What kinds of flowers are traditionally offered to Lord Shiva?
Shiva Archana is a way for devotees to express their reverence and seek the divine blessings of Lord Shiva in their lives.
"During the ritual of Archanam, offering specific flowers to Lord Shiva is believed to result in immeasurable grace and infinite virtues. While Kumara Swami provides insights to Sage Agastya, explaining the distinctive significance behind offering these clearly defined flowers to Lord Shiva; the sacred texts, such as Shiva Tatva Sangraham and Smrithi Saram, outlines the hierarchy of these flowers.
Lord Subrahmanya to Sage Agastya
- Calotropis Flowers:
The use of Jilledu flowers in the worship of Shiva is said to dissolve the wrongdoing related to adultery. Human beings often engage in mental adultery more than the physical act, leading to the accumulation of sin. Worshipping Shiva with Jilledu (Calotropis) flowers is believed to cleanse one of this transgression.
- Datura Flowers:
When Shiva is adored with Black Ummettha (Datura) flowers, it is thought to absolve sins resulting from the breach of promises and the utterance of falsehoods.
- Shivamalle Flowers:
To prevent the shortcomings arising from neglecting or blaming parents and causing them distress, it is recommended to worship Shiva with Shivamalle flowers.
- Bel leaves:
Worshipping Shiva with Bel Leaves is believed to eliminate faults associated with donations to ineligible recipients. This practice is seen as a preventive measure against sins such as intentionally or unintentionally causing harm to a woman, a cow, or a child. Worship with Bel Leaves is seen as a safeguard against sins committed knowingly and unknowingly.
- Nerium Oleander Flowers:
Worshipping Shiva with Ganneru flowers is believed to avert sins arising from unethical monetary gains and the indulgence in unrighteous wealth.
- Lotus flowers:
The worship of Shiva with lotus leaves is said to prevent sins associated with criticizing and blaming others.
- Shami Leaves:
Offering worship to Shiva with Jammi leaves is believed to prevent sins related to blaming the Vedas, Tattva Shastras, and Divine Shastras.
- Leucas aspera (Thumba) Flowers:
The worship of Shiva with Tummi flowers is thought to prevent sins arising from deceit towards a friend or Guru.
- Kans Grass (Rellu) Flowers:
Worshipping Shiva using Rellu flowers is considered to avert the sin of lying.
- Blue-Water lily Flowers:
Worshipping Shiva with Blue Lily Flowers is thought to alleviate the effects of the Five Greatest Sins.
Shivarchana - Hierarchy of Flowers
(Shiva Tatva Sangraham & Smrithi Saram)
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Worshipping Shiva with a single Calotropis flower is believed to bestow benefits equivalent to the charitable act of donating ten gold coins.
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The advantages gained by worshipping Shiva with a thousand Jilledu flowers are said to mirror the benefits received from offering a single Red and WhiteNerium flower.
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Similarly, the blessings achieved through worshipping with a thousand Ganneru flowers are believed to be on par with offering a single lotus leaf (flower).
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The merits obtained from worshipping Shiva with a thousand lotus leaves are believed to be equivalent to the benefits received by offering a single Bel leaf. Moreover, it is believed that offering Bel leaves eliminates all sins and result in reaching the abode of Shiva.
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The benefits that would be obtained by worshipping with one thousand Bel leaves are believed to be equivalent to the blessings received by offering a single Datura flower. It is also believed that devotee acquires the virtue equivalent to donating one lakh cows.
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The benefits obtained from worshipping with one thousand Thorny Nightshade flowers are believed to be equal to the merits gained by offering a single Leucas aspera (Thumba) flower.
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The benefits attained through the worship of one thousand Leucas aspera (Thumba) flowers are believed to be on par with the merits received by presenting a single Rellu (Kans Grass) flower.
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The benefits obtained from worshipping with one thousand Rellu (Kans Grass) are believed to be equivalent to the blessings received by offering a single Shami leaf.
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The merits gained from worshipping with one thousand Shami leaves are thought to be comparable to the blessings received by offering a single Blue waterlily flower.
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The Blue Water Lily flower holds the highest status among all flowers. Those who worship Shiva with one thousand Blue Water Lily flowers are said to attain celestial glory for a duration of one hundred crore Kalpas and eventually reach the abode of Shiva.
1000 Shiva Lingams Temple
