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I go to a temple where there is a shivling set on some soil at the base of a tree. So all the water poured goes in the root, and I feel good about giving the tree so much Shiva Nirmalaya to drink. Whenever I go to the temple, I try to pour water from a jug (lota) as many times as I can. Note that the water doesn't fall on the floor or anything, it goes into the soil and feeds the tree the Shiva Nirmalaya. However, today the priest stopped me and started to scold me saying (Hindi)

"Ye puja kar rahe ho ya mazak kar rahe ho. Ye tumhara paanchwa lota hai"

(English Translation)

"Is this puja (worship) or a joke? This is your fifth jug (lota)."

So I was wondering if there is such a thing as overoffering water to the shivling? Can I offer water as many times as I want to the shivling or is there a limit of one or three or the number of letters in the panchakshari mantra or something like that?

EDIT : I want to know the scriptural injunctions regarding amount to be offered to the shivling. Just for the sake of more information, the temple I go to has a pipeline supply so there is no question of running out of water. I do admit that noone else pours as much water as me (11 lotas or mini-jugs). Also, there are many shivlings in the temple and at each one, multiple people can pour water at the same time, so I am not holding up the crowd or anything.

EDIT 2 : Some prescribed quantities are mentioned in this answer - https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/17187/16709 - but it is also mentioned that Shukracharya did Abhishek "a thousand times".

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    @TigerShroff - if you dissolve yourself in Shiva, with such peak devotion, you can pour water how much ever you want, the water will just keep coming and will have no end and wont be wasted! But until we reach that stage of peak devotion, we have to abide by limitations and regulations! – Parabrahman Jyoti Nov 12 '18 at 7:43
  • @Sarvabhouma you mention about 100 or 200 times. In 'Rudrabhishek', where there is continuous pouring of water, what will you call it? Wastage?? Further, the OP mentioned that water is going into tree roots. So where is wastage? – Vineet Nov 12 '18 at 7:45
  • @Vineet I have to agree with the priest there. Even me and you are not above that priest in terms of knowledge. If someone has a hundred tankers of water and pours everything on Shiva lingam, that will not be a good way to use water. Obviously, that person is doing out of devotion and feels good. But what is the outcome? And @@Tiger shroff, Rudrabhishek is different and what normal people do is different. Only the priest has a the right to do abhishek and there are certain rules to be followed while doing. It is not like pouring whatever, whenever we want. We should also see rationality. – Sarvabhouma Nov 12 '18 at 7:48
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    pl mention @username else the concerned user won't get notified. 'silver coloured metal' may be 'Parad Shivling'. My guess. – Vineet Nov 12 '18 at 9:59
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    @Tiger The link should play exactly what you should watch. Note that this video Does not have complete answer to your question. – TheLittleNaruto Nov 12 '18 at 15:04

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