Shiva Manasa Puja

[soundararajan50]

Sringeri Jagadguru has said in many Anugraha Bhashanams that the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya are for all times and we should make efforts to try and understand the works of Bhagavadpada Shankara.
Adi Shankara has written some highly complex works which only a few people may be able to understand, but at the same time, Shankara has written many works which almost everyone can understand.
If we consider the Shivamanasapuja by Shankara, everytime, we read or listen to it with the meaning, our mind becomes pure and divine.
At a top level, Shivamanasapuja is about how we can do puja to God in our Manas (mind). Sringeri Jagadguru has mentioned about the greatness of Manasa puja in an Anugraha Bhashanam, describing an incident of how His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had done Manasa puja during a Vijaya Yatra and at that time, He had seen the Antarmukha in His Guru after doing Manasa puja (https://www.facebook.com/sringeri.vi...29611233977035).
At a deeper level, Shivamanasapuja stotra by Shankara has more to offer.
The first three stanza describes the steps of doing puja (Puja Vidhi). The way we do puja to God in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) is almost the same as the way we receive an Athithi (guest) in our house. In the olden days, when a guest arrives at a house, the host first cleans his legs with water, seats him in a chair, gives him change of clothes, applies tilak/sandal, gives him various types of foods to eat, then allows him to take rest and makes his stay comfortable. The guest, who is fully satisfied by the hospitality of the host, then blesses the host before leaveing. That is why we say Athithi Devo Bhava (Treat an unexpected guest as God) in our Dharma. In the same way, if we offer puja to God, we believe that God blesses us. Let us see how Shankara describes these in the first three stanzas.
1.) In the first stanza, Shankara seats Lord Shiva on a Ratna Simhasanam (Chair made of gems), bathes Him with divine waters from Himalayas, adorns Him with Divine clothes decorated with gems and Sandal paste, offers Shiva flowers of Jaati malli (a type of jasmine) and Champaka (Magnolia, Chenbagam in Tamil) and Bilva leaves. Then Shankara offers Doopa and Deepa (incense and oil lamp) to Shiva and all this is done in the Manas (mind).
It is amazing to see that this is almost the same way we do puja today!
2.) The second stanza is about Neivedya (offering of food to God).
Shankara offers Ghee and Payasam in a golden bowl decorated with gems, then offers five types of different foods (Pancha Baksham), then offers curd/yoghurt (Dadhi), banana (Rambhaphala) and Panakam (sweet liquid). Then Shankara offers water scented with fruits and vegetables and waves a piece of a lighted camphor (karpuram). Finally, Shankara offers Tambulam (betel leaf/ Vethalai in tamil) and all this is done in the Manas (mind).
This is more or less how traditional food is still consumed in India.
3.) In the third stanza, Shankara offers an umbrella, a pair of fans and a clean mirror. Shankara then fills the place with divine songs and dances from the Veena (a stringed musical instrument), Bheri (a kettle drum), Mridanga (a kind of drum) and Kaahala (a large drum). Shankara finally does a Shastanga pranam (full prostration) to Shiva and all this is done in the Manas (mind).
This is a common practice in most temples today.
In the fourth, Shankara takes a turn towards Advaita Vedanta and expounds the philosophy of Human Body as a Temple.
4.) Shankara says: "The Lord (Shiva) is the soul. The intellect (Buddhi) is Parvati. The attendants of the Lord (Shiva Ganas) are the vital forces. The residence of the Lord (Temple) is the body. My Sleep is the state of Your Samadhi. Whenever I walk, I feel that to be a Pradakshina around You. Whatever I speak, I regard that to be your praise (Stotram). I regard all that I do as your worship."
We can see the highest philosophy of Aham Brahmasmi in this stanza. We are also very fortunate to hear Sringeri Jagadguru explain this stanza:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Ka8Uabfh0
5.) In the fifth stanza, Shankara asks for forgiveness from the compassionate Lord, who is an Ocean of Mercy, for all the sins committed both knowingly and unknowingly, by actions performed by the Hands, Feet, Speech, Body, Works, Eyes, Ears and Mind. Shankara asks for forgiveness for sins committed by actions while performing duties that are prescribed and not prescribed and finally surrenders completely to the Lord.
