearing of a Sivalingam on one’s body and the daily worship of
Lord Siva—to be the most exalted religious practice. They assure us that the
faithful Lingadhari will absolutely attain moksa, liberation from rebirth.
Calling themselves Srouta Saiva, or Vedic Saivites, they distinguish themselves
from the modern-day reformist Lingayats and Virasaivites of Karnataka, (who
also wear the Sivalingam). They honor the original Vedic caste system and a
3,000-year-old Sanskritic tradition, stemming from the prehistoric Pashupata
worship of Lord Siva, which dates all the way back to the Rig Veda. Our report covers the Aradhyas’ high religious
ceremonies during the holy month of Kartik and the annual lingadhara
initiation, followed by interviews and a close-up look into the lives and
hearts of these ardent votaries of Siva.
HE ARADHYA BRAHMIN
COMMUNITY OF ANDHRA PRADESH comprises just a few thousand families. Their small
numbers are belied by their staunch adherence to their ancient traditions.
These Saivite Hindus steadfastly follow the discipline of Lingadharana, the
practice of wearing a Sivalingam every hour of every day, from the time of
initiation until death—a practice ordained in the Vedas, according to
documents they showed us. They claim that most of our beloved Hindu Gods and
Goddesses, including Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess
Saraswati, were all Lingadharis, bearers of the Sivalingam. In the Mahabharata and Ramayana, those maharishis
who wore the Sivalingam are the most revered of sages. If this practice is
prescribed by scripture for ultimate liberation, one wonders why only some
communities follow it.
Honoring Siva as Light
November
28, 2012, was Krittika Deepam, a festival of lights similar to Deepavali but
with a more religious than social orientation. My hosts took me to the Kashi
Vishveshwara Temple in Nagole, Hyderabad, one of the three main physical
institutions under the Aradhyas’ umbrella organization, the Sri Saiva Maha Peetham
(see www.srisaivamahapeetham.org). The temple was
overflowing with Siva bhaktas. A traditional Vedic fire ceremony was in
progress, with the chanting of mantras by Sivasri Dr. Attaluri Mrutyumjaya
Sharma Garu and a team of half a dozen priests. Meanwhile, hundreds of elegantly
and traditionally dressed women and girls of all ages were lighting lamps
around the tall golden colored flagpole and throughout the temple. As darkness
descended into night, the beauty and majesty of the lights unfolded in a
completely breathtaking scene.
Ganarchana—Worship of a Lingadhari as Siva Himself
After
the fire ceremony, the ganarchana of Sivasri Dr.
Attaluri Mrutyumjaya Sharma Garu began. He is the community’s Upa Peethadhipati,
or secondary religious leader and successor to the head. Seated on a
beautifully decorated dais in the peetham hall adjacent to the temple, Dr.
Sharma was worshiped as an embodiment of Lord Siva Himself in a lengthy,
elaborate puja. Devotees say every Lingadhari is entitled to such a puja: as a
wearer of the Sivalinga, each is an aradhya, one fit for
worship. In practice, usually only elders serve in this role. It is as much an
ordeal as an honor, since the aradhya must sit attentively for two hours.
Afterwards Dr. Sharma exhorted the devotees to carry on their traditions and
rituals with commitment and dedication.
Joyously Walking under Fire
The
day culminated with another fire ceremony based on a story in which Lord Siva
destroyed three cities where rakshas, demonic beings,
were troubling the devas. Afterwards all the devas prayed to Lord Siva,
lighting thousands of lamps to save Lord Siva from drushti dosha (the evil eye).
The annual celebration commemorating this event is known as Jwala Thoranam.
Outside the temple the devotees put up a line hung with hundreds of cotton
strips. These were set alight, and the throngs of devotees walked under them.
Everyone was filled with joy, and the day closed with prasadam for all served
until late at night. It is believed that all mortal beings who participate in
this celebration on the full moon day in the month of Krittika are also saved
from the evil eye and blessed with victory in all their endeavors.
Center of an Ancient Lineage
The
next day we went back to the Saiva Peetham hall in Nagole for interviews. On
the walls were pictures of a dozen past peethadhipatis stretching back 150
years. All were married men—Srouta Saivas consider married life to be a higher
path than that of the celibate monk. Each of these family men was a great
Sivayogi, and all are believed to have attained liberation.
Next
we were off to the Sankaraaradhya Matham in the heart of Hyderabad. Hanumanth
Rao, secretary of the Sri Saiva Mahapeetham, explained, “There are only three
institutions related to our sampradaya. One is the Kashi Vishveshwara Temple in
Nagole, established in 2006. We have another branch at Vijaywada, and the third
is this one-acre Saiva Matham here in Kavadiguda. It is dedicated to the great
Sivayogi Mudigonda Sankara Rajya. He established the Saiva Maha Peetham in 1909
and attained Lingaichha (mahasamadhi) in 1920. His disciples interred his
remains under a traditional Sivalingam samadhi shrine here at Kavadiguda. We
also have branches across the state of Andhra Pradesh which do not hold property.”
For years maintenance of the math was blocked by legal cases with tenants who
claimed ownership of rented areas. Recently the Saiva Maha Peetham regained
control of the entire area and now have grand plans to renovate and rebuild the
math.
Beside
the Linga-samadhi shrine is a Hanuman temple with a Hanuman statue that has
been here from ancient times. In the Srouta Saiva pantheon, Lord Hanuman has a
special place. Shri Hanumantha Rao said, “We have Lord Hanuman in our Siva
temple in Nagole Peetham and here in our math also. Hanuman Ji has the spark of
Siva in himself. Anjani Devi, the mother of Hanuman, bore him by Siva’s grace.
