Mahakaal : Secerts of Panchakshri sadhana - Part I

Social unrest is growing day by day with stress levels going up. Humans are tending away from humane. Crime, terrorism is uprooting the value system. The stress levels are so high that we have started losing sight of health, family and our value systems. In such a dark age, this world could be a better place only if each one of us recovers from such mental state.

So, the questions that comes in mind is that what could we do to remain free from stress? Or what could be done that it doesn’t eat us up? Its stress only that causes lot of health problems like B.P., diabetes, psycho issues, etc. So, the question that we need to answer to our self is:-

Do we wish to be free from stress?

Do we need to enhance health and manage our B.P.?

Do we wish to be finding solutions to our problems of day to day life?

Is there any simple way we could improve our relationship?

What could be done to get health, wealth and a quality life?

The answer to all these questions lies in worship of Shiv. Shiv is Nirgun and he is the only god termed as Mahadev.  Mahadev means God of Gods. So, when we wish to worship him the starting point is to look into ourselves, our life. 

In this world of desires, we are flying on the wings of ambitions. The gap between achievement and desires is making us mad and we are putting in more and more efforts to achieve these dreams. We may or may not achieve our dreams but our ego is certainly strengthened. As this ego grows, we lose sight of the ground where we were standing. The fire of desire burns up more and more till we are completely burnt and nothing is left. We go and sleep in shamshan (crematory) forever.

Here is a discussion during our recent visit to Mahakaal in city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India. These are insights into the Abhishekam of Shiv and its benefits in terms of grounding us while cooling mind and breaking shackles of ego.  It’s something that anyone could experience irrespective of cast, gender, age or religion. The Abhishekam is to be done with respect for self and gratitude for everything we have got in life. In the first Abhishekam itself one will experience a much more relaxed state.

Let’s go on……

I was amazed at Mahakaal Temple. There was a huge queue of worshippers even at 2.30. People were waiting for the temple to open. The temple was expected to open around 4 AM for Bhasma Aarti. Mahakaal is the only temple where Bhasm Aarti is conducted it’s a very difficult process of Tantra. Yog Nidra, Viraja Meditation are similar to this but the effect of Bhasm Aarti is immediate. The only condition is that we should be conscious and keenly observing Bhasm Aarti.

Mahakaal is a Jyotirlinga located in Ujjain. The place that has been earlier recognized as Avantika, Ujjaini, Udayini. The biggest secret of Ujjain is Mahakaal. It has spiritual significance but is also the standard time reference for entire India. All astrological calculation, Sun rising time of locations to adjust with reference to Sun rising time at Ujjain. Mahakaal is Shunya, a place where change Stills and hence time ceases to exist. In our body its identified at Nabhi –naval.

Its Nabhi that is connected through placenta – the brahm naal to the mother; if one observes a child carefully, a child breaths from Nabhi. ‘Prana’ or ‘Qi’ is distributed in the body from here. In Tantra it’s the center of our existence. Nabhi has such an important place in our life, and Mahakaal is referred by great saints as Nabhi Sthanam – A place of naval.

In evolved cultures like Japanese, we find that they use a word ‘Hara’ which could be referred to as naval. In sanskrit this part is termed as ‘Kand’. Kand is a place in naval region, according to yog shastras it’s a junction of 72000 nadis or vessels that sustains life and hence it is important for existence of life.

The queue was getting added with more and more Bhakts joining. They were shouting slogans like – Bam Bam Bhole! Jai Bhole baba ki!

There were few who were reciting Panchakshri Mantra of Shiv, few were chanting some strotas like Shiv Mahimna Strota. The entire environment was full of Shiv.

Panchakshri is the mantra that is very commonly known to all and is generally used for Jalabhishek - water pouring on Shivling. This mantra holds many secrets and is unusually simple for anyone to get blessed with its miraculous powers. The Panchakshari (Sanskrit : पञ्चाक्षर) literally means "five letters" in Sanskrit and refers to the five holy letters 'Na', 'Ma ','Shi','Va', 'Ye'. These five letters threaded with Om makes the Panchakshri Mantra.

Panchakshri Mantra is - Om namah Shivaye. These five letters are mysteries of the spiritual world and hence needs to be understood. A Guru could only explain that how Panchakshri is linked with Guru Padukas. The Padukas as translated by John woodroffe in his ‘Five-fold Foot stool of Guru’.

Rashmi, my wife was curious to know that why was I smiling? What was going on in my mind that time? Elders had advised that when its wife, it’s better to surrender and share then to pretend or avoid. So I followed the rules…..and said, “It’s about mysteries of Panchakshri Mantra.”

“What is the mystery in this simple mantra?” – She asked curiously.

I asked, “Do you know that this mantra holds the key to a divine thread of creation going inside us.”

“No, I don’t but what is it?” She was curious.

Let me share it with you,…………………..                                            (will be contd in Part -II)