MahaShivaratri

February 15, 2007

|OM NAMAH SHIVAAY|

|HARA HARA MAHADEVA|

Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. This festival is purely religious in nature and universally observed by all Hindus. On this day devotees sing bhajans in honor of Shiva, recite Sanskrit shlokas (verses) from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some observe fasting throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Shiva and offer prayers in large crowds. The prayers and worship continue late into the night when the devotees offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits, and specially prepared sacred food to Shiva and his divine consort Parvati. Offering Bilva leaves to Shiva on Shivaratri is considered very auspicious by his devotees.

The origin of Shivaratri is attributed to several stories in Hindu mythology. One very popular story traces the origin of this festival to the churning of the Ocean of Milk by devas (gods) and asuras (demons). It is said that when both gods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came across many unusual substances, including the deadly poison Kalakuta. As soon as they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that threatened to envelope the entire universe by darkness. When the destruction of the universe seemed inevitable, the gods ran for assistance from Brahma and Vishnu, but neither was able to help. At last they ran to Lord Shiva, who raised his trident and condensed the fumes. In order to save the creation, Shiva swallowed the poison without spilling a single drop. The poison left a dark blue mark on Shiva's throat. The gods praised and worshipped Shiva for saving the universe.

The philosophical essence of the above myth is as follows: gods and demons symbolize all kinds of individuals (both good and bad) in the world. The Ocean of Milk represents the ideal world that is full of peace and happiness for all human beings. Churning the Ocean of Milk signifies the human activity in the world. The amrita symbolizes happiness and the poison represents human greed and selfishness. Shiva symbolizes the atman (self), the spiritual essence of an individual. Worship of Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an individual on his or her own self.

The above story is symbolic of the fact that individuals perform actions in the world in order to achieve happiness. In this process a person is usually overpowered by greed and selfishness, ruining his or her efforts for obtaining peace and happiness. Thus the only way to achieve peace and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by meditating on one's own self during the night when the individual is free from the distractions of the physical world. When the individual attains self-knowledge, he or she can live in the world without being affected by anger, greed, and selfishness, the three enemies of one's soul. Shlce Shivaratri symbolizes the worship of the atman within, this festival is celebrated as a purely religious festival by all Hindus, as stated earlier.

Another story in Hindu mythology also emphasizes the auspiciousness of Shivaratri: On the day of Shivaratri, a hunter, who had killed many birds in a forest, was chased by a hungry lion. The hunter climbed a Bilva tree to save himself from the lion's attack. The lion waited throughout the entire night at the bottom of the tree for its prey. In order to stay awake to avoid falling from the tree, the hunter kept plucking the leaves of the Bilva tree and dropping them below. The leaves fell on a Shiva Linga that happened to be located at the bottom of the tree. Shiva was pleased by the offering of the Bilva leaves by the hunter, although inadvertently, and saved the hunter in spite of all the sin the hunter had committed by killing the birds. This story emphasizes the auspiciousness of worshipping Shiva with Bilva leaves on Shivaratri.

A Festival Especially For WomenShivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

"Om Namah Shivaya!"All through the day the devotees keep severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya", make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship.

February 15, 2007

There is a great spiritual significance attached to Mahashivratri. In

one of the Atri classes Sanjayji told us that Abhijit Nakshatra is

the only nakshatra that points to God and is therefore hidden while

all other nakshatras relate to the physical plane and are therefore

visible.

Is Mahashivratri so special for spiritual progress because there is a

yuti of sun (Shiva) and Moon(Parvati) in the place symbolised by

Abhijit Nakshatra between Uttara Ashada (Sun) and Shrawan (Moon)???

sohamsa , " supriti108 " <supriti108 wrote:

>

> |OM NAMAH SHIVAAY|

>

> |HARA HARA MAHADEVA|

>

> Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth

day of

> the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated

to

> the worship of Lord Shiva. This festival is purely religious in

nature

> and universally observed by all Hindus. On this day devotees sing

> bhajans in honor of Shiva, recite Sanskrit shlokas (verses) from

> scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some

observe

> fasting throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Shiva and

> offer prayers in large crowds. The prayers and worship continue late

> into the night when the devotees offer coconut, Bilva leaves,

fruits,

> and specially prepared sacred food to Shiva and his divine consort

> Parvati. Offering Bilva leaves to Shiva on Shivaratri is considered

very

> auspicious by his devotees.

