Mistakes to Avoid While Worshipping Lord Shiva
Devotion to Lord Shiva permeates the world, his presence felt in every particle of the cosmos. This is why Lord Shiva, in all his forms, ensures the well-being of his devotees. Whether worshipping a statue of Lord Shiva or honoring the lingam, the Shiva lingam is considered an earthly embodiment of Shiva. Therefore, worshipping the lingam is seen as equivalent to witnessing Lord Shiva himself. Following this belief, devotees install Shiva lingams in temples and homes for their worship and devotion.
Lord Shiva is also known as "Bholenath," meaning "the innocent one," as he is easily pleased by the sincere devotion of his devotees and fulfills their wishes. To appease their beloved deity, devotees perform daily puja, offer their favourite items, and observe fasts. However, devotees of Lord Shiva must understand that he can be as easily angered as he is pleased. Therefore, if you worship Lord Shiva daily, avoid any actions during puja that might displease him, lest he become displeased.
Mistakes to Avoid During Worship:
1. During fasts, consume sattvic food. Avoid rich and oily foods.
2. Avoid wearing black clothing, as it is believed to attract negativity. Black clothing is discouraged during puja and rituals.
3. On Mondays, wear white clothing, if possible. If not, green, red, white, saffron, yellow, or sky-blue garments can also be worn.
4. During puja, chanting mantras, or reading scriptures, avoid talking to anyone. Otherwise, the positive energy of the worship will not be fully received.
5. Maintain pure thoughts while worshipping the Lord. Refrain from gossiping about others or harbouring negative thoughts. Purity of thought is the path to reaching the divine.
6. Ketki flowers and tulsi leaves are not offered during Lord Shiva's puja. Similarly, Lord Ganesha also should not be offered tulsi and ketki. Furthermore, Lord Shiva should never be offered water ablution using a conch shell.
7. Maintain personal hygiene and wear clean clothes during Shiva puja. Engage in mental practices during menstruation, but avoid touching the deity's idol.
