Maha Shiv Ratri

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  Mahashivaratri is observed on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Phalgun

month in the Hindu calendar.This year it is on the first march of 2003. This

holy event is dedicated to pray Lord Shiva. A Hindu devotee ascribes every

deity some special day in the year to be treated as holy and to be celebrated

with offering favourite things for that god or goddess.

Being engaged in Lord Shiva's prayers, fasting the whole day and waking up

throughout the night constitutes the services. Shiva, as the god of destroying

evil, is the third among the divine trinity of Hindu mythology. The

five-syllables' holy mantra "Namah Shivaya" in praise of Lord Shiva is chanted

incessantly on special occasions like Shivaratri. His thousands of names, each

of which describe His greatness, may also be cited. Shiva means auspicious.

As Shankara, He is the giver of happiness to all. Nataraja (the king of dancers)

is His favourite idol adored by dancers and musicians. There is a special mantra

in the Veda (the most ancient scripture in the history of human race and which

forms the fountain-head of the Hindu culture) - Rudra Sukta - which is recited

by pundits while they offer holy bath to Lord Shiva by way of washing a

Shiva-linga or a Shaligrama which are the symbols of god with the waters of

sacred rivers like the Ganges. This ritual is known as "Rudrabhisheka". A

Shaligrama constitutes a sacred pebble that often conceals ammonite fossils

within. Such precious stones are brought from the river Gandaki at the frozen

summits of the Himalayas. Washing the Shaligrama as a part of Shiva-puja

symbolises the removal of impurities from our mind. It also means washing off

false ego. Unless we attain self-realization, we all become the victims of a

false-self or an ego. False-self is due to an illusion (or ignorance), a

covering upon our real soul, of our mind, which then acts from mistaken

identity. According to Vedanta (philosophical doctrines), this accumulation of

false-self upon our real Self is often the root cause of our bondage and

sufferings in life. This notion of purification (of Shaligram stone by holy

waters) also symbolises at the philosophical level, the eradication of the

accumulated material interests (of us) which often blur the inherent spiritual

hard core or Reality.

Kailasa peak on the Himalayas is the abode of Shiva and He bears Ganges on His

head. As the Lord of creatures, He is metaphorically called as Pashupathi (with

Nandi, the bull, His favourite animal) and His fearful nature is euphemised as

Sarpabhushana. Shiva's pasture in the meditation is ascribed to Him as the head

of Yogis who practise various spiritual feats to attain salvation. Lord Shiva's

divine consort, goddess Parvati (who is also the daughter of Himalaya), is the

deity of strength. Numerous stories in mythology describe the births of their

two sons, - Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya (or Guha or Shanmukha or Skanda or

Murugha) and their various significances.

The above-said Rudra mantra is a very powerful mystic chant often used by the

spiritual healers to eradicate the fear of diseases, pain, sufferings and

death. The concluding part of Rudra mantra is also popular as the

Mrtyunjaya-maha-mantra.

 

Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra

Om Trayambakam Yajaamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvaaru Kamiva Bandhanaan

Mrityor Muksheeya Maamritaat

Usually mrityunjaya Homam is conducted on the birthday of a devotee for a

healthy and peaceful long life.Devotees in Kerala

are really proud that Sri sankaracharya who codified the rituals of Guruvayoor

Temple is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

 

 

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