Every time, we read/listen to Shivamanasa puja with the meaning, we go a step further in attaining Chitta Suddhi (Mental Purification)
Shiva Manasa Puja: A Stotra on Lord Shiva composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
शिवमानसपूजा
रत्नैः कल्पितमासनं हिमजलैः स्नानं च दिव्याम्बरं
नानारत्नविभूषितं मृगमदामोदाङ्कितं चन्दनम् ।
जातीचम्पकबिल्वपत्ररचितं पुष्पं च धूपं तथा
दीपं देव दयानिधे पशुपते हृत्कल्पितं गृह्यताम् ॥१॥
Ratnaih Kalpitam-Aasanam Hima-Jalaih Snaanam Ca Divya-Ambaram
Naanaa-Ratna-Vibhuussitam Mrga-Madaa-Moda-Angkitam Candanam |
Jaatii-Campaka-Bilva-Patra-Racitam Pusspam Ca Dhuupam Tathaa
Diipam Deva Dayaa-Nidhe Pashupate Hrt-Kalpitam Grhyataam ||1||
सौवर्णे नवरत्नखण्डरचिते पात्रे घृतं पायसं
भक्ष्यं पञ्चविधं पयोदधियुतं रम्भाफलं पानकम् ।
शाकानामयुतं जलं रुचिकरं कर्पूरखण्डोज्ज्वलं
ताम्बूलं मनसा मया विरचितं भक्त्या प्रभो स्वीकुरु ॥२॥
Sauvarnne Nava-Ratna-Khanndda-Racite Paatre Ghrtam Paayasam
Bhakssyam Pan.ca-Vidham Payo-Dadhi-Yutam Rambhaa-Phalam Paanakam |
Shaakaanaam-Ayutam Jalam Rucikaram Karpuura-Khannddo[a-U]jjvalam
Taambuulam Manasaa Mayaa Viracitam Bhaktyaa Prabho Sviikuru ||2||
छत्रं चामरयोर्युगं व्यजनकं चादर्शकं निर्मलं
वीणाभेरिमृदङ्गकाहलकला गीतं च नृत्यं तथा ।
साष्टाङ्गं प्रणतिः स्तुतिर्बहुविधा ह्येतत्समस्तं मया
सङ्कल्पेन समर्पितं तव विभो पूजां गृहाण प्रभो ॥३॥
Chatram Caamarayor-Yugam Vyajanakam Ca-Adarshakam Nirmalam
Viinnaa-Bheri-Mrdangga-Kaahala-Kalaa Giitam Ca Nrtyam Tathaa |
Saassttaanggam Prannatih Stutir-Bahu-Vidhaa Hye[i-E]tat-Samastam Mayaa
Sangkalpena Samarpitam Tava Vibho Puujaam Grhaanna Prabho ||3||
आत्मा त्वं गिरिजा मतिः सहचराः प्राणाः शरीरं गृहं
पूजा ते विषयोपभोगरचना निद्रा समाधिस्थितिः ।
सञ्चारः पदयोः प्रदक्षिणविधिः स्तोत्राणि सर्वा गिरो
यद्यत्कर्म करोमि तत्तदखिलं शम्भो तवाराधनम् ॥४॥
Aatmaa Tvam Girijaa Matih Sahacaraah Praannaah Shariiram Grham
Puujaa Te Vissayo[a-U]pabhoga-Racanaa Nidraa Samaadhi-Sthitih |
San.caarah Padayoh Pradakssinna-Vidhih Stotraanni Sarvaa Giro
Yad-Yat-Karma Karomi Tat-Tad-Akhilam Shambho Tava-Araadhanam ||4||
करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा
श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् ।
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व
जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो ॥५॥
Kara-Caranna-Krtam Vaak-Kaaya-Jam Karma-Jam Vaa
Shravanna-Nayana-Jam Vaa Maanasam Va-Aparaadham |
Vihitam-Avihitam Vaa Sarvam-Etat-Kssamasva
Jaya Jaya Karunna-Abdhe Shrii-Mahaadeva Shambho ||5||
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm8Ylq6IzBM
Source: http://www.greenmesg.org/ma…/sri_shi...anasa_puja.php