Written By: NitiN Burade

[email protected] Call: 00 91 9960270321.

Narmada Shivlinga:
Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingams are only found in one place on the entire
planet...Central India on the banks of the Narmada River.
Many Vedic Scriptures propound that the natural Narmada Banalingas are self-
manifest representations of Lord Shiva. What Salagramas are to Lord Maha Vishnu
that Narmada Bana Lingas are to Lord Shiva.

Composition:
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
goethite 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 and are said to have the highest frequency or vibration than any other stone
on the planet.

It is the considered view of many researchers and geologists that the unique
composition of the Narmada Shiva Lingas was due to the impregnation of its 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.

The Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingams, because of their divine vibrations, are popularly
called as “Cosmic Eggs” by New Age Metaphysical Practitioners.

Once collected, these incredible masses finally shape and polish the stones to bring
out the natural markings which are inherent in their composition, much like a
diamond cutter who cuts the rough material to bring out the best in the diamond.
The stones are polished with mud, dung and natural oils to get even finish.

The Lingam also represents the harmony or balance of the soul that is maintained
within the hearts of all of us, the Light that shines from within. The quartz
composition (along with basalt and agate) and the shape make them powerful
energy generators appropriate for healing and unique as tools for meditation and
cleansing. A sage stated, "If a minilingam is worn, it will affect mind and heart
in positive ways."

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.

Worshipping one bana-linga gets the benefits that can be obtain by worshipping a
carore of other lingas. These are collected by few families who had rights all over
generation.. The Lingam is considered to be the "form of the formless". These
Banlingas are considered to be "alive" even without Pranapratishta (process of
installation).

Several devotees of Shivas and Sadhu in India says that a life given Narmadeshwar is
the single idol of worship which doesn't make any negative effects when not offered
any form of offering. The stone represents the blending of male and female energy,
with the shape of the stone representing the male (knowledge), and the markings
representing the female (wisdom). Narmadeshawara Lingam stones are sacred in
both Hindu and Buddhist beliefs

Possessing this Shivalingam is considered highly auspicious and is believed to bring

peace, progeny, luck, wealth, fame and prosperity.

Importance of Narmadeshwar Lingam is mentioned in the Shiva Purana. It is said

that Lord Shiva blesses the place where Narmadeshwar Lingam is kept and
worshipped.

Written By: NitiN Burade

[email protected] Call: 00 91 9960270321.
Vedic Legends about Origin of Narmada Bana Lingas:
There are many legends about the origin of the Bana Lingas and their association
with the Narmada, in the Puranic Texts like Aparajita-pariprchchha, Yajnavalkya
Samhita, Matsaya Purana (Chapter 5), Hari Vamsa (Vishnu Parva - Chapter 173) and
Bhagavatha Purana (10th Skandha - Chapter 62), with slightly varying accounts.
Two of the most popular ones are narrated below .