>

> The origin of Shivaratri is attributed to several stories in Hindu

> mythology. One very popular story traces the origin of this

festival to

> the churning of the Ocean of Milk by devas (gods) and asuras

(demons).

> It is said that when both gods and demons were churning the Ocean of

> Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came across

many

> unusual substances, including the deadly poison Kalakuta. As soon as

> they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that

> threatened to envelope the entire universe by darkness. When the

> destruction of the universe seemed inevitable, the gods ran for

> assistance from Brahma and Vishnu, but neither was able to help. At

last

> they ran to Lord Shiva, who raised his trident and condensed the

fumes.

> In order to save the creation, Shiva swallowed the poison without

> spilling a single drop. The poison left a dark blue mark on Shiva's

> throat. The gods praised and worshipped Shiva for saving the

universe.

>

> The philosophical essence of the above myth is as follows: gods and

> demons symbolize all kinds of individuals (both good and bad) in the

> world. The Ocean of Milk represents the ideal world that is full of

> peace and happiness for all human beings. Churning the Ocean of Milk

> signifies the human activity in the world. The amrita symbolizes

> happiness and the poison represents human greed and selfishness.

Shiva

> symbolizes the atman (self), the spiritual essence of an individual.

> Worship of Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an

individual

> on his or her own self.

>

> The above story is symbolic of the fact that individuals perform

actions

> in the world in order to achieve happiness. In this process a

person is

> usually overpowered by greed and selfishness, ruining his or her

efforts

> for obtaining peace and happiness. Thus the only way to achieve

peace

> and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by

meditating

> on one's own self during the night when the individual is free from

the

> distractions of the physical world. When the individual attains

> self-knowledge, he or she can live in the world without being

affected

> by anger, greed, and selfishness, the three enemies of one's soul.

Shlce

> Shivaratri symbolizes the worship of the atman within, this

festival is

> celebrated as a purely religious festival by all Hindus, as stated

> earlier.

>

> Another story in Hindu mythology also emphasizes the auspiciousness

of

> Shivaratri: On the day of Shivaratri, a hunter, who had killed many

> birds in a forest, was chased by a hungry lion. The hunter climbed a

> Bilva tree to save himself from the lion's attack. The lion waited

> throughout the entire night at the bottom of the tree for its prey.

In

> order to stay awake to avoid falling from the tree, the hunter kept

> plucking the leaves of the Bilva tree and dropping them below. The

> leaves fell on a Shiva Linga that happened to be located at the

bottom

> of the tree. Shiva was pleased by the offering of the Bilva leaves

by

> the hunter, although inadvertently, and saved the hunter in spite

of all

> the sin the hunter had committed by killing the birds. This story

> emphasizes the auspiciousness of worshipping Shiva with Bilva

leaves on

> Shivaratri.

>

> A Festival Especially For Women

> Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married

women

> pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried

> women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of

Kali,

> Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who

utters

> the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from

all

> sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the

> cycle of birth and death.

>

> " Om Namah Shivaya! "

> All through the day the devotees keep severe fast, chant the sacred

> Panchakshara mantra " Om Namah Shivaya " , make offerings of flowers

and

> incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain

long

> vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns

and

> songs. The fast

<http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa041600a.htm>

> is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship.

>

February 17, 2007

|| Vyam Vyasadevaaya Namaha||

||Hare Rama Krsna||

There is also this story in Hindu mythology, that on the night of Mahasivaratri, Lord Shiva in the 3rd part of the night, called the LINGODBHAVA MUHURTA, assumes the avatar of Lingodhbhava murti, where the Adi and the Anta of the Linga cannot be ascertained. The interesting part is that, Brahma assumed the form of a Swan, Vishnu that of a Varaha and went in quest of the beginning and the end of the Murti. But came back unsuccessful and it is said that such is His Eternal Form, all encompassing, all pervading, totally undecipherable to the doubting ones. It is also said that in Chidambaram, Thiru chitrambalam, also the seat of Lord Shiva in every Heart, assumes and gives darshan to all his devotees during the Lingodhbhava kaala. It is also said that the nine planets stand in attendence to worship him and pay respects, and that particular time is auspicious to pray to Lingodhbhava Shiva for alleviation of all graha related sufferings, for He is the

Master of the world and all the grahas in subservience to Him.

