C.R. Gowri Shanker
26th Sep 2013 Hyderabad: The Shiva lingam at the famous Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy temple at Srisailam in Kurnool district is shrinking due to chipping and centuries of abhishekams.
To avoid further deterioration, temple officials are contemplating gold plating the lingam.
However, opinions differ among the religious heads and Vedic pundits as some say it will be against the shastras and that the lingam won’t be visible if covered.
Regular abhisekham of the lingam and use of panchamruthum — milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey — besides water during the ritual for hundreds of years and chipping among other factors have affected the famous Shiva lingam at the Brahmarambha Mallikar-junaswamy temple at Srisailam in Kurnool.
Temple authorities noticed that the lingam was shrinking and decided to take steps to prevent further deterioration and consulted top Hindu religious leaders.
“About 1,000 litres of milk, 1,000 kg of sugar, water and other panchamruthams are used for abhishekam every day. Naturally, the granite lingam is affected,” said Chandrasekhar Azad, executive officer, Srisaila Brahmarambha Mallikarjuna Devasthanam.
Mr Azad said that the proposal for the gold plating was still in its formative stage. “We are getting diverse suggestions. Some gurus opine that there is nothing wrong in providing a gold cover to save the lingam while some are opposed to it. We are continuing consultations to find a solution,” he added.
He also pointed out that at Triambakeshwar in Nasik the Shiva lingam was shrinking for the same reason.
According to a priest, the lingam has now got smoothened. In the current situation, covering a swayambhu Shiva lingam with gold plate could bring calamity.
“There could be some restrictions, but covering with gold plate will hurt the sentiments of the people and, yes, it spells catastrophe,” a priest said. The priest recalled a folklore that some people tried to tamper with the Shiva Lingam, but had collapsed and died.
Shiv lingams sport gold as cover for devotee rush
DECCAN CHRONICLE.
Mar 8, 2016,
Hyderabad: Thousands of devotees offered prayers at Shiva temples across Telangana State, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country marking Shivaratri.
While some Shiva lingams were kept in their original black form, many were draped in gold or silver plates to protect them while bathing with water and offering Panchamrutham.The lingam at Puttaparti and several other temples remained in their original form.
Customers were exploited by vendors on Monday due to Mahashivaratri. Although, the rates were stable at the Gaddi Annaram fruit market and Gudimalkapur flower market, vendors increased prices. Marketing additional director G. Lakshmi Bai said more fruits arrived on Monday.
The lingams at Amaravati and Kotappa Konda too were covered with silver.
Panchamrutham is a mix of milk, curd, ghee (butter), honey and sugar besides tulsi and banana pieces. The famed lingam at the famed Srisailam Brahmarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy, temple which was visited by thousands of pilgrims, sported a gold cover. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
This was despite controversy and protests from a section of religious heads and priests.“We put the cover last year to protect the lingam,” temple executive officer Sagar Babu said.
As lakhs of devotees turned up at various Shiva temples, authorities also stopped Sparsha darshan, during which people are allowed to touch the deity.
The Someswara Swamy lingam in Bhimavaram, West Godavari, has been given a protective silver cover. Officials at the famous 2nd century Jaladh-eeswara Swamy temple, popularly known as Sri Balaparvathi Sametha Jalasheeswara Alayam in Ghantasala in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, have adopted a unique measure.
“We have put a silver cover on the lingam to save it from chipping and damage due to regular bathing with water, milk and other offerings. There is no other option,”said temple trustee Ramak-rishna Goripati.
The fact that Shiva and Parvati are placed on a single peetam (panavattamu) makes the temple different from many other ancient temples like Srisailam and Srikalahasti.
“The lingam at the Lala temple has remained in its original form over the years. We have no intention of covering it with any metal," said temple priest Radhakrishna at Secunderabad.
But on Monday grapes were sold at Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg against Rs 40 to Rs 50 on Sunday. Similarly, grapes (black) were sold at Rs 90 per kg, watermelon at Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg against Rs 25, Orange ( Rs 10 against Rs 5 per one), Sweet-lime ( Rs 10 per piece), dates at Rs 40 per kg (against Rs 25) and banana at Rs 50 a dozen against Rs 40. K. Yadamma, a flower seller, said the rates increased in Gudimalkapur and Poolbagh markets.
