Bhaktisandesam / Mahashivaratri

[Guest guest]

Hari-om

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How to celebrate Shivaratri.

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BHOPAL, INDIA, February 24, 2006:

 

People in Bhopal have decided to make 10.25 million Shivlingams for

the forthcoming Maha Sivaratri festival. Unlike normal Sivalingams

that are made of stone, those being made at Bhopal are from dhoop or,

incense. Hundreds of devotees in Bhopal are organizing a Maharudra

Yajna at Dasharat, people are making the Sivalingam from pure desi

ghee, natural herbs and perfumes, creating a soft, slow burning

Indian incense. They propose to immerse these lit Sivalingams in the

river on the auspicious day of Mahahivratri (February 26 in India,

February 25 in Hawaii) festival. " This is the 26th Maharudra Yajna

being held in Bhopal. These days people are organizing more and more

of religious functions which is very good, and main part is that more

and more youngsters are participating, " said Pandit Devprabhakar

Shahtri.

 

The idea to pay respect in this fashion has also fascinated a few

popular stars from Bollywood too. Stars like Ashutosh Rana and Rajpal

Yadav are also participating in the making of Sivalingams to the

tunes of religious hymns. " God has made the world but see what people

are doing here, they are working in groups and making God... God

Siva, who is called God of truth. About 10.25 million Sivalingams are

being made here, " said actor Ashutosh Rana. The participation of film

stars has attracted a lot of youngsters too, who are thronging here

to participate in the Maharudra Yajna and make Sivalingams. Tradition

has it that Lord Rama also made a Sivalingam by his own hands to

worship Siva. From that time this practice is carried on by devotees

in various parts of India.

 

The Sivalingam denotes the primeval energy of the Creator. It is

believed that at the end of all creation, during the great deluge,

all of the different aspects of God find a resting place in the

Lingam; Bhrama is absorbed into the right, Vishnu to the left and

Gayatri into the heart. The Sivalingam is also viewed as a

representation of the infinite Cosmic Column of fire, whose origins,

Vishnu and Bhrama were unable to trace. The Sivalingam is generally

mounted on a circular or quadrangular receptacle called the Avudaiyar.

 

 

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Jai Shree Krishna !