SHIVA RATRI

Compiled By: Sanjay Bharatha

The first thing one remembers when one thinks of Lord Shiva is all auspiciousness and boundless compassion. The Lord who gave half of His being to Mother Goddess Parvati, who herself is an epitome of Compassion, true to his name, is also an epitome of auspiciousness and compassion for all the living beings in this Universe. In Suddha Dharma Shiva Tatva is worshipped as Dakshinamurthy, the Supreme Teacher of Suddha Dharma, the teachers of Pravritti and Nivritti paths being Naradeva and Kumaras respectively. Lord Yoga Narayana being the incharge of Bhagwad Dharma. Thus Lord Shiva takes the place of a teacher to all those who are interested in progressing in the path of Suddha Dharma.

popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a divine Cosmic Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivaratri the grand night of Shiva. Devotees observe strict fast in honour of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Significance of Puja Items

According to the Shiva Purana, there is a special significance of the six essential puja items used in the Shiva worship. Bathing of Shivalinga with water, milk and honey and wood apple or bel leaves added to it, represents purification of the soul. The vermilion paste applied on the linga after the ritual bath represents virtue. Offering of fruits symbolizes longevity and gratification of desires. Burning of incense sticks yields wealth. The lighting of the lamp symbolizes attainment of knowledge. Offering of betel leaves marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

The 14th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalgun (Feb-Mar), according to sacred scriptures, is the most dear to Lord Shiva and ritual worship of Lord Shiva performed on this Shiva-ratri (night of Shiva) pleases Lord Shiva the most. Legends of Mahashivratri : There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another
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All-Night Shiva Worship Worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the night on Shivaratri Festival. Devotees stay awake all night and spend the night in Shiva temples or at homes in worship of Lord Shiva. Singing of hymns and verses in praise and devotion of Lord Shiva besides the intense chanting of Om Namah Shivay, the mantra that is said to free people from all their sins, continue through the night on Shivaratri. Shiva Purana further says that performing abhisheka of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas including milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya (material) used in the abhisheka blesses a unique quality:

Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness.

Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny. Honey is for sweet speech. Ghee is for victory. Sugar is for happiness. Water is for purity.

Unmarried women also pray for a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal husband. According to another version of the legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

Legend of Shiva Linga The legend of Shiva Linga or Lingodbhavamurthy is deeply related to Mahashivaratri. The legend narrates the story of vain search by Brahma and Vishnu to discover the Aadi (beginning) and the Antha (end) of Lord Shiva. The story is stated in the three of the puranas - the Kurma Purana, the Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana.

Since Lord Shiva is regarded as an ascetic god, Maha Shivratri is very popular with ascetics. Thandai, a drink made with bhang (cannabis), almonds, and milk, is essentially drunk by the devout on the day as cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva. Significance of Shivaratri for Women Mahashivratri Festival is also considered to be an extremely significant festival by women. Married and unmarried women observe fast and perform Shiva Puja with sincerity to appease Goddess Parvati who is also regarded as Gaura - one who bestows marital bliss and long and prosperous married life.

Haalaa-Hala - the Poison : During the Sagar Manthan the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a pot of poison also came out of the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was so toxic that it effects would have wiped out the entire creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, Gods approached Lord Shiva for help and protection as only he could swallow it without being affected.

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On the request of gods and out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison. However, Parvati - Lord Shivas consort pressed his neck so that the poison does not reach his stomach. Thus, it stayed in his throat neither going up nor going down and Shiva remained unharmed. The poison was so potent that it changed the color of Lord Mahadevas neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakantha (the bluenecked one) where Neela means blue and Kantha means neck or throat.

Story of Lubdhaka Story says that Lubdhaka - a poor tribal man and a devout worshipper of Lord Shiva once went into the deep forests to collect firewood. As the darkness engulfed the jungle, Lubdhaka lost his way and could not find his way home. He became extremely terrified as deep growls of animals began to fill the jungle. Seeking protection till daybreak, Lubdhaka climbed the nearest bel tree and sought safety and shelter in itsbranches. Since Lubdhaka was perched on the branch of a tree he was afraid that if he dozed he might fall off from the tree. To keep himself awake all night, Lubdhaka decided to pluck one leaf from the bheel tree and drop it while chanting the name of Shiva. By sunrise, the devout tribal realized that he had dropped thousands of leaves on to a Shiva Lingam, which he had not seen in the darkness. Lubdhakas all night worship pleased Lord Shiva and by his divine grace tigers and other wild animals went away. Thus, Lubdhaka not only survived but was also rewarded with divine bliss. According to Puranas, ever since that day, the story of the tribal Lubdhaka has been recited every year on the night of Mahashivaratri. This popular legend also form the basis of the popular custom of offering Bhel (Aegle marmelos) leaves to Lord Shiva on Shivaratri.

Lord Shiva drinking the most dangerous poison Haalaa-hala, which came out from the Ocean of Milk after being churned by Gods and Demons.