That is why we worship Lord Hanuman as a Saivite, even while Vaishnavites
worship him as the devotee of Rama.”
Lingadharana Diksha, Initiation Day
At
7:30 am on December 2 the Saiva Maha Peetham in Nagole was buzzing with
activity. The all-important day of Sambhavi Diksha, Lingadharana initiations,
had arrived, one of several held annually. Each year about 150 devotees become
Lingadharis.
The
peetham was packed with the candidates, their relatives and all the organizing
elders and priests. After officially registering, the candidates sat in the
front rows. Most were young men and women; some were teenage boys. Peethadhipati
Sivasri Sadguru Dr. Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy Garu, the reigning head of
Srouta Saivism, arrived and took his seat at the front of the hall. Guided by
the priests, the candidates performed the sankalpa (opening rituals) together.
Priests sprinkled them all with holy ash and placed a small auspicious piece of
dry cowdung on their heads. The priests had prepared an elaborate mandala of
colored grains and kumbha pots on a platform. The Upa Peethadhipati blessed the
tiny Sivalingas. The hall resounded with Sanskrit chanting and the air was full
of sacred ash that now almost completely covered the candidates. The whole
atmosphere was spiritually charged.
The
candidates waited in a meditative mood until they were called. Each one in turn
stepped behind a huge cloth which provided privacy as the Peethadhipati gave
each candidate their Sivalinga and infused the Panchakshara Mantra, “Aum Namah
Sivaya,” with instructions into the right ear. This sacred practice of diksha,
initiation—the passage of the spiritual spark and responsibility from lineage
holder to disciple—has carried Hinduism forward through the millennia. Two
hours later, sixty new Lingadharis emerged, feeling blessed with the
opportunity and the authority to worship Lord Siva daily.
The Power of Aradhyas, Daily Puja
A
most impressive theme was unfolding. Here is a community of men and women,
young and old, even teenagers, who were committed to a 24-hour practice, the
wearing of the Sivalingam for the rest of their lives with full faith that, if
they perform their sadhana as prescribed, their freedom from reincarnation was
guaranteed. Though all Hindus agree that the deepest purpose of human birth is
moksha, liberation from reincarnation, today it is rare to find even a few
Hindus, even among the devout, actually focused on this goal. But here is an
entire community! Even in religious communities it is becoming increasingly
rare to find the youth devoted to spiritual practice.
After
the ceremony, I interviewed Peethadhipati Sivasri Sadguru Dr. Kandukuri
Sivananda Murthy Garu. He answered all my questions with ease and humor. The
most magical moment came when I probed who is entitled to have the Lingadharana
Diksha. He told me anyone who is keen and willing to follow the discipline is
entitled to receive this diksha, as the Vedas are for one and
all—not only all of humanity, but even the animal kingdom.
Placing
a rudraksha mala around my neck, he told me I had been given rudraksha diksha
by him, which made me a part of the wonderful and chosen Srouta Saiva
community. Feeling blessed, I blissfully started to dream of my own liberation
from rebirth.
Worship of Siva in
the Devotee and Averting the Evil Eye
What Is Lingadharana Initiation?
A.V.S.R. CHANDRASEKHAR, describes the ancient
Lingadharana initiation ceremony, known as Shambhava Diksha:
The
same ceremonies that are used to install a Linga in a temple—such as jaladivasam, danyadivasam, homa etc.—are
followed here to worship all the small Lingas collectively. Nine grains, four Lingas,
five forms of Lord Siva and the water vessels, are all laid out. Twelve
acharyas are invited to help with the chanting. Through chanting of the Vedic
mantras, all the ten ganas, the guardians who always accompany Lord Siva, are
invited one by one. Nandi the bull is also invited. All the family devas are
invited. The entire puja and chanting are done as stated in our Agama Shastras. To explain in simple terms: if a king is
coming, then all his ministers and family are also invited and arrangements made
to receive them. Similarly when we are calling Lord Siva or Ishwaram, He comes
with His entourage, and they remain present here in the water vessels.
Then
there will be the prana pratishtha mantra to awaken
the spiritual power in the Lingas, just as you would do when installing a new
image in a temple. Finally the guru performs the puja. Once the program is
complete, the ganas will be asked to leave. The charged and consecrated Lingas
will later be presented to the Lingadharana Diksha seekers to install on their
bodies. The body of the initiate becomes a temple.
Every
day you try to improve concentration on your puja. Srouta Saiva philosophy does
not say that you must do a long, vigorous spiritual practice from day one. The laghu puja is only fifteen minutes. Penance is a continuous
process. Shambhava Diksha is a lifetime affair. As age advances, the Lingadhari
concentrates more and more on sadhana and puja. The maha puja may last three
hours, which ultimately leads to salvation.
Siva
has two forms: human form and Linga rupam. The entire cosmos is there in the
Linga rupam, the divine aniconic form. Lingadharis feel that worship of the
Linga rupam is the highest worship, through which you will eventually get the sakshatkaram/vision of Siva in human form and hence
salvation. That is the process. In the Vedas, the sakshatkaram of Siva is mentioned as
difficult but not impossible to attain.
Taking God’s
Emblem, the Ishta Linga, to the Heart for a Lifetime of Worship
(Saiva publisher: Shri A.V.S.R. Chandrasekhar, along with
his brother, Shri A.G. Krishnaprasad, manages the Sivajnanalahari Trust
established by his father to propagate Srouta Saivism in English in books and
on the Internet.)
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
ji, Satguru Bodhianatha Velayanswami ji, Hinduism
Today for the collection)
(The Blog is reverently for all the seekers of truth,
lovers of wisdom and to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the
spiritual path and also this is purely a non-commercial blog)
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