Jyothir Lingam - its Revelation

Introdution 

Om Visveswaraya Mahadevaya Triyambakaya Trupuranthakaya Tripuragni kalaya Kalagni Rudraya Neelakantaya Mrutyunjayaya Sarveswaraya Sadasivaya Sriman Mahadevaya Namaha:

Once the sages living in Naimicharinya requested Saint Soodhar to explain how Jyothir Lingams came to this universe.
Soodhar began to tell the Mahatmiyam to the sages "O virtuous men of God I will tell you the epic of Siva Puranam as far as I know and If there is any mistake Maheswar should pardon me." Soodhar narrates as follows:

The great philosophers saw with their spiritual vision the phenomenal Image of Lord Shiva as in Linga swaroopam (incarnation) which no one can explain and no one can understand.

Brahmam ( as distinct from Brahma ) has no beginning and also it has no end. This is neither sthulam (body) nor sukshumam.(concepts) Everything is Brahmam and Brahmam is everything.
Brahmam lovingly created prakruthi (Mayadevi) with eight hands - bright luminous and resplendent in all fine jewellery. At the same time he created a handsome man also.

As the man and the Devi who thus came into being were contemplating why they had been created an invisible voice told both to do penence. Accordingly they did penence for long number of years as advised by the voice. In the process they both were sweatting and the sweat flowed like a stream from their body and the water became an ocean. The man and the Devi created by Brahmam went into 'yoga-nidra'. From that time the man was named Narayana and the prakruthi devi was called Narayini.

( Prakruthi is the primordial matter which became the universe through the process of evolution.)

From the navel of Narayana came out a nice frangrant lotus with innumerable petals. and an immeseasurably long and wide stalk. Brahma - the creator incarnated in the lotus.
Brahma saw around him. He could'nt understand anything - who he was, where-from he came, why he was created and so forth. Hence he went down through the lotus stalk to find answers to these questions. He went on and on for years and years but he could not reach the bottom. He became very tired and turned round and began going up the stalk again for years and years. He could not reach the top either. He was bewildered when he heard an invisible voice which asked him to do penance.

Accordingly he did penance for 12 years. Atlast Sri Narayana appeared before him. Brahma asked him who he was and why he had appeared before him. Narayana said " I am the one that created you to do the work of creation". Brahma was disbelieving and retorted " you say that I have been created to carry on the work of creation. But I did not create you. Then how did you come into being ?" They were quarreling hotly when suddenly there appeared a bright Jyothi (light). They both looked at the four directions for the source of the brightness. A big Lingam appeared in front of them. They were stunned and stoped quarreling. Narayana said to Brahma "you go up and see where this begins at the top and I will go down and see the end at the bottom"

Narayana took form of the a white boar and drilling the earth went deep down. From that time he was called 'Swedha Varaham' and the 'kalpam' became 'swedha varaha-kalpam'.
(When we do any pooja 'sangalpam' this word 'swedha varaha kalpe' is mentioned) Brahma went up on his Hamsa vahanam (meaning: 'Hamsa' is a swan & 'Vahanam' is vehicle). Years passed and they could not locate the end nor the begining. and they became humble and realised that there was one above them .

When they were doing prayer they heard sound "AUM" . They were searching for the source of the divine sound and they saw the letters 'agaaram' ( a ) on the south, on the north they saw " ugaaram " ( U ) and inbetween the "Magaaram" ( M ). and the The first letter ' Agaaram' was like 'Surya Mandalapradesam' ( sun ) ugaram was like the brightness of Agni ( like fire) and 'Maagaram' was like the Chandra mandala pradesam ( moon the sattelite). Over that there appeared the "brahmam" bright like spadigam (pure crystal) with five faces and ten arms and with priceless jewels. God Aadhi sivam appeared in Jyothi swaroopam.

Thus appeared "JYOTHIR LINGAM".
Narayana and Brahma bowed to Easwara and asked him " My lord, who are you ? Please explain to us about your avathar." Shiva said " I am the one that created Narayana and Narayana created Brahma. I am everything and every-thing is I. I am the "Brahmam". He told Brahmah " I made Vishnu create you to carry on the task of creation." he told Vishnu " I have created you to sustain the universe. Rudhra who will be the destroyer is also my aspect." Vishnu asked " My Lord we now know the purpose of our creation how will be get the 'sakthi' to do our duties."

Shiva was very happy and taught them "Om Thatvamasi" 'Maha-vakyam' (Mahavakyam means the great sentences) and Mrithyn-jayam, Pancha-ksharam, Chinthamani, and Dhakshina-moorthi Moola Jabam Brahma and Vishnu bowed to the lord. Shiva told them "Narayana, I am in 'Lingam' exactly how I appear now before you with 5 faces. I will fulfil the desires of all my devotees.

On my right side is brahma, on my left Vishnu and in center Rudran - all three united in me. You three are only my 'swaroopam' created to carry on the three duities of creation, sustanence and destruction. Though you are my 'swaroopam' I have no bondage with you. You should pray to me so that the universe you will create in future will be prosperous and people will take you as an example and be devoted to me.

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Om Namasivaya