As part of the therapy, divine doctors advised gods to keep Lord Shiva awake during the night. Thus, Gods kept a vigil in contemplation of Lord Shiva. To amuse Shiva and to keep him awake, the gods took turns performing various dances and playing music. As the day broke out, Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion blessed them all. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world. Since then, on this day and night - devotees fast, keep vigil, sing glories of Lord and meditate.
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Different Version of the Legend - Story of King Chitrabhanu Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, talks about the legend of King Chitrabhanu observing the festival. The story, as told by Bhishma while resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, says that once King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king and inquired the king about reasons for keeping a fast.

Answering the sages query, King Chitrabhanu who had the gift of remembering the incidents from his previous birth said that in the past birth he was a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while he was roaming through the woods in search of animals, he was overtaken by the darkness of the night. To seek shelter from wild animals, Suswarna seeked shelter in the branches of nearest tree, which happened to a bael. Suswarna has also shot a deer that day but had no time to take it to home. So he bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. Hunger and thirst tormented Suswarna and kept him awake all night. Feeling sad that his poor wife and children were starving and must be anxiously waiting for his return, Suswarna began to shed profuse tears. To pass away time, Suswarna engaged himself in plucking bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.

Later, at the time of his death, Suswarna saw two messengers of Lord Shiva who were sent down to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. It was then that Suswarna learnt for the great merit he had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The divine messengers told Suswarna that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree on which he spent the night. The leaves he dropped therefore fell on the Lingam. While his tears, which he had shed out of sorrow for his family, fell on the lingam and washed it. Besides, he had observed a fast all day and all night. Thus, Suswarna had unconsciously worshiped the Lord Shiva. Concluding the story, the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages. Now, he has reborn as Chitrabhanu. The Origin of Shivaratri worship: Story goes that after creation was complete, Lord Shiva began to live on top of the mount Kailash with his consort Parvati. One day, Goddess Parvati asked Shiva that his devotees perform many rituals to please the Lord, but which one pleases him most. To this, Lord Shiva replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Phalgun is his favourite day. The day is celebrated as Shivaratri. On this day, devotees observe strict spiritual discipline and worship Shiva in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. Goddess Parvati became deeply impressed with Lord Shivas speech and she narrated it to her friends. Through them the word spread all over the creation. Hence, Shiva devotees began to celebrate Shivaratri by fasting and by performing the ceremonial baths and making an offering of bel leaves.

Having passed the night thus, next morning, Suswarna sold the deer and bought some food for himself and his family. But, the moment he was about to break his fast, a stranger came to him begging for food. Humbly, Suswarna served food to stranger first and then had his own.

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The devotees observes a very strict fast during this auspicious day. They do not eat anything until the vigil is complete. During the vigil, they bathe the Shivalinga at 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 12 midnight, 3:00 a.m., and 6:00 a.m. with each ingredient of the 'Panchamrit' separately (one ingredient every bathing time). At 6:30 a.m., they perform 'Maha Abhishekh' with each of the five ingredients separately, panchamrit and rose water. Devotees chant Maha mantra "Om Namah Shivaye" 18, 216, 324 and 452 times on each of the pahar (a 3 hours period) respectively. Whole night, the atmosphere is animated with bhajans and religious hymns. Some artists and localities perform the 'Tandava' and dramas on Lord Shiva. After 'bilva patra puspanjali', they do the 'Maha Arti'. After this, all of them offer prayer to Lord Shiva and they break their fast with the remaining panchamrit and give others the Panchamarit as prasad.

Science in the worship of Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri The function of the 'Shivalinga'

Emitting waves of Knowledge, Devotion and renunciation Predominantly 'sattva' waves of knowledge, 'raja' waves of devotion and 'tama' waves of Renunciation (Vairagya) are emitted by the 'Shivalinga'. During Mahashivratri, the emission increases by 30 percent. Emission of subtle vibrations of chaitanya, bliss and peace The 'Shivalinga' emits subtle vibrations of chaitanya, bliss and peace. During the Mahashivratri, the emission increases by 25 percent. This helps purify the subtle-body of one who worships the Shivalinga on this day. The 'sun' or the 'moon' channels in the body get activated as per necessity. The capacity to absorb the sattvaguna and chaitanya also increases. Due to the presence of the unmanifest Shiva principle in the Shivalinga and the vibrations of peace emitted, the Shivalinga remains cool and the mind too experiences peace. Worship of Shivalinga with devotion, activates the dormant Shiva principle. An offering of puffed rice and milk reaches Lord Shiva in the subtle form.

Lord Shiva gave half of His Self to Goddess Parvati, and created Himself as ArdhaNareeshwara A symbolic representation of Matter (Prakriti) and Consciousness (Chaitanya).

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Receiving the 'tarak or marak tatva (element) as required : There is a confluence of the manifest and the unmanifest elements along with the 'tarak and marak tatva' in the Shivalinga. (Tarak = Saviour; Marak = Destroyer). That is how worshipers receive the required element. The temperature of the Shivalinga increases due to the emission of the marak tatva and there one experiences bliss. Similarly, when the tarak tatva is emitted, the temperature drops and one experiences peace and bliss.