Legend 1:
The Asura Raja (Demon King) Bana was the eldest of the one hundred sons of Bali -
Bali was the son of King Virochana, the grandson of Prahaladha (the famous devotee
of Lord Maha Vishnu’s incarnation, Lord Narasimha) and the great grandson of King
Hiranyakasipu. King Banasura himself was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and to seek
the Divine Blessings of Lord Shiva, he performed severe penances for a long time, in
the Holy Himalayas, invoking Lord Shiva’s favour. Finally Lord Shiva appeared in
answer to his austerities and agreed to grant him a boon. Banasura wished for
himself One Thousand Arms carrying a multitude of weapons to destroy his enemies
and desired that Goddess Parvathi consider him as her own son - he was bestowed
with what he asked. Drunk with power and arrogance, the Demon King started
torturing all the three worlds. Honoring the requests of the Devas and Lord Indra,
Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu) severed all the one thousand
arms and the weapons they were holding, with his Sri Sudharsana Chakra, the
Divine Discus. However, Lord Shiva honored the Demon King (who was, inspite of
being an Asura, was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva) by giving him his own
representation in the form of Swayambu (natural, self-manifest) Shiva Linga, hence
the name Bana Linga.
Legend 2:
Once Lord Shiva wanted to destroy the Flying City of “Tripura”, which had been
obtained as a Boon by the Demon Chieftain Banasura. So, Lord Shiva released a
powerful and fiery arrow from his Divine Bow called “Pinaka”. The dart split and
broke the “Three Puras” into tiny bits, which fell on Earth in 3 spots: (1) on the hills
of Sri-Kshetra, which is of unknown identity to this day; (2) on the peaks of
Amarakanthaka in the Vindhya ranges and (3) on the banks of the Sacred Narmada
River. The bits that fell soon multiplied into crores, each bit becoming a Shiva Linga.
As they formed part of the possession of the Banasura, they were called as Bana
Linga. Amarakanthaka, the peak in Madhya Pradesh State of India, is in close
proximity to the Source of the River Narmada, which according to the Holy Texts,
originates in the Vindhya Mountains 914 metres above the sea level, flows
westward for 1,292 kilometres through Mandla and Jabalpur Districts and joins the
Arabian Sea in Cambay (Kambhat) near Bharoch in Gujarat State.
It should be noted here that the word “Bana” also means an arrow, a reed-shaft,
cow’s udder and pike, quite independent of the legend concerning the Asura King
Bana. The import of these legends is that the Narmada Bana-Lingas are self-
manifest forms (Swayambhu) of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi and that they
are therefore holier than any other anionic forms of Lord Shiva.

Written By: NitiN Burade

[email protected] Call: 00 91 9960270321.
What are the different types of Narmada Bana Lingas?
There are many different types of Narmada Bana Lingas and depending upon the
Sacred Markings and Holy Patterns over the body of the Linga, they are classified
and their significance defined. However, please note that there is no necessity to
make a micrographic study of the various types of Bana Lingas, to choose one for
you - it is sufficient to take certain normal precautions listed at the end of this
article.

The “Siddhanta Sekhara” states that the Bana Lingas picked up from the Holy River
Narmada have been worshipped already by the Gods, especially by the Guardian
Deities (Loka Pala) and the Sacred Stones are still said to contain the impress of
such worship. There are Bana Lingas carrying the different marks characteristic of
these Gods:
(1) Conch Shell mark on top (Samkhabha Mastaka) indicates it has been worshipped
by Lord Maha Vishnu, the Protector of the Cosmos.
(2) Lotus Mark (Padma) denotes it was worshipped by Lord Brahma, the Creator of
the Cosmos.
(3) Parasol mark (Chhatra) reveals it was worshipped by Lord Indra, the Ruler of
the Deva World.
(4) Heads mark (Shiro Yugma) shows it was worshipped by Lord Agni, the Fire God
(5) Three Steps (Padha) denote it was worshipped by Lord Yama Khanda.
(6) Mace mark (Gadha) indicates it was worshipped by Lord Ishana.
(7) Water Vase mark (Kalasha) shows it was worshipped by Lord Varuna, the Water
God.
(8) Banner mark (Dhvaja) denotes it was worshipped by Lord Vayu, the God of Air.

“Vira Mitrodaya”, the celebrated gloss on “Mitakshara” (which itself is a commentary

by Vijnanesvara on Yajnavalkya’s “Dharma Shastra”), quotes “Kolottara” on the
subject of distinguishing the characteristic marks on the various Bana Lingams. This
text enumerates 9 varieties of Bana Lingas, 8 of them corresponding to the 8
Guardian Deities (Lok-Palas) and the 9th one called Vaishnava Bana Lingam:

