Things to Be Careful About, If You Are Performing Lord Shiva's Puja on Monday.

In Hindu mythology, Mondays are associated with Lord Shiva. Do you know the name Shiva has a special significance? The syllable `sh’ means permanent bliss, `I’ stands for male energy whereas `va’ stands for female energy. He is the god of destruction and transcendental knowledge. According to vedas, worshipping Him in the form of linga helps a person gain highest merit in this life and in the future lifetimes.

Though Lord Shiva gets pleased and fulfill people’s desires easily, the devotees should perform the Monday puja with correct rituals.

Some important points to be kept in mind while you perform the puja.

Offering Bilva or belpatra in Shiva Puja is important. A confluence of three leaves, bilva is symbolic of Shiva's three eyes as well as his trident (trishul) which destroys sins of the past three births. However, there are certain days when you should not pluck the bel leaves from a tree.

1) According to the scriptures, Bilva patra should not be plucked on these days -
- Monday
- New Moon (Amavasya)
- Makar Sankranti ( festival in January)
- Full Moon day (Poornima)
- Ashtami
- Navami
These should be offered to the God after being washed with water. Torn leaves should not be offered.

2) Don't apply kumkum tilak

Avoid using kumkum tilak on the shivling, and use sandalwood paste instead. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, Lord Shiva is believed to be sitting in intense meditation. Kumkum being red in colour intesifies the heat generated due to meditation, rather than cooling it down. Sandalwood paste, on the other hand, has a soothing effect.

Secondly, kumkum is applied by women and represents love & devotion by ladies. It can be used on the idols of goddess Parvati, but not Shiva.

3) Don't offer coconut water

Never pour coconut water on shivling, although you can offer coconuts as a whole on the lingam

4) What fruit to offer

Although many fruits can be offered but most commonly, Bel (wood apple) is Lord Shiva’s favourite. It signifies longevity and is famous for its medicinal properties.

5) Don't use these flowers for puja

Do not offer ketaki or champa flowers on shivling, as they are said to be cursed by Lord Shiva. According to a legend, Lord Brahma once asked ketaki to bear false witness about his discovery of Lord Shiva’s beginning. This dishonesty earned Shiva's wrath and he cursed both Brahma and the flower of never being worshipped.

6) No to steel stand

Never use a steel stand for shiv abhishek. If you keep a shivling at home, it should be accompanied by a jaldhara (pot of water at top). Without the jaldhara, the set up is incomplete and may attract negative energy

7) Proper way to pray

Worship Lord Ganesha before praying to Shiva. This means, water and milk should be offered on Ganesha's idol first and then on the others. Lord Shiva's boon makes Ganesha the first god to be worshipped during any auspicious puja or ritual

8) Never put tulsi (basil) leaves on the shivling

According to Shivpuran, Lord Shiva killed Tulsi's husband, who was a demon called Shankhachur. That's why Tulsi is never offered on shivling.

9) Clean mind & body

Always take a bath and wear fresh clothes before you begin pooja. Doing it around the time of sunrise is especially beneficial.

10) What to chant

Chant the mantra "Om Naham Shivay" while doing the rituals. This is a five-syllable mantra with redeeming powers, and means "I bow to Shiva- the supreme reality, the inner self."