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• Is it OK to worship shiva lingam at home ?

  
  

  It is not just OK, but it is recommended that everyone does the worship after getting the knowledge of the shiva linga worship through the teacher. In fact in the vIra shaiva sampradAya not just every home but each individual has the iShTa linga that is worn on the neck which is worshipped throughout the lifetime. When the shiva linga worship is the lifeline for the devotee as the means of liberation, there need not be any reluctance on that.

  The worship of shivalinga requires adherence to certain procedures. So somebody says it is not for common people, is that right ?

  As said earlier it is for the common people without any restriction on caste, creed, race, gender ..... as followed by vIra shaivites. Definitely there are certain rituals to follow, those are mainly in order to regulate and maximize the properness of the worship through the ancient wisdom passed across to us through ages. Since they would provide great rewards it would be a good idea to learn them and follow.

  But saying an excuse due to that would be indication of lethargy that tries to avoid a great opportunity. One can say, "Car is expensive to maintain. Motorbike also needs petrol often filled in. Bicycle atleast once in a while filling puncture etc. Could walk, but worried whether the bones and joints would be worn out !" To reach the destination one needs to make effort. To the one who realized it, it is not just the destination but even the effort is blissful !

• Why do we clap hands at the abode of chaNDikeshwara ?

  
  

  The idea is not to clap hands to make sound. But to show that nothing from the abode of Lord shiva is taken away as we leave the temple. (Because of this reason this is done among the last steps before leaving the temple after having darshan of God.) The reason is that this great saint chopped off the legs of his own father as he was trying to destroy the offerings to God. God gave him the right of all the things that God ate or worn.(1) (It could be observed that the clothing of God are later used for chaNDIshar in temples.) So if we are taking any prasad back home permission is sought from chaNDIshwara for the same and otherwise palms are wiped together to indicate no material is being taken from the abode of the Lord. It is not appropriate to make noise or put threads from own dress etc.

See Also:
1. History of chanDIshwara

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