Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Aaradhana

Shiva is the essence of life, above all rules that govern life.

Many believe that planets govern various aspects of our lives. In our ancient texts like Puranas, Vedas and the two Itihash mahakavyas-Ramayana and Mahabharata, planets are often personified.

I would not engage in the argument as to if these personfications are accurate or otherwise. However, if at all we believe that these personifications were symbolic, then we ought to understand that all these "planets" worshipped Shiva, the source of all strength, the direction of all lives, knowing or unknowing.

Shiva, the auspicious one, was worshipped by all the nine planets there by proving that He lies much above stars and constellations and is not bound by its rules.

Once when Lord Surya was offering prayers to Lord Shiva, some error was committed by him, which resulted in his loosing his strength. On the advice of the devas, Indra and sage Naradha, he came to Thiruramesharam and offered prayers to Lord Shiva and got back his strength. So every year on the day he offered prayers ( in the month of Masi (Feb) from 22nd to 27th) one can have Dharshan of the Linga being bathed in the radiance of the Sun. When the rays of the Sun fall on the Linga, it is called as Bhaskara Pooja or Surya pooja.

Chandra was differentiating amongst his 27 wives and loved Rohini more. When Daksha came to know of it, he cursed Chandra to deteriorate indefinitely. Chandra went to Lord Shiva praying for immunity from the curse. Lord Shiva wore Chandra on his head. The part of Chandra on Shiva's head is immune from the curse of Daksha and is constant. Thus, Shiva came to be known as Chandrashekar.

Once when Shiva was engrossed in his Samadhi, three drops of perspiration originated from his forehead fell down on the earth. From those drops manifested a very beautiful infant, who was of reddish complexion and who had four arms.
Seeing the child lord Shiva became concerned about his upbringing. Right then, mother earth manifested and lord Shiva entrusted the job of child's upbringing. The child was brought up by mother earth with great love and care. The child was named 'Bhaum' (Mangal) as he was nurtured and brought up by 'Bhumi' (earth).

When the child grew up, he went to Kashi and did a tremendous penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became pleased with him and blessed him by granting him 'Mangalloka'.

A King named Ila, whilst out hunting in a forest, entered an area that was sacred to Shiva. In order to please Parvati, Shiva assumed the shape of a woman and correspondingly, all male creatures in the forest became female, including the king and his retinue. Ila was filled with fear when he realised that his change had been brought about by Shiva. The king then entered the grove where Shiva and Parvati were at play. Shiva allowed Ila to ask for any boon except that of manhood. The king however, addressed himself to Paravati. The Devi gave Ila the boon that he would live half his life as a woman, and half as a man. King Ila suggested to the Devi that he might live as a beautiful woman for one month, and as a man for the next month. The Goddess agreed, but decreed that, whilst male, he would not remember his female form, and whilst female, he would not remember his male form.

It is further told that, whilst wandering as a woman, Ila encountered Budha (Mercury), who sought her as his wife. Budha made love to Ila, and she bore him a son, after which Budha petitioned Shiva (with a horse sacrifice) to restore Ila to manhood permanently.

Brihaspati did a severe and tremendous penance in ‘Dwarka’ (prabhas area) to please Lord Shiva. Being pleased by his penance lord Shiva gave him a boon to become the preceptor of the deities, the Dev Guru.

Venus or ‘Shukracharya’ is the priest of the demons. He continuously showers his blessing on his disciples (demons). He is the supreme teacher of the ‘yoga’ After doing a tremendous penance he had pleased lord Shiva and received the ‘learning’ of ‘Mritasanjivani’ (bringing alive a dead person). By the help of this learning he used to bring back to life the demons that got killed in the battles with the deities.

Shukracharya performed such a severe austerity and penance for the benediction of the demons which was incomparable and which has not been performed by anybody till date. Lord Shiva became pleased and blessed him with a boon that he would defeat the deities in the battle and also that nobody would be able to kill him. Lord Shiva also made him the secretary of all the wealth as a result he became the lord of all the wealth of all the worlds.

Shani fought in favour of Shiva in Tripurasur Sangram. He thus won favour of Shiva and Shiva granted him immense power. Shani is said to be a great devotee of Shiva and it is said that all Shiv Bhakts are exempted from his malefic effects.

It was Shiva who made him Graharaj after his tremendous penance to appease Shiva.

Rahu is believed to have worshipped Shiva at Tirunageswaram near Thanjavur-Tamilnadu, and is enshrined there.

Simhika putra once went after Chandra to grasp him. Chandra sought refuge in Shiva's matted locks. Rahu, engrossed in his desire to swallow Chandra went near his aradhya Shiva. Shiva took Rahu (just the head) and wore him as a garland around his neck. Rahu was grateful to be near his Aradhya always.