Shiva Manasa Puja

About this stotra

Sri Adi Shankaracharya composed this stotra, to serve as a mental (manasa) puja (worship) of Lord Shiva. In these five powerful verses, a particular technique of mental worship of Lord Śiva is described in detail. Ordinary worship which is performed by using such external objects as incense sticks, lamps, etc. is not so powerful as that which is performed by using one's own mind. A practice is more powerful if the instruments used to perform it are also more powerful. As mind is much more powerful than physical body, mental adoration is accordingly much more powerful than external adoration... and it can be done anywhere, anytime. Which is probably why Sri Śaṅkarācārya took the trouble to describe it in his hymn. However, this kind of worship requires complete one-pointedness. A person with a mind too distracted cannot practice mental worship in an appropriate way.
When performing mental worship, the important thing is that the objects can be distinctly experienced. If your mind is not paying full attention to the practice, you will note that the entire mental scene where you are practicing "mānasapūjā" (mental adoration) becomes indistinct, foggy. Thus, when you practice mental worship, we need to strive to form a distinct, sharp mental image. If we can do this, then we are performing mānasapūjā really well, and the fruits of it will come soon to our hands.
In order to better appreciate this great work by Sankaracharya, it would help to get familiar with the visual description of Lord Shiva. The following is an excerpt from the book "Shiva Manasa Puja" by Swami Tejomayananda. In there he says:
Saint Tulasidasji meditates on Lord Siva thus:
Lord Siva is one, on whose side shines (resides) Parvati; who carries the celestial Ganga on his head; on whose brow rests the crescent moon; whose throat holds poison; and whose chest is adorned with a huge serpent; and His body smeared with ashes; who is great amongst the deities, the Lord of all; the destroyer of the universe; the Omnipresent Siva, who, like the moon is pleasant and auspicious. May He, ever protect me.
Śiva also means Consciousness (caitanya), peace (śāntam), purity (suci), final liberation(moksha), sacredness (pavitratā) and well-being (kalyāṇam).
Parvati, symbolizes prakṛti (matter) or māyā (the power of the Lord). When Śiva wields His māyā, He is called īśvara - the Lord of the universe.
The holy river Ganga emerges from the matted locks of Lord Siva. Ganga symbolizes knowledge and devotion. The Lord gives the highest place to knowledge and devotion. He is the very source of both. He manages to keep His head cool with the holy and icy waters of Gaiga whilst facing all circumstances!
With Mother Ganga on His head and Goddess Pārvati by His side, Lord Śiva continues to meditate. It signifies, that He has won over passion. Śiva wears the crescent moon on his head. The moon is the deity of the mind. Śiva is one, who has controlled His mind.
Siva's neck is blue, since He swallowed the poison, that emerged from the serpent during the churning of the milky ocean. Only the brave and mighty can swallow difficulties, and withstand the viscious and poisonous brunt of circumstances without collapsing, or at least without being adversely affected. It becomes their glory. Also, He did not allow His head or heart to get poisoned or embittered. He went through the challenge with admirable fortitude and forbearance and with a smile on His face.
Snakes of all sizes and shapes serve as the ornaments of Śiva. That, which creates fear and revulsion, when it comes in contact with the Lord, becomes His glory.
One with great qualities is welcomed and respected everywhere (gunihi ganihi sahiba lahai). The Lord accepts those, who lack virtues, are dull, ignored, rejected and even considered repulsive by the world (samīcīna ko adhama aguna ālasī pālihai). So even ghosts, the physically and mentally challenged and snakes find a place with Him.
The Lord smears the ashes from the cremation ground all over His body. He has burnt to ashes the identification with the body in the fire of Self-Knowledge. Also, the final destination of the body is the cremation ground. One should remember always, that the body we pamper so much, will one day be reduced to ashes. We should, therefore, not get too attached to it, accept the changes in it without resistance and learn to age gracefully. All this, the worshipper understands, as he or she meditates on the form of the Lord.