(1) The Bana Lingas worshipped by Lord Devendra will fulfill all the desires and
bestow sovereignty.
(2) The Agneya Bana Linga will be rosy colored and warm to touch and carries the
mark of the weapon Shakti.
(3) The Yama Bana Linga will have the form of a cudgel or of a tongue.
(4) The Nairrti Bana Linga will look like a sword, carries stain on its body and will
bestow the benefits of Jnana (Wisdom) and Yoga; however, it is not for the
householder’s worship.
(5) The Varuna Bana Linga will be round in shape and may be distinguished by the
marks of a noose (Pasha) and will bring prosperity.
(6) The Vayu Bana Linga will be of black color or smoky complexioned or ash grey
and will have the appearance of a flag post or may carry on its head the mark of a
banner.
(7) The Kubera Bana will be in the form of a quiver or noose or mace and there
might be a hair like line in its centre.
(8) The Raudra Bana Linga will be lustrous like a block of ice and bears the marks of
a bone or spear.
(9) The Vaishnava Bana Linga will have the marks of Conch Shell or Discus or Lotus
or Mace or Jewels on the Chest (Srivatsa and Kaustubha) or the foot prints of Lord
Maha Vishnu and will have variegated colors.

“Haemadhri” enumerates nine types of Bana Lingas:

(1) Swayambhu - honey colored with two dark rings

(2) Mrityunjaya - variegated colors with marks resembling spear and coils of matted
hair
(3) Nilakantha - elongated and white colored with a black spot
(4) Trilochana - white colored with eye-like marks
(5) Kalagni Radar - lustrous and dark, stout with matted-hair like marks
(6) Tripurari - honey colored with white marks resembling the sacrificial chord
across and with lotus at the base
(7) Ishana - clear crystal with the top tawny brown and marks of a trident
(8) Ardhanariswara - white colored on one side and red colored on the other side
(9) Maha Kala - slightly red in hue, shining, stout and longish in shape

What are the colors of Bana Lingas?

Each Bana Linga is unique with its own markings. The color of the stone varies a lot,
from grey to beige, to brown and a reddish brown. They may be honey colored,
white, blue, black or emerald-hued.

Are Bana Lingas worthy of Worship?

Many categories of Shivlinga, the Bana Lingas come under the Swayambhu category,
meaning they are self-manifest and have formed naturally, which makes them the
holiest among the holies and the most suitable for worship. They do not need to be
made worship-worthy by the preliminary rites of Purification (Cleansing) and
Consecration (Prana Prathishta), as the Narmada Bana Lingas naturally contain the
Vibhuti of Godhead present in them. They do not require the traditional rituals of
transmutation - they are natural, self-evident and enduring. They cannot be defiled
on any account and do not lose their merit under any circumstances. The “Marka
Bheda Tantra” (Patala 7) makes a summary statement to this effect.
However, if the ideal concept of Programming can be accomplished by a competent
professional, then the Narmada Bana Lingams will bestow better and faster results.
Among the several varieties of Lingas, Bana Lingas are said to be the most Sacred
and its worship the most effective. It is therefore claimed that the Bana Linga when
worshipped is a thousand times more effective than any other Linga. While
“Suprabheda” (33) roundly declares that all Bana Lingas are worship-worthy, the
“Suta Samhita” and “Meru Tantra” (Chapter 9) state that the ideal size of Bana
Lingas for worship must be minimum four angulas or 4 inches or above. Those of
smaller size may be used for carrying in person or worn around the neck as Power
Pendants - as mobile Lingas, for Blessings and Protection.

Do Bana Lingas require Strict Worship and Elaborate Rituals?

