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The Tale of the Daruvana Forest - How Worship of Shiv Ling Started?

The story of Shiv Ling in Daruvana in Shiv Purana

According to the KotiRudra Samhita, a pivotal moment in the history of the Shiv Ling takes place in the sacred Daruvana forest. The forest was home to a group of deeply devout sages who spent their days in rigorous meditation and ritual worship of Lord Shiva.

To test the depth of their devotion and humility, Lord Shiva decided to visit them. He assumed a highly unconventional, brilliant, yet stark naked form, covering his body only in holy ash. Wandering through the forest in this eccentric state, his presence sent shockwaves through the community. While the wives of the sages were completely transfixed, confused, and startled by this divine stranger, the returning sages were deeply offended.

Deluded by Shiva's cosmic illusion (Maya), the sages failed to recognise the supreme deity standing before them. Infuriated by what they perceived as a severe violation of Vedic decorum, they hurled a powerful curse at him: "Let your phallus fall to the ground!"

The Cosmic Firestorm

Instantly obeying the power of the sages' words, the phallus (shiv linga) of the deity detached and fell. However, instead of remaining a harmless object on the forest floor, it transformed into a catastrophic cosmic firestorm.

The fiery phallus began rapidly moving across creation, incinerating everything in its path. It tore through:

Pataal (the underworld)
Heaven (the celestial realms)
Earth (the mortal world)

With the entire cosmos facing imminent destruction and unable to find peace, the terrified gods and sages fled to Lord Brahma for help.

The Intervention of the Goddess

Lord Brahma immediately reprimanded the sages for their spiritual arrogance and lack of hospitality toward a divine guest. He warned them that the universe would continue to burn until the wandering emblem was made stable.

Brahma revealed the only ultimate solution: Only Goddess Parvati could safely hold and pacify the volatile energy.

Following Brahma's ritual instructions, the gods and sages prayed to Goddess Parvati, begging her to manifest as the sacred, receptive pedestal. The Goddess answered their prayers, assuming the form of the pedestal to securely hold and embrace the fallen phallus. The moment she locked the phallus into place, the devastating fires ceased, balance was restored to the three worlds, and the established form of the Shiv Ling became the primary object of universal worship.

Shiv Purana - KotiRudra Samhita, Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

( The reason for Shiv's assuming the phallic form)

The sages said :

1. O Suta, you know every thing by the grace of Vyasa. There is nothing not known to you. Hence we approach you with a query.

2. The phallic form of Shiv is worshipped throughout the world. You have said so. Is there any special reason for the same ?

3. Parvati, the beloved of Shiv, is heard in the world in the form of an arrow. O Suta, what is the reason for this ? Please satisfy our curiosity in this respect by giving the account you have heard.

Suta said

4. O brahmins, the story of a different Kalpa was heard from Vyasa by me. O excellent sages, I shall narrate the same. Please listen.

5. What happened formerly among the brahmins in the Daruvana forest may kindly be heard. I shall narrate the same in the manner I have heard.

6. There is an excellent forest Daruvana. There were many excellent sages there, great devotees of Shiv who were always engrossed in meditation on Shiv.

7. O great sages, they performed the worship of Shiv incessantly thrice a day. They eulogised Shiv with different devotional hymns.

8. Once the leading brahmin devotees of Shiv engrossed in the meditation of Shiv went into the forest for bringing sacrificial twigs.

9. In the meantime Shiv himself assuming a very hideous form came there in order to test their devotion.

10. He was very brilliant but stark naked. He had smeared ashes all over his body as the sole ornament. Standing there and holding his penis he began to show all sorts of vicious tricks.

11. It was with a mind to do something pleasing to the forest-dwellers that Shiv, favourite of the devotees, came to the forest at his will.

12. The wives of the sages were extremely frightened at this sight. The other women excited and surprised approached the lord.

13. Some embraced him. Others held his hands. The women were engrossed in struggling with one another.

14. Meanwhile the great sages came there. On seeing him engaged in perverse activities they were pained and infuriated.

15. The sages, deluded by Shiv’s Maya and plunged in grief, began to say—“Who is this ? Who is this?”

16. When the naked sage did not reply, the great sages told that terrible Purusa.

17. ‘‘You are acting pervertedly. This violates the Vedic path. Hence let your penis fall on the ground.”

