Sivaratri Mahima 2

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rose-water, etc. When creation had been completed, Siva and Parvati had been

living on the top of Kailas. Parvati asked: “O venerable Lord, which of the

many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?” Lord Siva replied:

“The thirteenth night of the new moon, Krishna Paksha, in the month of Phalguna

(February-March) is known as Sivaratri, My most favourable Tithi. My devotee

gives Me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths, and

offerings of flowers, sweets, incense, etc. “The devotee observes strict

spiritual discipline in the day and worships Me in four different forms in the

four successive Praharas, each made up of three hours of the night. The

offering of a few Bilva leaves is more precious to Me than the precious jewels

and flowers. He should bathe Me in milk at the first Prahara, in curd at the

second, in clarified butter

at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed

the Brahmins first and break the fast after the performance of the prescribed

ceremonies. There is no ritual, O Parvati, which can compare with this simple

routine in sanctity. Just hear, My Beloved, of an episode which will give

you an idea of the glory and power of this ritual. “Once upon a time, there

lived in the town of Varanasi a hunter. He was returning from the forest one

evening with the game birds he had killed. He felt tired and sat at the foot of

a tree to take some rest. He was overpowered by sleep. When he woke up, it was

all thick darkness of night. It was the night of Sivaratri but he did not know

it, He climbed up the tree, tied his bundle of dead birds to a branch and sat

up waiting for the dawn. The tree happened to be My favourite, the Bilva.

“There was a Linga under that tree. He plucked a few leaves dropped them down.

The night-dew trickled down from his body. I was highly pleased with

involuntary little gifts of the hunter. The day dawned and the hunter returned

to his house. “In course of time, the hunter fell ill and gave up his last

breath. The messengers of Yama arrived at his bedside to carry his soul to

Yama. My messengers also went to the spot to take him to My abode. There was a

severe fight between Yama’s messengers and My messengers. The former were

totally defeated. They reported the matter to their Lord. He presented himself

in person at the portals of My abode. Nandi gave him an idea of the sanctity of

Sivaratri and the love which I had for the hunter. Yama surrendered the hunter

to Me and returned to his abode quickly. “The hunter was able to enter My

abode and ward off death by simple fasting and offering of a few Bilva

leaves, however involuntary it might be because it was the night of Sivaratri.

Such is the solemnity and sacredness associated with the night”. Parvati was

deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Siva on the sanctity and glory of the

ritual. She repeated it to Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the

ruling princes on earth. Thus was the sanctity of Sivaratri broadcast all over

the world. ------------Sri Swami

Sivananda Sivaya Namah

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