7 things to offer to Shivling in Sawan and why

The month of Sawan has just started and devotees from all over the world make sure to please Lord Shiva in the best way possible. Be it offering milk and bael patra to the Shivling, or keeping fasts on every Monday till the end of Sawan, people do their absolute best to invite Lord Shiva’s blessings towards them.
And in India, people usually worship Lord Shiva in the form of a Shivling, rather than just his picture. So, in the month of Sawan, here are 7 things to offer to Lord Shiva.

Milk is one of the most common offerings to Lord Shiva. It is believed to have a cooling effect on the Shivling, which is seen as a way of cooling Lord Shiva’s fiery and intense form. According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva was the one who drank the poison that emerged during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to save the world. And offering cold milk is a gesture of gratitude and devotion, that would help soothe his burning throat.

Curd, or yoghurt, is another thing that people offer to Lord Shiva and Shivling in the month of Sawan. Similar to milk, curd too helps because of its cooling properties and is considered very pure.
Offering curd to Lord Shiva is believed to purify the devotee’s mind and soul, ensuring that their prayers reach Lord Shiva. Curd is also a symbol of better health, and so offering curd to Shivling will help in having better health over time.

Panchamrit, as evident by the name, is a mixture of 5 ingredients that are considered very pure in nature. It is made with milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar and each of these ingredients has its own importance. Milk is a symbol of purity, curd for health, honey for sweet relationships, ghee for good nourishment, and sugar for bliss in life.
Panchamrit is considered extremely sacred in Hinduism and when offered to Lord Shiva it is like a means to ask for holistic wellbeing.

Honey too is considered pure and pious in Hinduism and is used in many natural remedies. Honey is not just a symbol of healing in Hinduism, but it also helps in maintaining energy. It is said that offering honey to Shivling has two benefits. The first one is that as the Shivling is usually made of stone, and is sacred, it is prone to cracks and brittle. But the honey helps to bind the properties together and keeps the Shivling intact.
The second reason for offering Shiv ji honey is that it represents sweetness and purity and so offering it to the Shivling is like asking him to keep your relationships nice and sweet.

Ghee is considered a symbol of purity and nourishment. Offering ghee to the Shivling is believed to purify the environment and the devotee’s heart, making their prayers more powerful. Ghee is also used in the Havans done at home, and its offering is a symbol of the burning away of negative energies and the calling for a positive vibration and energy in the space. Shivling is thoroughly cleaned with ghee and washed with milk and water afterwards which helps his devotees do their part to nourish Lord Shiva in the Shivling form.

Bael patra, or the leaves of the bael tree, are used to worship Lord Shiva. It should be noted that devotees should NEVER use Tulsi leaves when praying to Lord Shiva as it is considered inauspicious.
The bael leaf or bael patra on the other hand is considered best to worship and offer to Lord Shiva. It is a three-leaf patra which also becomes a symbol of Lord Shiva’s 3 eyes. Offering bael patra is believed to please Lord Shiva and will also help purify a devotee’s heart and soul.
It is advised to offer anywhere between 3 to 11 bael patra to Shivling during the month of Sawan.

While Haldi (turmeric) or kumkum (vermillion) is never applied to the Shivling, one thing that Lord Shiva prefers is Sandwood. And so during Sawan many devotees cover him with Sandalwood paste. Sandalwood is soothing, very aromatic, and has calming properties in it. When offered to the Shivling, sandalwood paste or powder is believed to have a calming effect on the intense energy that Lord Shiva possesses.