Maha Shivratri 2019

Maha Shivratri or simply Shivratri is an annual Hindu festival celebrated with great devotion. The Hindus all over the world observe a variety of rituals on this day. A huge influx of devotees can be seen at Shiva temples on this occasion and they spend the night there with prayers and chants.

The term Maha Shivratri literally means  ‘Great Night of Shiva’. There are a lot of legends associated with observing this festival and the most popular one is that it is the day in which Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Hence, Shivaratri is a commemoration of convergence of Shiva and Shakthi.

Another legend associated with this day is that of Samudra Manthan in which Shiva saved the world by consuming the emerged poison and arresting it in his throat (This is similar to when we do spiritual practice and begin our path of self-inquiry, and negative tendencies often come to light first, which can be a painful experience. Similarly, during a physical fast or cleanse, toxins can be shaken loose and released first, causing a healing crisis before we continue healing into a freer, happier state of being).

The day in which Shiva manifested his great effulgent form – Jotirmaya or Jyotirlinga to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, is another story associated with Maha Shivaratri. Some devotees also believe that Lord Shiva performed the cosmic dance ‘Tandava’ on the night of Shivratri.

When is Shivaratri 2019

Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Trayodashi or Chaturdashi (13th or 14th day of waning phase) of the Hindu month Phalguna which befalls on February or March in Gregorian calendar. Though the 14th day of every lunar month (the day before the new moon) is considered as Shivaratri, the one having the highest spiritual significance is the Maha Shivratri befalling at this time of the year. The MahaShivratri 2019 is on March 4. It is believed that, on the night of this auspicious occasion, the northern hemisphere of the Earth positions in a way that causes a natural upsurge of energy in us.

Why do we celebrate Shivratri

On Maha Shivratri, the religious practices including Yoga and meditation work more effectively and the benefits of mantras such as Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra increases. Those who strictly observe Shivratri fasting and other penances are believed to achieve Moksha or liberation. Maha Shivratri Puja, Vrat & Fast are so powerful that they help a person attain control over worldly pleasures and temptations. The material pleasures and temptations are forces that bother humans a lot. By worshipping Shiva and observing the fast for the entire Shivratri night, one can have control over the negative thoughts like anger, lust, greed etc.

On Maha Shivaratri, the Universe pushes us towards the spiritual peak; the planetary positions evoke the spiritual energies that help us rise to that level. The tradition of observing the festival night-long and staying awake is to allow this flow of energy to pass through our spine.

Om Namah Shivaay

Maha Shivratri Puja, Vrat & other observances

The Maha Shivaratri observances include poojas, abhisheka, fasting and staying awake at night with prayers and meditations. Devotees observe fast on this day and keep awake all night, meditating or chanting prayers inside the temples. Some devotees observe strict fasting without even consuming water. Some people have food only once while some follow a fruit and milk diet. Devotees visiting Shiva temples give prayers, special pujas & offerings. Those who wish to stay awake may visit the temples and spend their night, chanting prayers or ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ mantra. Some devotees perform the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra too.

Abhisheka on Shivalinga is a major ritual on Maha Shivaratri. It is done using milk, honey, sugar, butter, black sesame seeds, Ganga Jal etc. After the abhisheka or bathing of Siva Linga,  sandalwood paste and rice are applied and fresh fruits and flowers are offered. According to Shiva Purana, all these observations have certain meanings.

• Bathing Shivalinga with water, milk, honey and betel leaves marks purification of the soul.
• Applying vermillion or kumkum symbolizes virtue.
• Offering fruits indicates longevity and gratification of desires.
• The burning of incense symbolizes wealth.
• Lighting of lamps indicates the attainment of knowledge.
• Betel leaves signify satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

ओम त्र्यंबकम याजमाहे
सुगांधिम पुष्तीवर्धनम
उर्वुकुमाइव बंधनन
श्रीमती मुंशी ममृितत

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

Yogic Tradition

Lord Śiva is one of the most misunderstood deities in the tradition - and in fact, so much so that even the ancient mythologies joke around about how even other deities do not always recognize or understand him.  In the West, we inaccurately refer to him as “the Hindu god of destruction”.

Destruction connotes violence and horror.  However, Śiva-jī is the absolute opposite - his name means “auspiciousness”, and he is an embodiment of pure love and compassion.  He doesn’t destroy so much as effortlessly dissolve.  Dissolution can seem like destruction, at least superficially, but its purpose is benevolent.  It frees us from duality and limited states of being that cause suffering.

