Narmada Sivalingam
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The Narmada Shivaling is a naturally occuring stone (crypto crystalline chalcedony) found in the drying river bed of Narmada, in the hot tropical summer, close to its source in the Amarkantak hill in central India. It is said to be the product of ancient meteorite fusion, to which is attributed its highly polished exterior with the strong reddish and brown tones, the result of a cosmic energy encounter with the earth. These stones are considered to be the most powerful swayambhu representation of Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer!
Any naturally found oblong stone is worshipped as a self-manifest (swayambhu) mark (baaṇa) or symbol of Lord Shiva. Since Shiva means that which is perfectly pure, formless and without the stain of an identifying feature, such stones are instead used to symbolise that which cannot be perceived by the external senses. The oblong shape is considered perfect for the reception and transmission of energy. The elongated egg-shaped stones are supposed to represent the vibrational power of the dance of the subatomic particles around the central nucleus in a microcosmic choreography of creation and destruction.
In its self-manifest form, it is not necessary to follow any particular ritual tantrik prescriptions for the base or holder for this stone, since it is considered in itself a perfect representation of the Formless Absolute that lies beyond the duality of matter and spirit. Similarly, there is no insistence on any particular form of ritual worship for this stone either. Its very presence is assurance of harmony and vibrational purity in its environs. The power of the stone is considered to be in inverse proportion to the actual size, and the smaller stones are prized for that reason.
The Narmada Shivaling is also called the Banalingam in general, while some consider the similarly shaped pure white stone also found at its source to be the Banalingam, while the reddish to brown coloured stones are called Raudralingam, after the Rudra form of Shiva. Bana again, means arrow or mark, as the symbol of the powerful all-permeating presence of the formless Shiva.
Legends attribute the origin of the Narmada Banalingams to the fight between Krishna and the Demon Banasur, who was in fact an ardent devotee of Shiva. After a prolonged fight, Krishna vanquished the demon, whose body was shattered into countless stones that fell into the River Narmada. Shiva offered a boon that the stones would thence be worshipped as His mark, to be recongnised as Banalingams in honour of his great devotee Banasur.
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Baaṇasura
God is for all, because there is only one God. That God is worshipped by the divines and so do the daemons and so are the seers and great devotees. An asura who excelled in devotion of Lord Shiva is the Baaṇasura.
In the asura lineage was the King Baaṇa born. His wife was Supradikai. The daemon King Baaṇa was very much devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva. He used to worship the Shiva Lingam regularly with care and devotion. God, Who is beyond any barriers, rewarded the virtue of the asura by which he worships and blessed him with wealth, power and reign. The asura king ruled the kingdom continuing his heartfelt worship of Lord Shiva.
One day he went to the abode of the Lord, Mount Kailaasha, to have darshan of the God. The daemon did not care for the properness to seek the entry at that great abode, but tried to just walk in ignoring all due permission-seeking. The gaṇas who were guarding the abode, looking at the inappropriate behavior of the daemon at the abode of God, took him like an insect and threw him off. He fell off the Chakravaaḷa Giri. Later he got back to his conscience and returned home.
As a daemon he felt humiliated. As a devotee he wanted to worship Kailaashapati well. This ego-full devotee worshipped Lord Shiva vigorously and ardently. Pleased, Lord Shiva asked him what boon he wanted. Baaṇa pleaded to The Lord, that He stays along with His family at the entrance of Baaṇa's palace! Baaṇa said by this way he can worship God without any regulations. Lord Shiva - The Immeasurable Almighty but Who is very simple and loving to those who worship with sincere devotion - gave the boon to be the guard at his palace entrance!
In the abode he built for God at the entrance of the palace, Baaṇasura worshipped the Lord Shiva, Shakti, Vignesha and Skandha with very great love and dedication. Due to the ardent worship he practiced, he won over the worlds and was just glorious in all the directions.
As the days passed by, he once again got the desire to fight with a powerful person. Now he hardly had any to fight with who could quench his thirst of valor. What did he do now ? Went to the God Himself saluted and asked, "Oh God, I do not find anybody else who can valorously fight with me. Why don't You come for a fight with me?"
God told him that there is no need for that as there would be fight with Kṛṣṇa very soon. The ego-ful Baaṇa grinned saying he won over Yadu Viira Kṛṣṇa eighteen times earlier and he is no match for him. God told him that Kṛṣṇa had taken up Shivadiiksha from Upamanyu Mahaṛṣi and with the practice he is glorious and formidable to fight with.
The daughter of Baaṇasura called Uṣai was in love with the grandson of Kṛṣṇa called Anirudda. By her magical powers she abducted Anirudda into her palace. Kṛṣṇa found out that it was the daughter of Baaṇa who abducted his grandson. He besieged the palace of Baaṇa. He saw the abode of Lord Shiva at the entrance of the palace and hence he worshipped the Lord there. Lord Shiva blessed him but told him that He was guarding the palace of Baaṇa and if Kṛṣṇa wanted to win over the palace he has to fight with the Lord.
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Kṛṣṇa was taken aback. But God encouraged him to fight. Now Kṛṣṇa fired very many arrows from his bow Saarnga. They did not hurt the Lord but fell as offering to God. The Lord enjoyed the fight. Meanwhile Baaṇasura was out in destroying the army of Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa moved towards him and fought with him. Now Baaṇa saw a formidable opponent who can put off his thirst for fight! In a fierce battle with his Chakraayudha Kṛṣṇa started chopping off all the thousand hands of Baaṇasura. All Baaṇa needed was the lesson to rectify his ego and he had got it by then. Now the Lord asked Kṛṣṇa to spare Baaṇa with four hands and so did Kṛṣṇa.
Now Kṛṣṇa and Baaṇa became friendly towards each other (after all they both are the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva). Baaṇa married his daughter to the grandson of Kṛṣṇa - Anirudda, in a grand manner. Afterwards Baaṇasura went to the banks of river Narmadha and worshipped God there very ardently. When the Lord appeared, he asked the boon of being one of Lord's Gaṇa and wanted to be the exclusive player of drum when the Lord dances. He also asked the boon that the Shivalingas worshipped by him in the banks of river Narmada be called Baaṇalingam and the world worship them with great reverence. God gave him both the boons and took him one in His Gaṇa. The devotion that Baaṇa had for Lord Shiva brought him to the great level in spite of his ego!