21) INCARNATIONS OF SHIVA DURING VARIOUS DWAPAR YUGAS

On being enquired by Lord Brahma about his various incarnations, Lord Shiva said —

“I shall incarnate as Shwet-Mahamuni during first Dwapar Yuga of Vaivaswat manvantar. My abode shell is at Chhogal peak of Himalaya mountain. I shall have four disciples who will be proficient in the Vedas.”

“I will incarnate as Sutar during second dwapar. At that time, Saddyojat Prajapati will be holding he post of Vyasa.I will have four sons- Dundubhi, Shataroopa, Richika and Keluma.”

“During third dwapar and at the time when Sage Bhargav will be acting as a Vyasa, I will take incarnation as Daman. I will have four sons- Vikrosh, Vikesh, Vipash and Papnashak.”

“During fourth dwapar and at the time when Sage Angira will be acting as a Vyasa, I will take incarnation as Suhotra. I will have four sons- Sumukh, Durmukh, Durdhar and Duratikram.”

“I will take incarnation as Kank during fifth dwapar and at the time when Sage Savita will be fulfilling the obligations of Vyasa; I will have four sons- Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanatkumar.”

“During Sixth dwapar, I will take incarnation as Laugakshi. At that time Sage Mrityu will be holding the post of Vyasa. My sons will be Sudhama, Viraja, Shankh and Padraj.”

“Sage Shataritu will act as Vyasa during Seventh dwapar. I will have four sons- Saraswat, Megh, Meghvah and Suvahan.”

“Sage Vashishtha will be the Vyasa during eighth dwapar. I will take incarnation as Dadhivahan. My sons will be- Kapila, Asuri, Panch, Shikhomuni and Vashkal.”

“Sage Saraswat will act as Vyasa during nineth dwapar. I will take incarnation as Rishabh. I will have four sons- Parashar, Garg, Bhargav and Angiras.”

“The tenth dwapar will see Tripad fulfilling the duties of Vyasa. I will incarnate as Bhavita

Muni. I will have four sons- Bala, Bandhu, Niramitra and Ketu.”

“Sage Trivat will be the Vyasa during eleventh dwapar. I will take incarnation as Ugra. My sons will be- Lambodar, Lambaksha and Lambakesh.”

“Sage Shatateja will perform the duties of Vyasa during twelfth dwapar. I will have four sons- Sarvagya, Sambuddhi, Sadhya and Sarva.”

Dharma will be the Vyasa during thirteenth dwapar. I will take incarnation as Bali and live at the hermitage of the Balkhilya. I will have four sons- Sudhama, Kashyapa, Vashishtha and Viraja.”

This way, Lord Shiva elaborated upon his various incarnations till the period of twenty-eight dwapar, which went as follows.

DWAPARVYASASHIVASHIVA’S SONS
14thTarakshuGautamAtri, Devarudra, Shravana & Srivishthak
15thTraiyyaruniVedshiraKuni, Kunibahu, Kusharir & Kunetrak
 

16th

 

Deva

 

Gokarn

Kashyao,      Shukracharya,      Chyavn      &

Brihaspati

17thKritanjayGuhavasiUtathya, Vamadev, Mahayoga & Mahabal
18thRitanjayShikhaniVachashrava,Richik,Shyavasva& Yatishwar
19thBhardwajJatamaliHiranyabh, Kaushal, Laungaksi & Kuthumi
20thGautamAttahasSumantu, Varvari, Kavand & Kushi Kandar
21stVachashravaDarukoRamapksoda, Bhayani, Ketuman & Gautam.
 

22nd

 

Shushmayan

 

Langli Bheem

Dharmik,            Mahayotri,            Bhallavi,

Madhupinga,Shwetu, Ketu & Kush

23rdTrinabinduKalanjarUshik, Vrihadashva, Deval & Kavirevach
24thRikshaShooliSalihotra, Agnivesh, Unasva & Sharadvasu.
 

25th

 

Shakti

Dandi-

Mundishvar

 

Chhagal, Kundak, Kumbhand & Prawahaj

26thParasharSahishnuUlook, Viddyut, Shambuk & Ashwalayan.
27thJatuk KarnyaSomsharmaAkshapad, Kumar, Ulook & Vatsa.
28thDwaipayanLakuliKushik, Garg, Mitra & Kaurushya

 

RITUALS OF SHIVA-LINGA WORSHIP (PURITY)

Once, Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva about the proper methods of worshipping Shivalinga. While Shiva was elucidating upon the rituals, Nandi who was present there too got enlightened on this sacred topic. In course of time, this knowledge was passed on to Sanatkumar, who in turn revealed it to Sage Vyasa. Suta came to know about it from Shailadi.Lord Shiva had described the  following  three  methods,  by  the  help  of  which  a  devotee  should  become  pure  before

commencing his worship. 1. Varuna Snan (taking bath in open) 2. Bhashma Snan (smearing ashes) 3. Mantra Snan (chanting of mantra)

Lord Shiva had stressed upon the importance of taking bath in a river or a pond. According to him a man’s mind, which is like a lotus, could never blossom unless it received the radiance of the sun. Describing about the methods of taking Bhasmasnan, he said-After washing his hands and feet, a devotee should smear any of the following things on his body to make it pure-mud, cowdung ashes etc. While smearing mud on his body, he should chant the mantra – UddhatashiVarahaen.  After  becoming  pure  according  to  the  methods  mentioned  above,  he should then worship Lord Varuna. Having done, this, he should take a dip in the river after purifying the water by chanting the sacred ‘Adhamarshan’ mantra. He should then worship all the deities by sprinkling water from the Shankh (Conch) and amidst the chanting of mantras like

‘Rudren Pavamanaen’ etc. He should then concentrate upon the form of a Shivalinga. He should drink some water holding some Kusha grass in his right hand simultaneously.

A devotee should commence his worship only after becoming pure. In the beginning he should perform Pranayama for three times so that his lungs are filled up with fresh air. After this, he should concentrate his mind on the form of Lord Trayambak in all his glory. He should purify all the articles required for the worship by performing ablution and by chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAY. He should also make offerings of flowers, rice grains, barley etc. to the deity. Worship of Lord Shiva is believed to be incomplete without the worship of his family-Nandi, Kartikeya, Vinayak and Goddess Parvati. So, the devotee must not forget to worship them.

 

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