Narmada Banalingam

Sri Brahadheeswarar - Thanjavur Big Temple (One of the biggest banalingam)

The Bana Lingam is a most Sacred Symbol and Divine Energy Tool, both in the ancient and in this modern world and it comes with the loftiest frequency of vibrations (compared to any stone on Earth) and appears from only one place on the entire Planet of Earth - in the cradles of Holy River Narmada. The Bana Lingas are Swayambhu Shiva Lingas that have taken shape in the Sacred Narmada River, in the Central Western part of India. This is why the Bana Lingams are also known as the Narmada Banalingas or Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingas.

The Sacred Narmada River is one of the Sapta Gangas - Seven Holy Rivers of India. The Hindustani Legends identify it with “Reva” of epic celebrity, which is described as the “sweat” flowing out of Lord Shiva’s own body when he performed his Cosmic Dance “Thandhava” and therefore considered as holiest of rivers. It’s waters are of such purifying quality that the polluted River Ganges makes an yearly visit to the Narmada in the form of a black cow or a dark woman for a purifying dip in the Sacred Narmada River, to cleanse her collected sins ! On the river bank of the Narmada is the Omkareshwar, the most famous among the twelve Jyothirlingas.

Many Vedic Scriptures propound that the natural Narmada Banalingas are self-manifest respresentations of Lord Shiva. What Salagramas are to Lord Maha Vishnu that Narmada Bana Lingas are to Lord Shiva.

The Shiva Lingas that are formed in the River Narmada contain Crypto Crystalline Quartz (masses made up of either fibrous or granular aggregates of tiny, microscopic Quartz Crystals) and a Gemstone material called Chalcedony (with an iron oxide and geothite inclusion) along with Basalt and Agate - this unique composition coupled with elliptical shape has a precise resonance in alignment with our Energy Centers or Chakras and are used for thousands of years as Divine Energy Generators for Cleansing, Healing and for Meditation. The Narmada Bana Lingas are quite strong and the hardness is a 7 on the Moe’s Scale.

It is the considered view of many researchers and geologists that the unique composition of the Narmadha Shiva Lingas was due to the impregnation of it’s rocky river-sides and the rocks in the river bed, 14 million years ago by a large meteorite that crashed into the Narmada River. The fusion of the Meteorite and the Earthly Minerals has spawned a new and unique type of Crystalline Rock with extraordinary energetic qualities - the Narmada Bana Lingam.  

Over a period of time, the impregnated rocks split into rock bits and pebbles and were moulded by the strong and forceful currents of the Narmada River which naturally tumbled and produced perfectly shaped and polished Shivalingams. As the Narmada River has strong currents and accessable only during dry seasons, certain families (who hold the “rights” ancestorily for doing this, and passed down through generations and have been traditionally trained, to identify only the most special stones) are allowed to harvest the stones from the river once a year after a special ceremony while the river is low, when the stones may be more easily collected. Once collected, these Sacred Stones are finally hand-polished with a waxy butter - a mystic mixture of mud, dung, natural oils, special herbs and wax by specially trained artisans to bring out the natural markings which are inherent in their composition and a unique, soft glow. This is much like a diamond cutter who cuts rough material to bring out the best in the diamond. The holy waters of the River Narmada protect these rounded bed rocks within its darkness, and when polished as per the prescription, their inner beauty is revealed to us. The Narmadeshwar Shivalingas are quite tough and take a good polish, when cabbed.

The Narmada Bana Lingam’s upright egg shape represents the Pure Consciousness of Lord Shiva and the Holy Markings on the Sacred Stone (which differ greatly from stone to stone) represent the interactive aspect of Goddess Shakti (The Holy Consort of Lord Shiva), the Divine Seed which is fertilized to manifest the Creative Power in the Dance of the Cosmos. Together, they represent the Union  of the Supreme Male and Supreme Female Energies - Shiva and Shakti l Shiva Sakthi, the Wholeness and Oneness. It should also be understood that  the Narmada Shiva Lingam represents the Divine Blending of Knowledge (Shiva) and Wisdom (Shakthi). This is the very same concept expressed by the “Yin” and “Yang” Concept of another Eastern Wisdom from the Orient. There is a school of thought that considers that this is a way of transitioning between Murthis (Formed Shapes) and the Formless. The Sacred Shiva Lingam is widely considered to be the “Form of the Formless”.  

According to Vedic Texts, the Narmada Shiva Lingas illustrate Harmony through Duality and represent Power, Creation and the Physical Plane or Grounding of those who have these Divine Energy Tools. The Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingams, because of their divine vibrations, are popularly called as “Cosmic Eggs” by NewAge Metaphysical Practitioners. They are also identified subconsciously with our physical origin, an embryo - the Holy Embryo : Divine Creative Manifestation of the Sacred Soul.



Courtesy: http://divine-energytools.com