The Narmada Bana Lingas are similar to the Saligrama Stones (of the Gandaki
River, Nepal) in this regard: both are Swayambhu. Being Self-Manifest, both are
Divine Energy Tools and do not suffer from the many disadvantages and limitations
of manushya-made forms and statues. They do not need to be ceremoniously
installed or duly consecrated. They do not even require going through the normal
ritual of Invocation of Divine Presence (Avahana), for the Divine Presence is already
there and will continue to be there, quite independently of the rituals. This is clearly
and boldly stated by the “Marka Bheda Tantra” (Patala 7). In fact, the “Yoga Sara”
(Chapter 5) claims that by merely thinking about his/her Bana Lingam early in the
morning, a person can gain success in all the tasks of the day.
Like the Sacred Shaligrams, there are no distinct prescriptions or procedures for
the worship of Bana Lingams in Puranic Texts. There is only one Tantric Text “Yoga
Sara” of Kaula influence that gives a separate dhyana and mantra for the worship of
Bana Lingas, which is completely different from the standard worship ritual offered
to Lord Shiva. This procedure in heavily tantric in orientation and involves a lot of
visualizing capabilities and might not be suitable to the householder.
Rigorous worship of any Sacred Object like the Narmada Bana Linga is always
meritorious, but it is neither indispensable nor obligatory. The mere presence of a
Narmadeshwar Shiva Lingam is said to grace its environment with harmony, mental
peace, prosperity and protection. Regular worship of the Lingam with the Sacred
Mantras, Vedic Suktams and Stotrams cause many intense and invisible effects. It is
said that the sacred and powerful sounds from such mantras cause a powerful
internal reverberation which is absorbed by the Bana Lingam. With consistent
worship, this energy is slowly released and emitted to the surrounding
environments, and is specially known to have the capacity to negate the
accumulated karmic burdens of its worshipper - in other words, the Bana Lingam
dissolves the negative karmic baggage (Praarabdha Karma) carried by the
individual.

What are the benefits of having Bana Lingas?

Numerous Scriptures acknowledge the superior merits of the Bana Lingams and
extol the unsurpassed virtues of them, in bestowing many great benefits. The
“Yajnavalkya Samhita” states that the benefits that can be obtained by worshipping
a crore of other Shivlinga are got by worshipping just one Bana Linga. It is said that
merely thinking about their Bana Linga early in the morning itself is likely to bestow
success in all their enterprises of the day. It is also said that the Bana Lingams
secure worldly welfare as well as emancipation from worldly involvement. It is the
considered view of many that the Narmada Bana Lingams wash off sins and curses.
The Narmadeshwar Shiva Linga works with the breath and the fluids of the body
creating a harmony in the body’s flow. The Narmada Bana Linga helps one to unite
the lower self (conscious) with the higher self (unconscious) so that we may know
our own divinity as we seek to know God. It brings believers into the mystical union
with God. It heals and helps opening the chakras to resolve issues. It helps with
activating the kundalini energy and the seven chakras. It awakens the energy
centers and brings feelings of peace and wellbeing. It enhances personal or group
meditations for clearer flow of energies. It balances and brings harmony to its
surrounding environment, after cleansing the prevailing negative energies.
On one hand the Narmada Bana Lingam is the epitome of masculine power and
attraction and ooze love and affection, on the other hand an adept can use it to
suppress sexual energies and direct them to gain mental and spiritual development.
The Narmada Bana Lingas are highly communicative gemstones, each with its own
individual personality, purpose and reason for being. It is believed that there is a
Bana Linga destined for each one of us and that the Bana Linga will find it’s
way to us when the time is right and when we are ready to receive it into our
lives.
The Sacred Narmada Shivlinga Stones can be used to remove negativity and harness
and transmit harmonious vibrations throughout a home and office. A Mini Narmada
Bana Linga can be carried by a person or worn around the neck as a pendant to
protect the person and also gain divine blessings.
Important:
(1) No two Sacred Narmada Stones are alike and there are always variations in the
Yoni patterns across the body.
(2) Certain Texts like “Kedhara Khanda” define some “Dushta Bana Lingas” - the
Bana Lingas that are not auspicious: those with very rough surface, those which are
fully flattened and those which are split at the top. Haemadhri in “Lakshana Khanda”
insists that those Bana Lingas that are exceedingly corpulent or very thin, those with
sharp edges and crooked tops are meant only for those who wish emancipation only
and are not suitable for householders.
Note: For Genuine & Authentic Narmada Bana Lingams (Narmadeshwar Shiva
Lingas) and Bana Linga Pendants.

Written By: NitiN Burade

[email protected] Call: 00 91 9960270321.