Happy Maha Shivaratri - The Night of Shiva

[Guest guest]

said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation,

preservation and destruction. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra as it is

said he who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion

and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and

lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many

pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples.

Legends behind Shivaratri Once Lord Vishnu and Lord Bramha argued

over each other’s prowess. However, Lord Shiva challenged both of them. He

appeared as a flaming Linga and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic

Linga (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva). Lord Bramha, who took the form of a swan,

and Lord Vishnu who became a boar and went to Netherland, were both unable to

measure the Shivlinga. Then Lord Shiva came out of the Linga and declared

himself the most powerful. Maha Shivratri therefore means the grand night of

Shiva. The devotees of Shiva fast during this day and pray to the lord

throughout the night. This legend goes to prove the supremacy of Mahadev over

other Hindu Gods. King Daksha, opposed Sati's marriage with Shiva. At a yagnya

(holy sacrifice) the king ignored Shiva’s presence and thereby insulted the

latter publicly. Sati was so angered by this that she jumped into the

sacrificial fire and ended her life. Lord Shiva unleashed his fury at the death

of his wife by performing the violent dance, Taandav. He wiped out Daksha’s

kingdom, undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. The Gods, who

feared that the severity of Shiva’s penance might bring an end to the world,

revived Sati in the new avatar of Parvati. Shiva-Parvati married and this

reunion is celebrated on Maha Shivratri. 12 Jyotirlinga Darshan on the

occasion of Maha Shivratri

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over the images to see name of Jyotirlinga. Significance of Jyotirlinga: The

Puranas vociferously sing the praises of the greatness of the Jyotirlingas. By

reciting

the name of this, one can eliminate all the sins. The Sadhaka becomes calm,

chaste and pure. He becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine

knowledge. The names mentioned for the benefits of all: SAURASHTRA SOMNATHAM

CHA SHRISHAILE MALLIKARJUNAM ||UJJAINYAM MAHAKALOMKARE MAMMALESHWARAM ||PARLYAM

VAIJNATHAM CHA DAKINYAM BHEEM SHANKARAM ||SETU BANDHE TU RAMESHAM NAGESHAM

DARUKA VANE ||VARANASYA TU VISHWESHAM TRIBAKAM GAUTAMITATE || HIMALAYE TU

KEDARAM GHURMESHAM CHA SHIVALAYE ||AETANI JYOTIRLINGANI SAYAM PRATAHA

PATHENNARAHA ||SAPTA JANMA KRITAM PAPAM SMARANEN VINASHYATI || One who

recites these 12 names regularly in the morning and evening he washes all the

sins committed in the previous 7 births and attains all the powers and Siddhis.

Shiva Ratri Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world and

thus the land of Lord Shiva, Lord of all Lords, for here you can feel his

presence everywhere. Even in the sacred texts of the Hindus it has been stated

that Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva as he

is also known. Shiva the

Destroyer of Evil is among the most praised and worshipped of all the gods in

the Hindu religion. Hindus all over the world know him through different names

and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his

name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that

represents him. For it is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of

creation, the beginning of everything. Shiva Ratri is the night of Lord Shiva

when He himself was created by His own Divine Grace and Hindus all over the

world celebrate this day with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. Shiva Ratri

literally means ' the night consecrated to Shiva'. This auspicious festival

falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the month of Falgun,

(February - March in the Gregorian calendar ). The temple of Pashupatinath in

Kathmandu which is considered as one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus,

glorifying Lord Shiva, thus receives more than 100,000 worshippers

during the festival of Shiva Ratri. These worshippers come from far and wide to

pay their respects and homage to Mahadev on his sacred day. Pashupatinath

temple is located at the eastern part of the Kathmandu valley on the banks of

the holy river Bagmati. Pashupatinath, which literally means ‘the Lord of

animals’, is one of the many forms of the Lord. He is the guardian deity,

protector of our Hindu Kingdom of Nepal, thus Shiva Ratri is one of the major

festivals of Nepal. Pilgrims from all over Nepal as Pashupatinath Temple well

as India come to Pashupatinath to worship and pray to the deity on his birthday

and wash away all the sins committed by them. Only Hindus are allowed inside the

temple and tourists are only permitted to observe the festival from across the

Bagmati river. Shiva Ratri is a much anticipated festival by all Hindus.

Pilgrims and yogis (holy men), from all over Southeast Asia come to Kathmandu

weeks before the festival. On this holy day people fast through out the day. At

dawn, worshippers take a holy bath or dip in the river and go to the temple to

worship. One of the interesting aspects of Shiva Ratri is that on this day

devotees and non-devotees alike freely indulge in smoking intoxicating

substances such as marijuana and bhang for it is the only day in the annual

calendar when marijuana is legal. Many people take these intoxicants in the

belief that it pleases Lord Shiva for he too is said to be fond of it. Thus

marijuana is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods and one can see

eager tourists and faithful Nepalese flocking around the temple complex of the

Ram Janaki Mandir across the Bagmati river opposite to the main temple complex

of Pashupatinath lingering around sadhus and babas in the hope for some

prasad from them. The Puran, one of the many holy texts of the Hindus, tells us

that if you worship Lord Shiva on this day all your sins will be forgiven.

Giving an examle the puran talks about an event that occurred ages before about

a hunter from Benares. This man worshipped Lord Shiva unknowingly on Shiva Ratri

and he was forgiven for all his sins. On Shiva Ratri the temple of Pashupatinath

is filled with worshippers. Devotees are not distinguished as poor or rich but

treated equally for Lord Shiva treats us all equally. Even the King of Nepal

and the royal family pay homage to the Pashupatunath on this day along with the

thousands that gather to celebrate the festival. Thus the festival of Shiva

Ratri shows the devotion and faith Nepalese have towards the Hindu religion.

Article by Avigya Karki Photographs collected from Deependra Bajracharya and

Madhup Mangal. http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shivaratri.htm

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/fest/fest_03.html

#000000"> Happy Maha Shivaratri

FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"> OM SAI RAM om-sai-allah

[Guest guest]

Dear Om Sai Allah

On behalf of all the Sai devotees and the People of Mauritius, I thank you for

posting the picture of our gigantic Lord Shiva as He stands in all His Majesty

at the Ganga Talao, in Grand Bassin.

This is very thoughtful and praiseworthy

May Saishiva Bless You and Your Dear Ones Always!

at the lotus feet of SAI

anita

OM-SAI- ALLAAH <omsai_allaah >

saibabanewsTo: saibabanewsSubject:

[saibabanews] Happy Maha Shivaratri - The Night of ShivaSat, 25 Feb 2006

04:22:31 -0800 (PST)