Lord Shiva never takes Avatars, He is called Ayonija, who never stays in he womb.
However there are a number of instances when He appeared and vanished.
I had assumed, such being the case there could be no footprints of Lord Shiva as such.
How wrong could I be?
There are a number of places where it is believed that Lord Shiva had left His foot prints, mostly on Rocks.
One is in Sri Lanka, which, as usual named as Adam’s feet by the Westerners!
Another one is in Thiruvannamalai,Tamil Nadu.
Some locations where Lord Shiva’s footprints are found are here in Photos.
Lord Shiva’s Footprints.Adam’s Peak, Lanka. The giant footprint (5 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 6 inches)Shiva’s Footprints,Thiruvannamalai,Tamil Nadu,India.Rudrapada, Shiva’s feet. Rudrapada Temple The Rudrapada Temple is situated on the bank of the River Brahmaputra, to the east of Tezpur, Assam. Lord Shiva (Rudra) is said to have left the print of his left food (thus the name, ‘Rudra-pada) in a stone in the temple. It is said that Mahadeva revealed himself to King Bana here. Rudrapada Temple was later built on the spot by Siva Singha, in 1730 A.D. The main temple was destroyed due to erosion of the Brahmaputra.Footprints of Lord Shiva. Just in the nose room of the Shiva temple there situated the Naag Mandir. In the month of Shravana monks draws attention of the devotees by keeping snake with themselves. Here lies the footprint of Lord Shiva which is the main place of attraction for the pilgrims and visitors.Pahari Mandir,Ranchi.
Those who do not understand or refuse or pretend not to understand that there is no difference between Lord Shiva and Vishnu.
They refuse o read the Vedas or the Purans.
Shiva and Vishnu One Form.T
Some go the extent of saying that , for a Vaishnavite, visiting Shiva’s Temple is equivalent to getting afflicted with Brahmahathi Dosha!
This was sent to me by a Vaishnavite friend of Mine, I am more ofa Vaishnavite in terms of understanding Their sampraday as I am from Srivilliputtur, and sent a detailed reply quoting the Vedas and Purans.
The gentleman who said so, I was informed grinned sheepishly and told my friend,
“Who is going to read all this?’
I am passing on what is being practiced, it is good for us!’
I have recently posted articles on Siva Stuthi by Krishna and Vishnu Stuthi By Shiva.
Let me quote from Srimad Bhagatham, the greatest Puran among all the Purans as it speaks of the Devotees of Lord Vishnu.
It is the greatest among the Purans as the Devotee is Greater that the God.
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Shiva works for the benefit of everyone, and tries to help the living beings make spiritual advancement. This is why he has his own line of disciplic succession. This is also why he says to thesons of King Pracinibarhi, “Any person who is surrendered to the Supreme Personality of God, Lord Krishna, the controller of everything, is very dear to me.”1
The sons of the King were going to practice austerities to worship Lord Vishnu and while searching for a suitable place happened to find Lord Shiva. His bodily luster was like molten gold, his throat was bluish, he had three eyes, and was accompanied by musicians who were glorifying him. Shiva is the protector of the pious and those of gentle behavior. So he was pleased to speak to the princes the way he did. He continued in this way:
“A person who is directly surrendered to Lord Krishna, or Vishnu, in unalloyed devotional service is immediately promoted to the spiritual planets. I, Lord Shiva, and other demigods attain these planets only after the destruction of the material world. You are all devotees of the Lord, and as such I appreciate that you are as respectable as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. I know in this way that the devotees also respect me and that I am dear to them. Thus no one can be as dear to the devotees as I am.”2
In this way, a devotee of Krishna does not disrespect Lord Shiva, but worships him as the greatest of devotees of Lord Krishna. A Krishna bhakta also prays to Lord Shiva, but asks Shiva to assist him in attaining the favor of Lord Krishna, and not merely for material benefits. As we find in the Tulasi Ramayana (Uttara-Kanda, Doha 45), Lord Rama says “With joined palms I lay before you another secret doctrine: without adoring Sankara (Lord Shiva) man cannot attain devotion to Me.” So in this way, Shiva can assist us in attaining devotion to Lord Krishna and His expansions.
