Sivaratri

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YANI KANY ATRA LINGANI STHAVARANI CARANI CA

TESU SANKRAMATE DEVAS TASYAM RATRAU YATO HARAH

SIVARATRIS TATAH PROKTA TENA SA HARI VALLABHAH

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/200 from SKANDA PURANA, NAGARA KHANDA)

 

Whatever genital deities of Lord Siva that can be found on this earthly

planet, on the night of this fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the

month of Phalguna, Lord Siva, who is a leading demigod, enters into them.

For this reason, this day is called Siva Ratri. For this reason, this day is

very dear to Lord Sri Hari.

 

SIVA RATRI VRTAM KRSNA CATUR-DASYANTU PHALGUNE

VAISNAVER API TAT KARYAM SRI KRSNA PRITAYE SADA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/187 from GAUTAMIYA TANTRA)

 

On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna

(February-March), for the pleasure of Lord Sri Krsna, a Vaisnava should

always take a vow to fast. (It is called Siva Ratri, or the night of Lord

Siva.)

 

PARAT PARATARAM YANTI NARAYANA PARAYANAH

NATE TATRA GAMISYANTI YE DVISANTI MAHESVARAM

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/189 from KURMA PURANA the Supreme Lord speaks to

Bhrgu Muni)

 

One who avoids fasting on Siva Ratri or the "night of Lord Siva", he becomes

very offensive. Whatever offenses one accumulates by not fasting on Siva

Ratri day is explained here. The destination of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, Lord Narayana, is certainly in the spiritual world. But if one is

envious of Lord Sri Siva, he does not attain the spiritual world.

 

SRI KRSNE VAISNAVANANTU PREMA BHAKTI VIVARDHATE

KRSNA BHAKTI RASA SARA VARSI RUDRA ANUKAMPAYA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/221 from SKANDA PURANA)

 

Being a Vaisnava, if somebody fasts on Lord Siva's night (Siva Ratri day),

by the mercy of him (Lord Siva) who is diving in the ocean of the mellow of

devotion to Krsna, one's devotion to Krsna increases rapidly.