Suta said :

18. When they said thus, the penis of that Avadhuta, who was Shiv of wonderful form, fell down instantly.

19. That penis burnt everything in front; wherever it went it began to burn everything there.

20. It went to Pataal; it went to heaven; it went all over the earth; it never remained steady anywhere.

21. All the worlds and the people were distressed. The sages became grief-stricken. Whether gods or sages no one had any peace or joy.

22. All the gods and sages who did not recognize Shiv became sad. They assembled together and hastened to Brahma and sought refuge in him.

23. O brahmins, after going there, they bowed to and eulogised Brahma. They narrated what had happened to Brahma the Creator.

24 Brahma heard them. He realised that they had been deluded by Shiv’s Maya. After bowing to Shiv, he told the excellent sages.

Brahma said :

25. O brahmins, you though wise do such despicable things. Then why complain against the ignorant who act likewise ?

26-27. Who can wish for happiness after offending and antagonising Shiv thus? If a person does not welcome and serve a guest at midday, his virtue is taken away by the guest who in return deposits his sin in him. What then of Shiv himself as a guest ?

28. As long as the penis does not become stationary there cannot be anything good in the three worlds. I am telling you the truth.

29. O sages, you must do such things as will make the penis of Shiv steady. Please ponder over this in your minds.

Suta said: —

30. Thus urged, the sages bowed to Brahma and said—“O Brahma, what shall be done by us ? Please guide us in that task.’

31. When the great sages asked him thus, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, spoke to them.

Brahma said:

32. Let the gods propitiate goddess Parvatl and pray. If she can assume the form of the vaginal passage that penis will become steady

33. O excellent sages, listen. I shall tell you the mode of procedure. Act accordingly with love and devotion. She will be thus pleased.

34. Make an eight-petalled mystic diagram of lotus and place a pot over it. Water from holy centres shall be poured into the pot along with the sprouts of Durva and barley.

35. The pot shall be invoked with Vedic mantras. It shall be worshipped according to the Vedic rituals after remembering Shiv.

36. The penis shall be drenched with that water, O great s^ges. When the sprinkling is made with Satarudriya mantras it will become stable.

37. Parvati in the form of the Vaginal passage and an auspicions arrow shall form as the pedestal wherein the phallus shall be installed in accompaniment of the Vedic mantras.

38. Lord Shiv shall be propitiated with the offerings of sweet scents, sandal paste, fragrant flowers, incense and other things as well as by food offerings and other forms of worship.

39. With prostrations, holy hymns, musical instruments and songs he shall be propitiated further. Svastyayana mantras shall be repeated and the devotees shall proclaim the victory of the lord.

40. The following prayer shall be recited—“O lord of the gods, be pleased, O delighter of the universe. You are the creator, protector and the annihilator. You arc imperishable.

41. You are the beginning of the universe, the origin of the universe within the universe. “O lord Shiv, be quiet. Protect all the worlds.”

42. If this is performed there will be stability, to be sure. There will not be any aberration in the three worlds. There will be happiness always.

Suta said : —

43. O brahmins, thus advised, the gods bow^d to Brahma and then sought refuge in Shiv with a desire for the happiness of the worlds.

44. When worshipped with great devotion and implored, lord Shiv became delighted and spoke to them. Lord Shiv said :

45. O gods, O sages, you listen to my words with reverence. If my penis is supported in a vaginal passage there will be happiness.

46. Except Parvati, no other woman can hold my penis. Held by her my penis will immediately become quiet.

Suta said :

47. O great sages, on hearing those words the delighted sages and the gods took Brahma with them and prayed to Parvati.

48. After propitiating Parvati and the bull-bannered lord and performing the rites mentioned before, the excellent penis became static.

49. The gods and the sages propitiated Parvati and Shiv by the mode of procedure laid down in the Vedas for the sake of virtue.

50. Brahma, Vishnu and other gods, sages and the three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings worshipped Shiv particularly.

51. Shiv became delighted and so also Parvati, the mother of the universe. That phallus was held by her in that form then.

52. When the phallus was stabilised, there was welfare throughout the worlds. O brahmins, that phallus became famous in the three worlds.

53. The phallus is known as “HateSa” as well as “SiviShiv.” By worshipping it, all the people become happy in every respect.

54. Here everything will flourish in plenty conferring supreme happiness and bliss. Hereafter it will bestow final liberation. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.