After Lord Shiva had spoken to the sons of King Pracinabarhi, he relates a particular mantra for their benefit, which is pure and auspicious for anyone who wants to attain the ultimate goal of life. This mantra is called Shiva’s Song, and consists of verses 33 to 79 of the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Forth Canto in Srimad-Bhagavatam. He starts his prayer with this verse:
“O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all glories unto You. You are the most exalted of all self-realized souls. Since You are always auspicious for the self-realized, I wish that You be auspicious to me. You are worshipable by virtue of the all perfect instructions You give. You are the Supersoul; therefore I offer my obeisances unto You as the supreme living bring.”
Through the remaining 45 verses of this prayer, Lord Shiva praises the many qualities, characteristics, and powers of the Supreme Being in the form of Lord Krishna. At the end of many years in which the sons of the King, called the Pracetas, repeated this prayer everyday, Lord Vishnu Himself appeared to them. He said, “Those who will offer Me the prayers composed by Lord Shiva, both in the morning and in the evening, will be given benedictions by Me. In this way they can both fulfill their desires and attain good intelligence.”3
Also in the Bhagavatam (4.6.42-53), we can see Lord Shiva’s greatness among the demigods. During the disastrous ritual of Daksha, who displayed great dislike toward Shiva and Shiva’s wife, Durga (Sati) immolated herself in fire. Sati was Daksha’s own daughter and could not tolerate the insults her father made toward her husband, Shiva. So while in meditation she burst into flames. Thereafter, Lord Brahma and the demigods went to pacify Lord Shiva. Brahma consoled Shiva and addressed him as “My dear Lord,” and called him the controller of the entire universe, the combination of mother and father of the universe, and the Supreme Brahman, beyond this creation. Therein we can see that Brahma, the partial creator of the universe, offers praises to Lord Shiva as a superior. This is to appease Lord Shiva, since it is known that his anger can annihilate the universe.
When the ritual was able to continue and Daksha offered the clarified butter with the mantras from the Yajur-veda, Lord Vishnu appeared there in His original form as Narayana. As described in the Bhagavatam (4.7.18-29) as soon as Lord Vishnu appeared, all the demigods, including Lord Brahma, Shiva, the Gandharvas and sages, immediately offered their respectful obeisances. In the presence of Lord Vishnu’s glaring effulgence from His body, everyone else’s luster faded. Everyone offered their prayers to Him. Therein, Lord Shiva addresses Lord Vishnu, “My dear Lord, my mind and consciousness are always fixed on Your lotus feet, which, as the source of all benediction and the fulfillment of all desires, are worshiped by all liberated sages because Your lotus feet are worthy of worship. With my mind fixed on Your lotus feet, I am no longer disturbed by persons who blaspheme me, claiming that my activities are not purified. I do not mind their accusations, and I excuse them out of compassion, just as You exhibit compassion toward all living entities.”
After all the personalities had offered their prayers to Lord Vishnu, He replied to Daksha, “Brahma, Shiva and I are the supreme cause of the material manifestation. I am the Supersoul, the self-effulgent witness. But impersonally there is no difference between Brahma, Lord Shiva and Me. I am the original Personality of Godhead, but in order to create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic manifestation, I act through My material energy, and according to different grades of activity, My representations are equally named. One who is not in proper knowledge thinks that the demigods like Brahma and Shiva are independent, or he even thinks that the living entities are independent. A person with average intelligence does not think the head and other parts of the body to be separate. Similarly, My devotee does not differentiate Vishnu, the all-pervading Personality, from anything or any living entity. One who does not consider Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva or the living entities in general to be separate from the Supreme, and who knows Brahman, actually realizes peace; others do not.” 4
What this indicates is the interdependence of the demigods on Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu is the ultimate cause of the universal creation. Lord Brahma was born out of Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva was born from Lord Brahma. It is the energy that comes from Lord Vishnu, in the form of Lord Brahma and Shiva, that creates and annihilates the universe. Lord Brahma is manifested for the continuation of the creation, while Lord Shiva assists in the annihilation. In this way, they are interconnected and work together like parts of a single body. Yet, they all play distinct and significant roles in the affairs of the cosmos, but are dependent on Lord Vishnu. When we see that all living beings are expansions from the Supreme Lord and His energy, then one can achieve real peace.