The roof of the Mandap in Sri Chidambaram has the nine planets sculpted, and this is where Lord Shiva holds court during Lingodhbhava kaala.

Chidambaram is Chit and ambalam, which is the seat of Lord Shiva where he performs the Celestial Dance as Lord Nataraja.

My humble 2 cents.

Nalini

supriti108 <supriti108sohamsa Sent: Friday, 16 February, 2007 3:52:53 AM MahaShivaratri

|OM NAMAH SHIVAAY|

|HARA HARA MAHADEVA|

Mahashivaratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February- March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. This festival is purely religious in nature and universally observed by all Hindus. On this day devotees sing bhajans in honor of Shiva, recite Sanskrit shlokas (verses) from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some observe fasting throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Shiva and offer prayers in large crowds. The prayers and worship continue late into the night when the devotees offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits, and specially prepared sacred food to Shiva and his divine consort Parvati. Offering Bilva leaves to Shiva on Shivaratri is considered very auspicious by his devotees.

The origin of Shivaratri is attributed to several stories in Hindu mythology. One very popular story traces the origin of this festival to the churning of the Ocean of Milk by devas (gods) and asuras (demons). It is said that when both gods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came across many unusual substances, including the deadly poison Kalakuta. As soon as they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that threatened to envelope the entire universe by darkness. When the destruction of the universe seemed inevitable, the gods ran for assistance from Brahma and Vishnu, but neither was able to help. At last they ran to Lord Shiva, who raised his trident and condensed the fumes. In order to save the creation, Shiva swallowed the poison without spilling a single drop. The poison left a dark blue mark on Shiva's throat.

The gods praised and worshipped Shiva for saving the universe.

The philosophical essence of the above myth is as follows: gods and demons symbolize all kinds of individuals (both good and bad) in the world. The Ocean of Milk represents the ideal world that is full of peace and happiness for all human beings. Churning the Ocean of Milk signifies the human activity in the world. The amrita symbolizes happiness and the poison represents human greed and selfishness. Shiva symbolizes the atman (self), the spiritual essence of an individual. Worship of Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an individual on his or her own self.

The above story is symbolic of the fact that individuals perform actions in the world in order to achieve happiness. In this process a person is usually overpowered by greed and selfishness, ruining his or her efforts for obtaining peace and happiness. Thus the only way to achieve peace and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by meditating on one's own self during the night when the individual is free from the distractions of the physical world. When the individual attains self-knowledge, he or she can live in the world without being affected by anger, greed, and selfishness, the three enemies of one's soul. Shlce Shivaratri symbolizes the worship of the atman within, this festival is celebrated as a purely religious festival by all Hindus, as stated earlier.

Another story in Hindu mythology also emphasizes the auspiciousness of Shivaratri: On the day of Shivaratri, a hunter, who had killed many birds in a forest, was chased by a hungry lion. The hunter climbed a Bilva tree to save himself from the lion's attack. The lion waited throughout the entire night at the bottom of the tree for its prey. In order to stay awake to avoid falling from the tree, the hunter kept plucking the leaves of the Bilva tree and dropping them below. The leaves fell on a Shiva Linga that happened to be located at the bottom of the tree. Shiva was pleased by the offering of the Bilva leaves by the hunter, although inadvertently, and saved the hunter in spite of all the sin the hunter had committed by killing the birds. This story emphasizes the auspiciousness of worshipping Shiva with Bilva leaves on Shivaratri.

A Festival Especially For WomenShivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

" Om Namah Shivaya!"All through the day the devotees keep severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya", make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship.Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.