The Hindu sacred texts warn against disrespecting the Shivalinga or Lord Shiva’s Shakti by coming in touch with the Nirmili or over-stepping it and it is feared to result in receiving the wrath of Lord Shiva.
In the ancient times, the Shivaling was built in such a way that the Nirmili that is the outlet for milk and water was dug deep inside the earth surface so it was not visible to humans. But in present time, not only the Nirmili is built over and above the Earth surface, but during full-parikrama is often stepped over. Therefore, it is advised to only perform half-parikrama of Shivalinga.
Shiva is the entire knowledge of the living and dead. To his devotees he is gracious, caring and an epitome of auspicious. Shiva is the only Hindu God who has an entire month of Shravan dedicated to him for worship. Not only the month of Shravan but also on Shivaratri, Lord Shiva is worshipped. Shiva devotees visit Shiva temples, offer milk, honey, bhasma, bilva leaves, bhang and Gangajal onto the Shivaling. And after this the devotees take turns to circumambulate around Shivaling.
You may have observed that while some people perform the full-circle Pradakshina (Circumambulation) but others only carry out the half-parikrama.
According to Hindu Shastras and Shivpuran a Shiva devotee must only carry out half-parikrama around the Shivaling. The reason explained in the Shastras behind this is that Shiva is both ‘Aadi’ & ‘Anant’ as he is the start or the beginning and also everlasting. The energy or Shakti out flowing from him is endless and is represented in the form of Nirmili, the outlet for milk and water designed in Shivaling. Shiva’s Shakti is so fierce that none could ever interfere or come in line of it. It is said that the Nirmili is a sacred part of the Shivaling and must never be over-stepped.
According to an old legend once there was King Gandharva who was a Shiva devotee. He was performing the ‘Abhishek’ on Shivalinga and during the Parikrama he over-stepped the Nirmili, which resulted in losing all his might, power and intellect. Thus a Shiva devotee must only carry out half-parikrama of Shivaling.
Must Read: https://www.religionworld.in/legend-of-mahashivaratri-samudra-manthan
Shiva is one of the Trinity God of Hinduism. The other two Gods are Brahma and Vishnu. Brahma is the creator of this Universe. Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer to recreate the universe. Lord Shiva is also called as ‘Mahadev’ or ‘Bholenath’ by his devotees.