In fact, it is said that these sages and devotees who see with such equal vision become worshipable by Lord Shiva, Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Once when Lord Shiva was traveling, he met the great sage Markandeya as he was coming out of his yogic trance. At that time, Markandeya offered prayers to Lord Shiva who blessed the sage and then asked if there were any benedictions that the sage wanted. As described in the Bhagavatam (12.10.19-22) Suta Gosvami said: “Lord Shiva, the foremost demigod and the shelter of the saintly devotees, was satisfied by Markandeya’s praise. Pleased, he smiled and addressed the sage. Lord Shiva said: Please ask me for some benediction, since among all givers of benedictions, we three–Brahma, Vishnu and I–are the best. Seeing us never goes in vain, because simply by seeing us a mortal achieves immortality. The inhabitants and ruling demigods of all planets, along with Lord Brahma, the Supreme Lord Hari and I, glorify, worship and assist those brahmanas who are saintly, always peaceful, free of material attachment, compassionate to all living beings, purely devoted to us, devoid of hatred and endowed with equal vision. These devotees do not differentiate between Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and me, nor do they differentiate between themselves and other living beings. Therefore, because you are this kind of saintly devotee, we worship you.”
The small town has interesting locales, Raja’s Seat,Old Fort , where the Government offices are houses now, Nisargadama, a wild life sanctuary, 3 km off Madikeri on the Madikeri Mysore Highway ,Dubare Forest(48 km from Madikeri) Abbi Falls(9 km),Talacauvery(the origin of River Cauvery and Bhaga Mandala(4 km)
In Madikeri the Onkareswara temple is situated.
A small shrine, more influenced by Kerala Architecture( Bhaga Mandala also has the same pattern) is in the center of the town.
The temple has no separate Sannidhi for Ambal.
What is more interesting is the fact that parents of the bride and the bride groom, on the day of betrothal, declare the terms of marriage, accompanied
by their relatives(!) state openly the terms for the marriage including the Monetary ones, before Lord Onkareswara , have the blessings of Lord Shiva.
I understand that this the custom among the Kodava Community, who are ardent worshipers of Shiva.
The temple is very clean and has a beautiful tank.
It is open from 7 am 12 and between 4 and 8 pm.
It is just a km from Bus station , Madikere.
Madikere can be reached from Bangalore by Bus(267 km), Mysore 9210 km)
In addition to this, one may vow to offer a bunch of Raw Bananas (Vaazhaith Thaar) to Thaayumanavar Swamy at Tiruchirapalli.
This vow may be fulfilled after Delivery by carrying the Vazzhaith Thaar in person up the steps and offer to the Lord Thaayumaanavar.
Thayumanaavr
Hiring of people to carry this, is not recommended.
One may also pray to Karbharakshambigai at Thirukkarukavor for safe delivery( one may pray here for begetting a child), collect the oil they provide and
Pray Lord Thayumanavar at Tiruchirapalli rockfort that you will be visiting his temple with the kid and do an abishek upon the fulfillment of your prayer and ask the pregnant lady to chant the following mantra.
It is advisable to recite this mantra 11 times a day daily after bath.
On Monday recite this mantra 108 times either between 6-7 am,1-2 pm 0r between 8-9 pm especially during the hora of moon.
The Mantra has to be recited during the Chandra Horai, Horai of the Moon.
Lord Shiva is reported to have attended the Labor of His Devotee and ensured safe delivery.
Shiva was worshipped by the demon ruler Tirisiran, hence Tiruchirappalli, Tirisirapuram etc. Also, since the three peaks here on this hill are occupied by Shiva, Parvati and Vinayaka, the name Tri-Shikharam or Tirisirapuram came into being. Legend has it that Shiva in the guise of a woman (mother) attended to the call of a devotee in labor, hence Matrubhuteswarar.
Tiruchirappalli is hailed as Dakshina Kailasam, as the hill is said to be 1 of the 3 pieces that flew off the Himalayas. in a fierce tussle between Adi Seshan the mythical snake and the Wind God Vayu. The other two are Triconamalee & Sree Kalahasti.
The Temple: This is a fascinating rock cut temple with several inscriptions from the Pallava and Imperial Chola period. This shrine houses Kangaala Moorthy, one of the 64 manifestations of Shiva. The approach to the temple is through a flight of covered stairs. Towards the end of the climb, the Tayumanavar temple is towards the West, and theUchipillayar temple – East.
