Sivaratri Mahima 1

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Death at the end of Time or Cosmic Pralaya, and who is the real Regenerator but

not the destroyer. Maha Sivaratri means the great night consecrated to Lord

Siva. Maha Sivaratri falls on Trayodasi or the thirteenth day of the dark

fortnight of Kumbha month (February-March). In the Santi Parva of the

Mahabharata, Bhishma refers to the observance of the Maha Sivaratri, by king

Chitrabhanu, when he was giving the discourse on Dharma, resting on his bed of

arrows. Once upon a time, king Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who was

ruling over the whole of Jambudvipa, and his wife were observing a fast on the

day of Maha Sivaratri. The Sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the

king. The Sage asked: “O king, why are you observing fast today?” King

Chitrabhanu explained the reason for observing a fast on that day. He had the

gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth. He said to the Sage

Ashtavakra: “I was a hunter by name Susvar in my previous birth. I eked out my

livelihood by killing and selling birds and animals. One day, I was roaming in

a forest in search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of night. I was

not able to return home and so I climbed up a Bilva tree for

shelter. I shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. As I was

tormented by hunger and thirst, I kept awake throughout the night. I shed

profuse tears when I thought of my poor wife and children who were starving and

anxiously awaiting my return. I engaged myself in plucking and dropping down the

Bilva leaves. There was a Siva Linga at the foot of the Bilva tree. The tears

and the leaves fell upon the Siva Linga. “The day dawned. I returned home

and sold the deer. I got food for myself and for my family. I was about to

break my fast. A stranger came to me and begged for food. I served him with

food first and then I took my food. At the hour of death, I saw two messengers

of Lord Siva. They were sent down for the sake of conducting my soul to the

abode of Siva. I learnt there for the first time, of the great merit I

had earned by the observance of the fast on the day of Maha Sivaratri, though I

did it unconsciously by an accident. I lived in the abode of Siva and enjoyed

divine bliss for long ages. I am now reborn on this earth as Chitrabhanu”.

------------Sri Swami Sivananda Sivaya

Namah

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