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Shiva Shankara is the Epitome of Simplicity
In this video post we shall discuss the spiritual scientific basis of a devotee offering milk to Lord Shiva Shankar. Pleasing Lord Shiva has never been difficult for His devotees. Bhole Bhandari Shivji is a symbol of compassion and forgiveness.
Doing Shiva Aarati or Shiva Abhisheka immensely pleases him. The traditional Rudra Abhisheka of the Lord consists of cooling ingredients like milk, honey, ghee, coconut water, fruit juice, etc. Such elaborate offerings are difficult to make to Lord Shiva Shankar daily. So, even if the devotee offers milk and water to the Shivling with sincerity and love, it will serve the cause.
Story of Sagar Manthan
Now, many may wonder why it is important to offer milk to Lord Shiva Shankar. Some Scholars debate and ponder over this. There is an interesting anecdote behind this ritual. It traces back to the Sagar Manthan when Maha Vishnu advised the Devas and the Asuras to Churn the Milk Ocean. They took up the task of churning to bring out the Amrita or Nectar from the ocean depths. Amrita had the potency to grant immortality to its consumer.
Without delay, the devas and the Asuras struck a deal of sharing all the gifts that would emerge as a result of this massive churning process. Indra headed the Devatas, while Bali Maharaja headed the team of Asuras. The churning went well for some time and then something terrible happened.
The universe was suddenly enveloped by a frightening darkness. It seemed as if the end of the world was near. All these alluded to the arrival of the Halahal Vish or Poison, from the ocean bed.
As per some versions, before the Halahal Vish arrived, 14 different Ratnas or gifts came out of the ocean bed, which were shared between the Asuras and Devas. When the Halahal appeared, there was chaos.
The Devas and the Asuras felt suffocated and started falling unconscious. Somehow, some managed to escape the scene and ascended to Brahmaloka. There they prayed to Brahma Deva to save them from this destruction. After noting the whole situation, Brahma Deva instructed them to delight Lord Shiva Shankar and request him for help.
Both, the Asuras and Devas, went to mount Kailash, the residence of Lord Shiva Shankar. They pleaded to the compassionate Lord to save them. Pitying the disturbed condition of his devotees, Mahadeva, immediately left his abode and went to subdue the Halahal Vish, which was creating havoc.
Bholenath, without delay, swallowed the whole poison and retained it in his throat. You can watch the video Benefits of Chanting Om Trayambakam Mantra | Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra Benefits that appears on our channel interesting.
Some versions say, that Devi Parvati was alarmed to see her husband consuming the destructive poison, which even the Devas could not withstand. In haste, she held the throat of her Lord and stopped the poison flow in his throat. Due to such a stoppage, the poison could not enter Mahadev’s body.
This incident gave Lord Shiva Shankar another name, Neelkantha, or the one with a blue throat. The effect of the poison was so devastating that even the Lord of the Universe felt uneasy after confining the Halahal to his throat. Lord Shiva Shankara’s body heated up, raising the temperature of the whole universe. This worried Lord Vishnu, so he told the Devas and the Asuras to pour pure cow milk on Bholenath.
After the Milk Abhisheka, the body temperature of Lord Shiva Shankar started to cool down, making the world pleasant again. Thus, even today, this tradition continues.
So, it also becomes important to take care of cows, the provider of milk.
Scientific Basis of Offering Milk to Shiva Shankar
Cow milk becomes a cooling agent when poured on the Shivling. It makes Lord Shiva Shankar cool. But then again, some people argue about the importance of this ritual. Some call it a superstition while certain others consider it to be scientific.
Now let us compare and analyse the significance of this act. Some people consider feeding the impoverished a bigger virtue than offering milk to Lord Shiva Shankar.
Is there something that we are missing here? Is Sanatana Dharma so weak that there are no subtle scientific answers to the process of milk offerings to the Shiva Lingam? People fail to understand the significance of this spiritual service.
According to our Vedic pantheon, Shivling represents the source of creation.
So offering him milk is equivalent to feeding the whole universe, in the true sense, in a subjective sense. Emotions and Intentions have great power. When the process is authentic, when the emotions and intentions are right, the outcomes have to be right.
Milk represents purity and coolness. When it is poured on the Shiva Lingam, the storehouse of heat and energy, it releases powerful vibrations that purify the surroundings and even balance the Shiva Lingam. The whole environment gets surcharged with positive energy.
This helps in cleansing one’s mind of all negativity and even connects the mind with the Atman. The person who gives milk offerings even imbibes noble qualities and develops a Satvik mindset.
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There is yet another angle to this ritual. According to our Shastras, it is said that all the Devas including Lord Vishnu and Brahma Deva reside in a cow, thus, making the Cow milk highly pure and medicinal.
Each Deva who resides in the cow in some way governs us. But, they, in turn, are controlled by Lord Shiva Shankar. Consequently, he is also known as Deva Adi Dev Mahadev. The Devas are always eager to serve Lord Shiva, and by offering milk to the Shiva lingam which contains the properties of all the gods, we connect the devas with Lord Shiva.
This allows the Devas to serve their Lord. Now you may be wondering as to where our conversation is going. Let us take the example of the 9 planets or the Navagrahas. These Grahams (planets) are responsible for presenting favourable or unfavourable life situations in one’s life.
Amongst them, the most infamous Graham is Shani Deva. He gives a person the results of one’s action. He is in charge of rewarding and punishing an entity for his good and bad actions.
Most people fear him for being extremely harsh towards sinners. However, Shani Deva is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and never misses a chance to serve him. The milk which we humans offer to Lord Shiva directly or indirectly allows other Devas including Shani Deva to serve Mahadev.
It not only pleases Lord Shiva Shankar but also Shani Deva, and this action adds up as good Karma and reduces some of the bad Karmas from that entity’s Karmic account.
Other Grahams and Devas like Surya, Chandra, Agni, Varuna, Budha, Brihaspati, etc. who are in charge of other aspects of our life, get an opportunity to serve Lord Shiva Shankar.
Hence through cow milk, we unite the serving Devas to Deva Adi Deva Mahadev. What can be a bigger virtue than this?
The Role of Seva in the Jiva’s Life
Just like the Devas, even the Jiva should be always eager to serve the Lord in whatever way he can. The act of offering milk to Mahadev instils the devotee with the quality of service.
Our Shastras talk highly about the act of service. Seva is the highest form of Bhakti or devotion, and by offering cow milk to Bholenath we render service to him.
Seva alone has the potency to impress the Lord and win His Love. One should not wish to see the Lord but serve the Lord, so much that the lord himself wishes to connect with us. Thus, the act of offering milk to Lord Shiva Shankar is not a superstition, but one of great scientific virtue.
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