Srisaila Devasthanam seeks opinion of "Panchacharyas" over gold cover on Lingam
The lingams at Amaravati and Kotappa Konda too were covered with silver.
Panchamrutham is a mix of milk, curd, ghee (butter), honey and sugar besides tulsi and banana pieces. The famed lingam at the famed Srisailam Brahmarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy, temple which was visited by thousands of pilgrims, sported a gold cover. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
This was despite controversy and protests from a section of religious heads and priests.“We put the cover last year to protect the lingam,” temple executive officer Sagar Babu said.
As lakhs of devotees turned up at various Shiva temples, authorities also stopped Sparsha darshan, during which people are allowed to touch the deity.
The Someswara Swamy lingam in Bhimavaram, West Godavari, has been given a protective silver cover. Officials at the famous 2nd century Jaladh-eeswara Swamy temple, popularly known as Sri Balaparvathi Sametha Jalasheeswara Alayam in Ghantasala in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, have adopted a unique measure.
“We have put a silver cover on the lingam to save it from chipping and damage due to regular bathing with water, milk and other offerings. There is no other option,”said temple trustee Ramak-rishna Goripati.
The fact that Shiva and Parvati are placed on a single peetam (panavattamu) makes the temple different from many other ancient temples like Srisailam and Srikalahasti.
“The lingam at the Lala temple has remained in its original form over the years. We have no intention of covering it with any metal," said temple priest Radhakrishna at Secunderabad.
But on Monday grapes were sold at Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg against Rs 40 to Rs 50 on Sunday. Similarly, grapes (black) were sold at Rs 90 per kg, watermelon at Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg against Rs 25, Orange ( Rs 10 against Rs 5 per one), Sweet-lime ( Rs 10 per piece), dates at Rs 40 per kg (against Rs 25) and banana at Rs 50 a dozen against Rs 40. K. Yadamma, a flower seller, said the rates increased in Gudimalkapur and Poolbagh markets.
Srisaila Devasthanam seeks opinion of "Panchacharyas" over gold cover on Lingam
C R Gowri Shanker
Hyderabad, Oct 12: The Srisaila Devasthanam is seeking the opinion of the “Panchacharyas“ over the controversial plan to cover the “shrinking“ Shiva Lingam with a gold plate inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy temple at Srisailam in Kurnool district.
Temple authorities, who received divergent views over the plan, have decided to take a final call after receiving opinion of the present Panchacharyas.
Sources said temple EO Chandrasekhar Azad told them that the Shiva Lingam, which was about 10 inches in height in 1794 had now been reduced to 4 inches due to daily cleansing with water and Abhisekham ritual using Panchamrutham comprising of milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey.
He said the plan to cover the Shiva Lingam with a gold plate was aimed to protect it from further shrinking for future generations since a similar Shiva Lingam in Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra had been reduced to zero over a period of time.
Srisaila Shiva Lingam size of 10 inches has been recorded in the Andhra Pradesh Government Archaeological series No 23 “The Temples of Srisailam” written by Dr M Rama Rao, a retired professor of History at Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati in the 1960s and also in the book titled “Srisailam, its History and Cult" written by Prof P V Parabhramha Sastry which was brought out by Srisaila Devasthanam Publication sometime back.
Yet Jangamas and Veerashaivas have strongly opposed the temple authorities plan to provide gold cover stating it was against the Veerashaiva Agama Shastras and it would bring disaster if the original Shiva Lingam is tampered in any manner.
Temple authorities now plan to write to five Panchacharayas---Srimad Rambhapuri Jagadguru Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Mahaswami Rambhapuri Peetham, Chikaballapur, Karnataka, Srimad Ujjini Jagadguru Sri Siddhalingam Rajadeshikunda Shivacharya Mahaswami, near Bellary, Karnataka, Srimad Kedar Jagdguru Bheema Shankara Sivacharaya, Kedar, Uttarakhand, Srimad Srisaila Jagdguru Dr Chenna Siddharama Panditaradhya Shivacharya Mahaswami and Srimad Kashi Jadguru Dr Chandrasekhar Shivacharya Mahaswami, Kasi, Uttar Pradesh to elicit their views over providing a gold cover.
