Lord Shiva has many names and avatars each reflecting a different character. Rudra is a fearsome form taken by Lord Shiva to end the cruelty and tyranny in the entire universe. Worshipping Lord Rudra is done by performing Abishekham, which is called Rudrabhishek Puja.
It is a very important process that is performed by Hindu all over the world. Abhishek refers to pour water, milk, honey, ghee, panchamrit, etc. on the statue of god and goddess by reciting hymns. It is a belief that it is the best way to please god or goddesses. However, 108 names of Lord Shiva are chanted in the Rudrabhishek puja. This sacred Pooja is the most common one across all Shiva Temples. Moreover, it has special importance at the sites of the major Shiva Lingams.
According to Ramayana, Lord Rama performed Rudrabhishek Puja at Rameshwaram to show his devotion and attain the blessings of Lord Shiva. Lord Rama performs this puja before crossing the ocean to retrieve Sita and defeat Ravana in Lanka.
Rudrabhishek is a very powerful way to get rid of problems. Vedic Scripture and astrologist suggest people perform this puja from time to time to make life free from various obstacles and bad karma. Performing Rudrabhishek Puja in the month of Shrawan is considered auspicious.
Performing Rudrabhishek Puja
This puja is performed by invoking Lord Rudra followed by the chanting of mantras or hymns. In Rudrabhishek Puja, holy Kalashas are filled with water and the manifestation of Varuna and holy rivers namely Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri are summoned into the water. Then the Lord is worshiped by singing the hymns, especially the Rudra Chamakh. It is the main part of this Pooja which is recited throughout. Lord Shiva is also known as Bhola Nath as he gets very easily pleased by the prayers of his devotees.
In Rudrabhisheka Puja, Lord Shiva is worshiped in Rudra form. It is one of the greatest Puja to remove all evils, to attain all desires, and for all-around prosperity. Rudrabhishekam is mostly performed for the sake of washing one’s sins and diseases, it brings peace, prosperity, and happiness, along with the bonding in the family. It can be fixed according to one’s nakshatra and tithi of that particular date. Shrawan and Kartik, special days like Maha Shivratri, and Mondays are considered auspicious times to perform Rudrabhishekam. Moreover, it can be performed both at temples as well as at the home with a priest. It is essential that while performing this Pooja the Shiva Lingam should face in the North direction. The devotee face towards the east to the Shiv Lingam.
Ingredients used in this Puja
Lord Shiva is the destroyer of all evil and the one who bestows the greatest blessings when pleased. Generally, sacred ingredients are used in performing this puja such as a mixture of liquids like milk, Ganga Jal, honey, curd, sugarcane juice, sandalwood paste, belpatra, flowers, black til, different types of cereals, and so on. It is the famous Vedic ritual and sacred way to please Lord Shiva in the Rudra form. It is considered one of the finest, purest, and compelling rituals in Hinduism. It is seen as the greatest spiritual puja in all the Vedic scriptures.
Significance of Rudrabhishek Puja
Lord Shiva is well-known by the name of Rudra, the benevolent and the destroyer of evil. Rudrabhishek invokes Lord Shiva by chanting hymns and offering special Pooja. Rudra is worshiped in the form of lingam and Abhishek is done with the scared item. It is one of the most significant, purest, and finest ceremonies to please Lord Shiva. It is the greatest spiritual puja in all the Vedic scriptures. One can aim for inner peace and fulfillment through this Pooja.
The reason behind Rudri puja is that the world is a play of energy: positive and negative. The entire negative energy in form of the disease, depression, and unhappiness gets transformed into peace, prosperity, and joy by invoking Lord Shiva. Then peace surrounds in body, mind, and soul. It is believed that this puja brings health, wealth, and knowledge to one’s life. It removes various doshas and negativity. It beings a positive way of thinking.
Benefits of Rudrabhishek Puja
Rudrabhishek puja helps the devotees in attaining all the desires and awards like all-around material prosperity. It protects from negativity, enemies, and evil. One can gain good health, wealth, and happy life. Devotes of Lord Shiva performing Rudrabhishek Puja once a year gets the following benefits.
- It is a source of positive energy and opens the way to success.
- It brings peace, happiness, and prosperity to one’s life.
- It purifies the soul by eradicating the bad karma and evil effects of various doshas in one’s horoscope.
- It helps to minimize sins.
- It helps to get rid of the disease.
- Bachelors can get a good life partner.
- Bless a person with a healthy mind and a positive spirit
- Prevents untimely incidents, accidents and bestows one with sound health, both physical and mental.
- Remove the evil effects of the Punarvasu, Ashlesha Nakshatras, and the Pushya.
“Om Namah Shivaya” and “Om Rudraya Namah” are the most popular and powerful Rudra mantras chanted from times immemorial for worship and meditation.