| From
the earliest days of Tantric literature of Shaivism, Soma is found closely associated with
Shiva, even to the extent of being referred to as one of the names of Shiva.
According to Somavidya, the completely moonless night in the month, if it falls on a
Monday which is sacred to Shiva, is considered most appropriate for worshipping Him; and
any religious act done on that day is believed to give manifold merit. Skanda Purana
details the five things which give the highest religious merit: 'Sarasvati, the river, the
sea, the eclipsed moon, and the darshana of God Somanatha.' "To visit Prabhasa on a moonless night, which falls on a Monday, to,
undertake a fast, to bathe where the Sarasvati meets the sea, and to have a darshana of
Somanatha" gives the meri of numberless religious sacrifices. |
