5.151.5.227 at 21:17, 21 May 2022

2022-05-21T21:17:28Z

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[[File:Kashiswar Bhairava, Andul.jpg|alt=|thumb|A large Banalinga recovered from [[Saraswati River (Bengal)|Saraswati river]] at [[Andul]] in c.1650 AD.]]
'''Banalinga''', a stone found in nature, in the bed of the [[Narmada river]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]] state, [[India]], is an iconic symbol of worship, based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions among the [[Hindus]], particularly of the [[Shaivaites]] and [[Smartha]] Brahmins. Stones are ancient and connote divinity. It is a smooth [[ellipsoid]] stone.

Banalinga is also called the [[Svayambhu]] [[Linga]]: ([[Sanskrit]]) "Self-existent mark or sign of God", as it is discovered in nature and not carved or crafted by human hands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Svayambhu_Linga/id/62193 |title=Svayambhu Linga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary on Svayambhu Linga |access-date=2008-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127044224/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Svayambhu_Linga/id/62193 |archive-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The forms of Linga can vary in detail from a simple roller shape roughly cylindrical Banalinga to the stone carved with a thousand facets (Sahasralinga) or of light relief in several human figures (Mukhalinga). The Linga in the shrine of a temple is in stone.<ref>[http://mohileparikhcenter.org/mpcva/past-events/2004/what-is-wrong-with-this-picture-investigating-visual-studies-international-conference/papers/gods-beyond-temples-a-visual-theophanay/ Gods Beyond Temples: A Visual Theophany » Mohile Parikh Center for the Visual Arts]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The Narmada Shivling are quite strong and the hardness is a 7 on the [[Mohs scale]].

== Significance ==
[[File:Banalingam Narmada lingam.jpg|thumb|281x281px|Banalinga stacked on a shelf in a shop near [[Omkareshwar]] temple which is situated along [[Narmada River]].]]
The [[Narmada River]] (also called the Rewa, from its leaping motion (from the root ''rev'' through its rocky bed) where the Banalinga stones are found, has been mentioned by [[Ptolemy]] and the author of the [[Periplus]]. The [[Ramayana]], the [[Mahabharata]] and [[Puranas]] refer to it frequently. The Rewa Khand of [[Vayu Purana]] and the Rewa Khand of [[Skanda Purana]] are entirely devoted to the story of the birth and the importance of the Narmada River. It is said to have sprung from the body of Lord [[Shiva]]. It was created in the form of a lovely damsel who enamoured gods and hence named by the Lord as Narmada – delight giving. It is, therefore, often called Shankari, i.e., daughter of Lord Shankar ([[Shiva]]).

All the pebbles rolling on its bed are said to take the shape of His emblem with the saying ''Narmada Ke Kanker utte Sanka'' (which is a popular saying in the Hindi belt of India) which means that ‘pebble stones of Narmada gets a personified form of Shiva’. Thus, these [[lingam]] shaped stones, called Banalinga are sought after for daily worship by the Hindus.

The Bannalinga, as a divine aniconic symbol for worship, is held in reverence by the [[Shaivaites]] and [[Smartha]] [[Brahmins]], to the same extent as the Saligrama [[Sila (murti)]] is held in reverence by the [[Vaishnavites]].

Further, a sighting of the Narmada River is considered equivalent to a bath in the [[Ganges]]. At numerous places along its course there are temples, and fairs are held. Pilgrims perform [[Pradakshina]] (circumambulation), i.e., walking along the southern bank from its source to the mouth and going back along the northern bank. The performance is regarded to be of the highest religious efficacy.

Three kinds of lingas are described in the Brihat Vaivarta Purana (Hindu scripture). These three lingas, are called SvAmbhuva [Self-existing], Banalinga [got from a certain river] and Sailalinga [made of stone] and these are also respectively called {{proper name|Vyakta}}, {{proper name|Avyakta}}, and {{proper name|VyaktAvyakta}}. It is said that {{proper name|Vyakta}} gives salvation, the {{proper name|Avyakta}} gives [worldly] happiness, and {{proper name|VyaktAvyakta}} gives both happiness and salvation.

People belonging to various Hindu sects such as Shaiva, Kapalik, Gosavi, Virashaiva, etc., use various lingas – earthen (parthivlinga), lingas in a silver box donned around the neck (kanthasthalinga), lingas of crystal glass (sphatiklinga), banalingas, a five stringed linga (panchasutri), stone lingas (pashanlinga), etc.<ref>[http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/knowledge/article/why-are-trifoliate-bel-leaves-offered-to-lord-shiva-with-their-stalks-facing-oneself.html Why are trifoliate bel leaves offered to Lord Shiva with their stalks facing oneself? | Lord Shiva]</ref>