For example, when we sit for meditation, we slowly let go of certain judgments, opinions, and toxic feelings.  Our concepts and even our pride may get destroyed, but we are actually happier and more free as a result.  This is the sort of "destruction" Śiva blesses us with.  If we embrace it, we experience it as pure grace.

Speaking of meditation, Lord Śiva is also the lord of meditation and yoga.  He exists in the highest state of absolute truth, consciousness, and joy (sat-cit-ānanda).   This is also why he is called the primordial guru - he embodies the highest state of self-realization.  Whenever we experience pure presence, pure beingness, we are experiencing him.

And, to be clear, even though we are using the masculine pronoun to refer to Lord Śiva, “he” is not a he, as in, a male person!  For the purpose of communicating teachings through mythology and sacred art, we personify Lord Śiva as a "he".  

In Śaivite lineages, Lord Śiva refers to the eternal, formless, infinite beingness from whom all creation emanates and returns, i.e. God. (Vaiṣṇava traditions ascribe this role to Śrī Viṣṇu; Śāktas claim that Śaktī - the Goddess - is everything, and so on... but the underlying principles are similar).

For Śaivites, Lord Śiva is not only our source, he is EVERYTHING that exists, existed, and could exist.  Whatever is happening is happening within Śiva.  In fact, WE are all Śiva.  He is the cosmic oneness.  To honor Śiva is actually to honor everything, including our own self.

For those of us who revere and love Lord Śiva, we experience him to be the source of the entire universe. He is described in some traditions as the heart of the universe, and is the source of the heart's finest qualities, including wisdom, love, clarity, and mercy. He is also described as the most compassionate of all the faces of the divine (Karuṇākara), and the most easily accessible form of divine grace (Āśutoṣa, he who is easily pleased).

Another name for Lord Śiva is Yogeśvara, the lord of yoga. According to Śaivite wisdom, he is the source, protector, and goal of yogic practice. Through the yogic journey, we come to understand that we emerge from his being, are sustained by his being, and experience ourselves dissolving into his being. And "his being" here, which is our devotional human way of referring to it should be understood to mean, philosophically speaking, "THE Beingness" - Supreme Presence itself. 

Anthropomorphizing the formless divine vastness in this way makes it a little more approachable and easier to connect to, and is a technique used throughout the traditions to invite us into intimacy with the divine.

Worshipping Lord Śiva and performing yogic practices such as meditation and mantra recitation on Mahāśivarātri is an ancient and beloved tradition that directs our attention towards the source of our being and innate divinity. It awakens our wisdom and compassion, and yields tremendous blessings. 

 Stillness.  Self-mastery.  Clarity.  Freedom.  Love.  Unity.  Presence.

As we stay awake through the night, we strengthen our resolve and self-discipline.  Like Mahādeva Śiva, we remain fearless, still, and alert even in the darkness.  Like him, we also allow the beautiful crescent moon to soothe and illumine our minds.

As we practice upavāsa, we lovingly bring stillness and balance to our minds and bodies, and support our ability to turn within.

By reciting scriptures, we affirm the highest truth.  As we repeat mantras, we immerse our entire being in sacred and quiet pools of vibration.  Our mind, body, and soul experiences the bliss of unity, of unbroken presence.

As we do pūjā (ritual worship) and abhiṣekha (ritual bathing) of the śivaliṅga, we experience the deep protection and blessing power of the sacred column of light within.  We recognize, with awe and humility, the vastness and sovereignty of divine power.  As the milk, honey, sugar, ghee, yoghurt, and rose water cascade down the liṅgaṃ, we remember not to be afraid - we see how sweet, gentle, nourishing, radiant, and beautiful the divine is.  

Lastly, as we meditate, we too experience the unconditional love within our hearts and the pure bliss of being.  As we turn within, we understand why they say Lord Śiva is the easiest deity to please - just look inside, call his name, and he is right... there.  In you.  As you.  And always with you.

May you have a blessed and beautiful Mahāśivarātri.  

How to do Upvasa

https://sarastrology.blogspot.com/2019/02/upavasa-illumined-by-gentle-fasting.html

how to do Mantra Japa

https://sarastrology.blogspot.com/2019/02/mantra-japa-on-shiva-ratri.html

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