13 August 2013 - QA 2

Gurudev, you said in Sanskrit, the word for water and love is the same. In this context, is there some significance of offering water to the Shiva linga.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it is a symbol.
In ancient times people would take water in both hands, gaze at the Sun and offer the water. Sun gazing is very good, because our eyes are photosensitive. So Sun gazing can get the Sun’s energy in the body.
Sun gazing is known all over the world now. When people do Sun gazing, their hunger reduces, there is a boost in their immune system, and a lot of things happen.

There is an expression which is used around the world when one feels so much love or pain. What is that expression? I want to pour my heart out.
The pouring out, gives you a sense of offering everything. So when you offer water to the Shiva Linga, it is a symbol of offering everything, where one feels, 'All that I have, all that I am, these all belong to you my Lord'.
This is the prayer. Namah Na Mamah, nothing is mine, my life is not mine, it is all yours.
So as a gesture of pouring everything out, one takes water (as water is the same as love in Sanskrit) and offers to Shiva. Not that Shiva needs water.