THE CUSTOMARY PRACTICE OF BEARING PHYSICAL HARDSHIPS DURING VISIT TO MAHADEV SHRINES.

There is a saying: "No pain, no gain." I always collect Gangajal in large amounts from the Ganges and offer non-stop Jal Dhara on the Shivling whenever I visit Kashi. It is mandatory to go through physical hardships while visiting any of the shrines, especially those of Mahadev.

The sign Aquarius is the throne of Rudra/Hara, who is easily appeased but requires transformations to the locomotive tatwa. This has been understood by people throughout the world as a means of purification and growth. We visit the Shiva shrines barefoot, and the massive physical hardships and resultant exhaustion leave us filled with humility, ready to receive the benign grace of Lord Supreme. The rains of grace do not collect on the barren mountaintops of pride but in the lush valleys of humility. Maha Yogi Shiva is rightly venerated as the quintessential master of the elemental Panch Tatwas, and his Bhakti sanctions the intense purifications of the Panch Tatwas.

Shiva is depicted as having five faces in several temples. Isana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva, and Sadjyota are the names and aspects given to each of these faces. Isana, which faces south-east, depicts Shiva's Iswara aspect, also known as Sada Shiva or the Eternal Shiva. Tatpurusha, which faces east, portrays Shiva's misguided Purusha or ego. Aghora, which faces south, represents Shiva's destructive and regenerative aspects, which consume life and prepare for renewal. Vamadeva, which faces north, represents Shiva's healer and preserver aspect. Sadyojata, which faces west, represents Shiva's creative aspect.

The intense purification of the Panch Tatwas occurs when we take bodily pain in reaching certain insurmountable shrines, which activates the Moolaadhaar Chakra. With our feet bare, we enhance our connection with Bhu Tatwa (Mother Earth). When we carry Gangajal on our shoulders, we go through intense purifications because once the Kanwar is filled with holy water, the pitchers should never touch the ground. Thereafter, during the sojourn, the positive energies of the shrines enter into our body, helping to keep our minds calm and setting aside the Ago/False Ego. The massive cosmic energies bring changes to our bodies.

This is the reason why I have seen some devotees even complete the entire shrine journey by lying flat on the ground, marking the entire length of their body, and repeating the process.

If prominent planets are placed in Akash Tatwa, visiting temples by taking physical pains and hardships reduces the maledictions. Foot slogging is the perfect way to pay reverence to the Lord Supreme with true hearts and in hope of a righteous living, good health, prosperity, and purification of sins. At least we need to wholeheartedly accept the hardships during his Pooja because he is the only deity who had consumed the entire pitcher of 'halahala' or lethal poison for the protection of the living world.

नमो निष्कलरूपाय नमो निष्कलतेजसे । नमः सकलनाथाय नमस्ते सकलात्मने ll नमः प्रणववाच्याय नमः प्रणवलिङ्गिने । नमः सृष्ट्यादिकर्त्रे च नमः पंचमुखाय ते ll पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपाय पञ्चकृत्याय ते नमः । आत्मने ब्रह्मणे तुभ्यमनन्तगुणशक्तये ll सकलाकल रूपाय शम्भवे गुरवे नमः ।