Bilvarchan : Offering bilvapatra to the Shivpindi and chanting the mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' with each offering is known as bilvarchan. Continue offering the bilvapatra until the linga is completely covered. Offer the bilvapatra from the lower part of the Linga. By starting from the feet of the idol, more benefit is derived and the idol can be covered completely. - Brahma-tatva Jagadguru (Master of the Universe)

Meaning : One should worship Shiva for spiritual knowledge and Janardan (Vishnu) for the Final Liberation (Moksha).

Bilvapatra contains 2% Shiva tatva. By offering bilvapatra to the Shivalinga on Mahashivratri, the manifest Shiva tatva near the stalk of the bilvapatra gets activated. Due to this, waves of chaitanya as well as Shiva tatva are emitted by the bilvapatra. The bilvapatra attracts 20% of the Shiva tatva present in the Shivalinga towards itself. By immersing this bilvapatra in water or by placing it in grains, the Shiva tatva present in the bilvapatra is transmitted to them. The Shiva tatva in the bilvapatra is activated to a larger extent on Mondays when it transmits 10% of the Shiva tatva and sattvikta. On other days only 1% of the Shiva tatva is activated in the bilvapatra.

Bilva Patra should be offered in the above form with all the three leaves intact. These three leaves are considered as one Bilva-Dala, and should be offered as such as they represent Tri-Gunas of Satva, Rajas and Tamas

One leading to a state beyond the three components Shankar destroys all the three components of Prakruti - sattva, raja and tama, in a Jiva (Embodied soul) simultaneously.

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Significance of the Rituals The hunter was born in Varanasi. Vara refers to the forehead while nasi is the nose. The point where both meet is Varanasi, in other words, the point midway between the eyebrows. This point is also called the ajna chakra and is regarded as a nexus of the three nadis: ida, pingala and sushumna. A spiritual aspirant who concentrates his or her mind on this point gains concentration and gradual control over his senses. The killing of the animals in the story of the hunter thus indicates control over one's vasanas [latent tendencies]. The bilva tree corresponds to the spinal column. The tree's leaves are special: each stalk has three leaflets. The three leaflets represent the three nadis mentioned above. (these are also said to represent three gunas). The climbing of the tree represents the ascent of the kundalini shakti from the muladhara to the ajna chakra. Keeping awake is symbolic of the kind of awareness and oneness of purpose that a spiritual aspirant needs to reach the goal. He cannot afford to be slack even for a moment. Shiva is the Supreme Consciousness that illuminates the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. Offering the threefold bilva leaves to the Shivalinga heralds the return to a level of consciousness beyond the three states, which is the fourth state, turiya. The dawning of that state is consonant with the awakening of the individual.

Shiva-Ratri among Vaishnavas : Thus is variously described the glory of Shivaratri. Now something about the Shiva Tatva that the great Vaishnava Devotees have described. According to them the principle of Siva Sivatattva is extremely complex. He is not a finite soul. After passing through the eight material coverings, and after crossing the Viraja (the river that divides the material world and the spiritual world) and the planet of Lord Brahma (the highest material planet), one comes to the planet of Siva. There he is known as Sadasiva, a manifestation of Lord Visnu.

The Lord of extreme and terrifying deeds receiving the Holy Ganga near Himalayas as she descends from Vaikunta to Bhuloka.

Kailashpati Mahadeva Shiva

Siva-tattva can be understood by the analogy of yogurt and milk. Yogurt is nothing but a transformation of milk. Milk can become yogurt, but yogurt cannot become milk.
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This analogy is found in Sri Brahma-Samhita and elucidated in Srila Jiva Gosvamis commentary: Just as milk is transformed into yogurt by contact with a transforming agent, Sri Govinda, Lord Sri Krsna, similarly accepts the form of Sambhu (Siva) in order to accomplish a specific purpose.

Hence even Vaisnavas honour Lord Siva as a great Vaisnava and as Guru. They observe Siva-ratri, Lord Sivas appearance day, and they glorify him in connection to his relationship with Sri Krsna. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has written in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa that all Vaisnavas should observe Sivacaturdasi (Siva-ratri). Lord Siva, in whom all good qualities reside, should certainly be honoured by the observance of this day.

Gopisvara Mahadeva in Brindavana with other Gopis

Gopisvara Mahadeva
Lord Siva eternally resides in Lord Krsnas abode, Vrndavana, where he manifests many forms to render devotional services to Him. The form of Gopisvara Mahadeva was manifested by Lord Krsnas desire. When Krsna desired to perform His rasa dance, Srimati Radhika, the embodiment of His pleasure potency, manifested from His left side and Gopisvara Mahadeva manifested from His right side. The form of Siva who lives in Kasi or Kailasa in the material world is a partial manifestation of the original Sadasiva in Vrndavana. The many other commonly worshiped forms of Lord Siva are expansions of Sadasiva.

Lord Shiva receiving Love for Krishna in the form of alms from Gopis of Vrindavana

(Concluded)

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