== Panchayatana ==
Banalinga is a part of the fivefold family of deities ([[Panchayatana puja|Panchayatana]]).<ref>[http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/articles/panchayatana_puja.htm PanchAyatana Puja]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mudgala.com/articles/panchayatana.html |title=www.mudgala.com |access-date=2008-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210212424/http://www.mudgala.com/articles/panchayatana.html |archive-date=2012-02-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The five Hindu deities ([[Shiva]], [[Vishnu]], [[Devi]], [[Surya]] and [[Ganesha]]) are the embodiment of 5 bhutas/tatwas worshipped in formless stones, which are obtained from the 5 rivers as indicated in the table below. [[Panchayatana puja|Panchayatana]] form of worship is said to have been introduced by [[Adi Shankara]], the 8th century C.E Hindu philosopher, to enable a person to worship his [[Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)|Ishta devata]] (adored or desired deity), to address each sectarian form of worship and thus bring about tolerance among all sects. Depending on the tradition followed by [[Smarta]] households, one of these deities is kept in the centre facing East direction and the other four are arranged in four corners surrounding it, as indicated in the diagram below; all the deities are worshipped with equal fervor and devotion.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name of Deity
! Bhuta(Tatwa)
! Name of the Stone
(Sila)
! Name of the River
! Name of the State where found in India
! Names of flowers and leaves used for worship
|-
| Ganesha
| Akasha(Space)
| Red Sonabhadra
| Sone
| Bihar
| Lotus and Bandook flowers
|-
| Surya(Sun)
| Agni/Teja(Fire)
| Crystal
| Vallam
| Tamil Nadu (Tanjavur)
| Bandook flower and plantain tree
|-
| Vishnu
| Prithivi(Earth)
| Saligrama
| Gandaki
| Nepal
| Tulsi (basil), Ashwatha, and
Amalaki leaves.
Marigold, Punnaga, and yellow flowers
|-
| Shiva
| Apu(Water)
| Banalinga
| Narmada (Omkara-kunda)
| Madhya Pradesh
| [[Golden Shower tree|Golden shower tree]] Flower, Bel leaves & Amalaki leaves.
Akund (Calotropis gigantea), Crown flower
Nagalingam flower
|-
| Ambika(Devi)
| Vayu (Air)
| Swarna Mukhi (Rekha Shila)
| Swarnamukhi
| Andhra Pradesh
| Red flowers – Hibiscus or China rose
and Neem leaves
|}

People generally sit facing East, while placing the deities/devatas and performing the Panchayatana pooja in the following order:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Center
! North East
! South East
! South West
! North West
|-
| Ganapati
| Vishnu
| Shiva
| Surya (Sun)
| Durga
|-
| Surya (Sun)
| Shiva
| Ganapati
| Vishnu
| Durga
|-
| Vishnu
| Shiva
| Ganapati
| Surya (Sun)
| Durga
|-
| Shiva
| Vishnu
| Surya (Sun)
| Ganapati
| Durga
|-
| Durga (Devi)
| Vishnu
| Shiva
| Ganapati
| Surya (Sun)
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! SHIVA
NORTHEAST
!
! DURGA
NORTHWEST
|-
|
| '''TATPURUSHA'''
|
|-
| '''VAMADEVA'''
| '''ISHANA'''
'''VISHNU'''
| '''AGHORA'''
'''(RUDRA)'''
|-
|
| '''SADYOJATA'''
|
|-
| '''SOUTH EAST'''
'''GANAPATI'''
|
| '''SOUTH WEST'''
'''SURYA'''
|}

'''A layout for performing the [[Panchayatana puja|Panchayatana]] Pooja'''

In an additional form of worship, called the [[Shanmata]], also founded by [[Adi Shankara]], six deities are worshipped; the sixth deity in addition to the five deities referred in [[Panchayatana puja|Panchayatana]] pooja referred above, is [[Murugan|Skanda]] also known as [[Kartikeya]] and [[Murugan]].

== Benefits of worship ==

Rasalinga made of Mercury is considered as the foremost among mobile lingas, belonging to Caralingas. The auspicious Banalinga is considered as a bestower of vast kingdoms to the [[Kshatriyas]]. A gold linga bestows the ownership of vast wealth on the [[Vaishyas]]. A Silalinga (a linga made of rock) bestows great purity on the [[Shudra]]s. A crystal linga and a Banalinga bestow all sorts of wishes on all<ref>[http://guruji.narod.ru/sivaji7.html om namah shivaya]</ref>

==Thanjavur Temple==
The famous [[Thanjavur]] [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] has one of the biggest Banalingas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salagram.net/sstp-Bana-lingas.html|title=Banalingas from the Narmadanadi|last=JTCd|website=www.salagram.net|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Panchayatana puja]]
* [[Shanmata]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Worship in Hinduism}}

[[Category:Objects used in Hindu worship]]
[[Category:Stones]]

Banalinga - Revision history

5.151.5.227 at 21:17, 21 May 2022