There is a rock cut Pallava temple – Lalitankura Pallaveswaram in this hill temple complex. with several inscriptions here attributed to Mahendravarma Pallavan. In addition the Cholas, the Vijayanagar rulers and the Nayaks of Madurai have made extensive contributions here. The two storeyed Taayumaanavar temple, built on (in) a hill is a masterpiece of construction. The Chittira Mandapam houses a granite chain with nine loops.
Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day here. This well endowed temple celebrates the annual Bhrammotsavam in Chittirai. Aadi Pooram and the float festival in Panguni are also of significance here.
Lord Shiva burnt the Tripura He had a portion of the Ashes to fall in Kailash, and some in Amarkantak,Madhya Pradesh,.
This is also the place the Narmada River originates.
The presiding Deity of River Ganges visits this place, as the Legends would have it.
Narmada Kund
River narmada Falls
This photo of Bhrigu Kamandal is courtesy of TripAdvisor
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Amarkantak, on the western edge of ancient Kingdom of Kalinga, is a place of worship for all the three worlds. Gods and Gandharvas (celestial beings), Asuras (demons), Saints and sages have achieved great spiritual powers here. It is believed that who ever dies at Amarkantak is assured a place in heaven. If a woman makes offerings of fruits and flowers, she will gain the respect of her husband, and no doubt she will achieve a place in heaven.
When Lord Shiva destroyed Tripura (the three cities) by fire, the ashes of one fell upon mount Kailash, the ashes of another fell upon Amarkantak, and the ashes of the third were saved by Lord Shiva and kept in heaven. The ashes that fell upon Amarkantak turned into crores of Shivalingas. Only one is visible at Jwaleshwar in Amarkantak.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva blessed Narmada with unique purifying powers.
Whereas to purify himself, a devotee requires to take one dip in the Holy Ganga, seven days’ prayers on the banks of Yamuna and three days prayers on the banks of Saraswati, the mere sight of Narmada is enough.
A charming folk tale describes the superiority of Narmada over Ganga.
Once every year, after she herself is polluted beyond tolerance, Ganga visits Narmada dressed like a dark woman and takes a cleansing purifying dip in its waters!
There are other rivers too, popular, romantic and life sustaining, each glamourized in the folk lore and history but none can match the mystique of Narmada.
Amarkantak is a Sanskrit word the literal meaning of which is immortal (amar) obstruction (kantak). The place was abode of gods but was disturbed by the hindrances of Rudraganas and hence called Amarkantak. The poet Kalidas has mentioned it as Amrakoot, which later became Amarkantak. Myth is that the dense forests of this region were full of mango (amra) trees”.
Amarkantak and rivers originating from it do not find mention in Vedic literature, but they have been mentioned in Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vashishthasamhita and “Shatapatha Brahmana”. After Mahabharata the history of about 3000 years is in dark. Professor Arjun Chaube Kashyap concludes that the Puranic name of Amarkantak was Riksh parvat. About 6000 years back the Suryavanshi samrat Mandhata founded a town in the valley Riksh parvat and named it Mandhata. The queen of samrat Purukutsa, who was son of Mandhata, gave the title of Narmada to the river. Due to occupation of this area by Mandhata the descendants of Yayati moved from this area to west of Madhya Pradesh and settled on the banks of Narmada River.
According to tradition, this Vindhyachal area was included in the Kingdom of Ayodhya, Kapila Muni, Bhrigu Rishi and Markandeya Rishi had ashrams here. It is said that Pandavas stayed here and gained spiritual benefits during their exile.
After about 3000 years of Mahabharata the Adi Shankarachrya was born in 788 AD and consecrated on the banks of Narmada River. He founded Pataleshwar Mahadev in Amarkantak at the origin of Narmada from the bamboo clumps. This place is known as Surajkund today. There are no bamboo clumps now.
How to Reach:
Nearest airports are Jabalpur (228 km.) and Raipur (230 km).
The nearest rail head is Pendra Road (42 km) on the Katni – Bilaspur section of the South-Eastern Railway.
Amarkantak is connected by regular bus service with Shahdol, Umaria, Jabalpur, Rewa, Bilaspur, Anuppur and Pendra Road.
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