“We have agreed to the proposal made by the temple EO to elicit the opinion of Panchacharyas in this regard. It is the right thing. But there is no change in our stand against providing a gold cover which is against the tenets of Veerashaiva Agama Shastras.
Shiva Lingam should be covered with vibhuti but not gold,” Mr R Visweshwaraiah, President, A P Jangama Samajam told Deccan Chronicle.
He added,”EO had informed us that the Shiva Lingam size has been reduced to 4 inches from 10 inches three centuries ago.” In another twist to the controversy, Mr Jagadev Hiremath who heads the Rashtra Veerashaiva Dharma Prachara Sangam quoting a booklet brought out by Mysore based Datta Avadooth Peetham claimed that present Shiva Lingam was not the original one. He also opposed gold cover to Shiva Lingam.
“We are told that the present Lingam is not the original one. Original lingam is located below the present one. Since it was difficult to perform pujas to the earlier one due to congested location, the new lingam was installed. We are dwelling into the details,” he said.
Hyderabad, Oct 12: The Srisaila Devasthanam is seeking the opinion of the “Panchacharyas“ over the controversial plan to cover the “shrinking“ Shiva Lingam with a gold plate inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy temple at Srisailam in Kurnool district.
Temple authorities, who received divergent views over the plan, have decided to take a final call after receiving opinion of the present Panchacharyas.
Sources said temple EO Chandrasekhar Azad told them that the Shiva Lingam, which was about 10 inches in height in 1794 had now been reduced to 4 inches due to daily cleansing with water and Abhisekham ritual using Panchamrutham comprising of milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey.
He said the plan to cover the Shiva Lingam with a gold plate was aimed to protect it from further shrinking for future generations since a similar Shiva Lingam in Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra had been reduced to zero over a period of time.
Srisaila Shiva Lingam size of 10 inches has been recorded in the Andhra Pradesh Government Archaeological series No 23 “The Temples of Srisailam” written by Dr M Rama Rao, a retired professor of History at Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati in the 1960s and also in the book titled “Srisailam, its History and Cult" written by Prof P V Parabhramha Sastry which was brought out by Srisaila Devasthanam Publication sometime back.
Yet Jangamas and Veerashaivas have strongly opposed the temple authorities plan to provide gold cover stating it was against the Veerashaiva Agama Shastras and it would bring disaster if the original Shiva Lingam is tampered in any manner.
Temple authorities now plan to write to five Panchacharayas---Srimad Rambhapuri Jagadguru Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Mahaswami Rambhapuri Peetham, Chikaballapur, Karnataka, Srimad Ujjini Jagadguru Sri Siddhalingam Rajadeshikunda Shivacharya Mahaswami, near Bellary, Karnataka, Srimad Kedar Jagdguru Bheema Shankara Sivacharaya, Kedar, Uttarakhand, Srimad Srisaila Jagdguru Dr Chenna Siddharama Panditaradhya Shivacharya Mahaswami and Srimad Kashi Jadguru Dr Chandrasekhar Shivacharya Mahaswami, Kasi, Uttar Pradesh to elicit their views over providing a gold cover.
“We have agreed to the proposal made by the temple EO to elicit the opinion of Panchacharyas in this regard. It is the right thing. But there is no change in our stand against providing a gold cover which is against the tenets of Veerashaiva Agama Shastras.
Shiva Lingam should be covered with vibhuti but not gold,” Mr R Visweshwaraiah, President, A P Jangama Samajam told Deccan Chronicle.
He added,”EO had informed us that the Shiva Lingam size has been reduced to 4 inches from 10 inches three centuries ago.” In another twist to the controversy, Mr Jagadev Hiremath who heads the Rashtra Veerashaiva Dharma Prachara Sangam quoting a booklet brought out by Mysore based Datta Avadooth Peetham claimed that present Shiva Lingam was not the original one. He also opposed gold cover to Shiva Lingam.
“We are told that the present Lingam is not the original one. Original lingam is located below the present one. Since it was difficult to perform pujas to the earlier one due to congested location, the new lingam was installed. We are dwelling into the details,” he said.
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