Maha Shivaratri

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Maha Shivaratri - The Night of Shiva [Maha Shivratri] Sri Maha

Shivaratri means "The Night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly

at night. This is a festival observed in honor of Lord Shiva. Shiva was

married to Parvati on this day. This is the night when Shiva is said to

have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation,

preservation and destruction. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra as

it is said he who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with

perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches

the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the

wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places where

there are Shiva temples. Legends behind Shivaratri

Once Lord Vishnu and Lord Bramha argued over each other's prowess.

However, Lord Shiva challenged both of them. He appeared as a flaming

Linga and challenged the duo to measure the gigantic Linga (phallic

symbol of Lord Shiva). Lord Bramha, who took the form of a swan, and

Lord Vishnu who became a boar and went to Netherland, were both unable

to measure the Shivlinga. Then Lord Shiva came out of the Linga and

declared himself the most powerful. Maha Shivratri therefore means the

grand night of Shiva. The devotees of Shiva fast during this day and

pray to the lord throughout the night. This legend goes to prove the

supremacy of Mahadev over other Hindu Gods. King Daksha, opposed Sati's

marriage with Shiva. At a yagnya (holy sacrifice) the king ignored

Shiva's presence and thereby insulted the latter publicly. Sati was so

angered by this that she jumped into the sacrificial fire and ended her

life. Lord Shiva unleashed his fury at the death of his wife by

performing the violent dance, Taandav. He wiped out Daksha's kingdom,

undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. The Gods, who

feared that the severity of Shiva's penance might bring an end to the

world, revived Sati in the new avatar of Parvati. Shiva-Parvati married

and this reunion is celebrated on Maha Shivratri. 12 Jyotirlinga

Darshan on the occasion of Maha Shivratri [Kashi Vishwanath

Jyotirlinga] [Kedarnath Jyotirlinga] [Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga]

[Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga] [Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga]

[Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga] [bhimashankar Jyotirlinga]

[Mahakaleswara Jyotirlinga] [Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga] [Omkareswara

Jyotirlinga] [someshwara Somnath Jyotirlinga] [Nageshwar

Jyotirlinga] Hold mouse over the images to see name of

Jyotirlinga.

Significance of Jyotirlinga: The Puranas vociferously sing the praises

of the greatness of the Jyotirlingas. By reciting the name of this, one

can eliminate all the sins. The Sadhaka becomes calm, chaste and pure.

He becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine

knowledge. The names mentioned for the benefits of all: SAURASHTRA

SOMNATHAM CHA SHRISHAILE MALLIKARJUNAM ||

UJJAINYAM MAHAKALOMKARE MAMMALESHWARAM ||

PARLYAM VAIJNATHAM CHA DAKINYAM BHEEM SHANKARAM ||

SETU BANDHE TU RAMESHAM NAGESHAM DARUKA VANE ||

VARANASYA TU VISHWESHAM TRIBAKAM GAUTAMITATE ||

HIMALAYE TU KEDARAM GHURMESHAM CHA SHIVALAYE ||

AETANI JYOTIRLINGANI SAYAM PRATAHA PATHENNARAHA ||

SAPTA JANMA KRITAM PAPAM SMARANEN VINASHYATI || One who recites these

12 names regularly in the morning and evening he washes all the sins

committed in the previous 7 births and attains all the powers and

Siddhis. Shiva Ratri [Pashupatinath Temple] Nepal is

the only Hindu kingdom in the world and thus the land of Lord Shiva,

Lord of all Lords, for here you can feel his presence everywhere. Even

in the sacred texts of the Hindus it has been stated that Mt. Kailash in

the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva as he is also

known. Shiva the Destroyer of Evil is among the most praised and

worshipped of all the gods in the Hindu religion. Hindus all over the

world know him through different names and forms. The country has

thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most

common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that represents

him. For it is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of

creation, the beginning of everything. Shiva Ratri is the night of Lord

Shiva when He himself was created by His own Divine Grace and Hindus all

over the world celebrate this day with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm.

Shiva Ratri literally means ' the night consecrated to Shiva'. This

auspicious festival falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in

the month of Falgun, (February - March in the Gregorian calendar ). The

temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu which is considered as one of the

holiest shrines of the Hindus, glorifying Lord Shiva, thus receives more

than 100,000 worshippers during the festival of Shiva Ratri. These

worshippers come from far and wide to pay their respects and homage to

Mahadev on his sacred day. [sadhus indulging in marijuna on Shiva Ratri

festival.] Pashupatinath temple is located at the eastern part of the

Kathmandu valley on the banks of the holy river Bagmati. Pashupatinath,

which literally means `the Lord of animals', is one of the many forms of

the Lord. He is the guardian deity, protector of our Hindu Kingdom of

Nepal, thus Shiva Ratri is one of the major festivals of Nepal. Pilgrims

from all over Nepal as Pashupatinath Temple well as India come to

Pashupatinath to worship and pray to the deity on his birthday and wash

away all the sins committed by them. Only Hindus are allowed inside the

temple and tourists are only permitted to observe the festival from

across the Bagmati river. Shiva Ratri is a much anticipated festival by

all Hindus. Pilgrims and yogis (holy men), from all over Southeast Asia

come to Kathmandu weeks before the festival. On this holy day people

fast through out the day. At dawn, worshippers take a holy bath or dip

in the river and go to the temple to worship. One of the interesting

aspects of Shiva Ratri is that on this day devotees and non-devotees

alike freely indulge in smoking intoxicating substances such as

marijuana and bhang for it is the only day in the annual calendar when

marijuana is legal. Many people take these intoxicants in the belief

that it pleases Lord Shiva for he too is said to be fond of it. Thus

marijuana is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods and one can

see eager tourists and faithful Nepalese flocking around the temple

complex of the Ram Janaki Mandir across the Bagmati river opposite to

the main temple complex of Pashupatinath lingering around sadhus and

babas in the hope for some prasad from them. The Puran, one of the many

holy texts of the Hindus, tells us that if you worship Lord Shiva on

this day all your sins will be forgiven. Giving an examle the puran

talks about an event that occurred ages before about a hunter from

Benares. This man worshipped Lord Shiva unknowingly on Shiva Ratri and

he was forgiven for all his sins. On Shiva Ratri the temple of

Pashupatinath is filled with worshippers. Devotees are not distinguished

as poor or rich but treated equally for Lord Shiva treats us all

equally. Even the King of Nepal and the royal family pay homage to the

Pashupatunath on this day along with the thousands that gather to

celebrate the festival. Thus the festival of Shiva Ratri shows the

devotion and faith Nepalese have towards the Hindu religion. Article

by Avigya Karki

Photographs collected from Deependra Bajracharya and Madhup Mangal.

http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shivaratri.htm

<http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shivaratri.htm>

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/fest/fest_03.html

<http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/fest/fest_03.html> Fri Feb

9, 2007 5:10 pm

 

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