Hindu Festivals during March 2008. (Part 1.)

[Guest guest]

Om Namah Shivaye,

 

Namaste Aavesh ji,

 

Thank you so much for sharing the Mahashivratri Khatha with all of

us..

 

I also appreciate the confirmation of the dates for celebrating

Shivratri being 5th March 2008 for Europe..

 

 

May I take this opportunity of extending my sincere greetings to

everyone for the Mahashivratri and hope everyone gets blessed by Lord

Shiva and Maa Parvati. A single Bilwa leaf offered to the Lord with

devotion on this day, could change the course of your life for the

better..

 

 

Warmest regards

Sheevani

 

 

Vedic Astrologyandhealing , aavesh t

<aavesh_s wrote:

>

> Dear Chandrashekarji,Sheevaniji,RKDa,Ramanarayanji,Lalit

> and Group,

>

> Some useful information on the forthcoming Shivratri festival

>

> Regards,

>

> aavesh

>

>

Dear friends and devotees,

>

> Bhakti is eternal,

>

> We are entering into the month of March. During this month there

are two important festivals. One is Shivaratri and the other is

Holi. Every Hindu is well familiar with these festivals.

>

> Having seen the messages of two great Gurus on these two

festivals and concluding that they are very informative, I am sending

them, in three different parts, for your kind information.

>

> At the end of this message, I am reproducing a valuable Message

received from Sri Jaldhar H Vyas, a friend and devotee, in regard to

the dates on which it is to be celebrated in different Countries.

>

> With love and regards,

>

> Sastry

>

> Part 1.

>

> 1.Shivaratri

> (Magha bahula chaturdashi) 6.3.2008.

> (by Swamy Sivananda)

>

> This falls on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Magha

(February-March). The name 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.

>

> People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not

even take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva

Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three

hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting

of the Mantra " Om Namah Shivaya " continues. Offerings of `Bilwa'

leaves are made to the Lingam. Bilva leaves are very sacred as, it is

said, Lakshmi resides in them.

>

> Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahima Stotra of

Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung with great

fervor and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, `Om Namah

Shivaya'. 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.

>

> The Story of King Chitrabhanu

>

> In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting

on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the

observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as

follows.

>

> Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who

ruled over the whole of Jambudveepa, 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.

>

> The sage asked, " O king! Why are you observing a fast today? "

>

> King Chitrabhanu explained why. He had the gift of remembering

the incidents of his previous birth.

>

> The king said to the sage: " In my past birth I was a hunter in

Varanasi. My name was Suswara. My livelihood was to kill and sell

birds and animals. One day I was roaming the forests in search of

animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return

home, I climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a bilwa tree. I

had shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. I bundled

it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As I was tormented by

hunger and thirst, I kept awake throughout the night. I shed profuse

tears when I thought of my poor wife and children who were starving

and anxiously awaiting my return. To pass away the time that night I

engaged myself in plucking the bilwa leaves and dropping them down

onto the ground.

>

> " The day dawned. I returned home and sold the deer. I bought some

food for myself and for my family. I was about to break my fast when

a stranger came to me, begging for food. I served him first and then

took my food.

>

> " At the time of death, I saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They

were sent down to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. I

learnt then for the first time of the great merit I had earned by the

unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri.

They told me that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The

leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. My tears which I had shed out of

pure sorrow for my family fell onto the Lingam and washed it. And I

had fasted all the day and night. Thus did I unconsciously worship

the Lord?

>

> " I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for

long ages. I am now reborn as Chitrabhanu. "

>

> Spiritual Significance of the Ritual.

>

> The Scriptures record the following dialogue between Sastri and

Atmanathan, giving the inner meaning of the above story.

>

> Sastri: It is an allegory. The wild animals that the hunter

fought with are lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and hatred.

The jungle is the fourfold mind, consisting of the subconscious mind,

the intellect, the ego and the conscious mind. It is in the mind that

these " wild animals " roam about freely. They must be killed. Our

hunter was pursuing them because he was a Yogi. If you want to be a

real Yogi you have to conquer these evil tendencies. Do you remember

the name of the hunter in the story?

>

> Atmanathan: Yes, he was called Suswara.

>

> Sastri: That's right. It means " melodious " . The hunter had a

pleasant melodious voice. If a person practices Yama and Niyama and

is ever conquering his evil tendencies, he will develop certain

external marks of a Yogi. The first marks are lightness of the body,

health, steadiness, clearness of countenance and a pleasant voice.

This stage has been spoken of in detail in the Swetaswatara

Upanishad. The hunter or the Yogi had for many years practiced Yoga

and had reached the first stage. So he is given the name Suswara. Do

you remember where he was born?

>

> Atmanathan: Yes, his birthplace is Varanasi.

>

> Sastri: Now, the Yogis call the Ajna Chakra by the name Varanasi.

This is the point midway between the eyebrows. It is regarded as the

meeting place of the three nerve currents (Nadis), namely, the Ida,

Pingala and the Sushumna. An aspirant is instructed to concentrate on

that point. That helps him to conquer his desires and evil qualities

like anger and so on. It is there that he gets a vision of the Divine

Light within.

>

> Atmanathan: Very interesting! But how do you explain his climbing

up the bilwa tree and all the other details of the worship?

>

> Sastri: Have you ever seen a billwa leaf?

>

> Atmanathan: It has three leaves on one stalk.

>

> Sastri: True. The tree represents the spinal column. The leaves

are threefold. They represent the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis,

which are the regions for the activity of the moon, the sun and fire

respectively, or which may be thought of as the three eyes of Shiva.

The climbing of the tree is meant to represent the ascension of the

Kundalini Shakti, the serpentine power, from the lowest nerve centre

called the Muladhara to the Ajna Chakra. That is the work of the

Yogi.

>

> Atmanathan: Yes, I have heard of the Kundalini and the various

psychic centers in the body. Please go on further; I am very

interested to know more.

>

> Sastri: Good. The Yogi was in the waking state when he began his

meditation. He bundled up the birds and the animals he had slain and,

tying them on a branch of the tree, he rested there. That means he

had fully conquered his thoughts and rendered them inactive. He had

gone through the steps of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, etc. On the tree

he was practicing concentration and meditation. When he felt sleepy,

it means that he was about to lose consciousness and go into deep

sleep. So he determined to keep awake.

>

> Atmanathan: That is now clear to me; you certainly do explain it

very well. But why did he weep for his wife and children?

>

> Sastri: His wife and children are none other than the world. One

who seeks the Grace of God must become an embodiment of love. He must

have an all-embracing sympathy. His shedding of tears is symbolical

of his universal love. In Yoga also, one cannot have illumination

without Divine Grace. Without practicing universal love, one cannot

win that Grace. One must perceive one's own self everywhere. The

preliminary stage is to identify one's own mind with the minds of all

created beings. That is fellow-feeling or sympathy. Then one must

rise above the limitations of the mind and merge it in the Self. That

happens only in the stage of Samadhi, not earlier.

>

> Atmanathan: Why did he pluck and drop the bilwa leaves?

>

> Sastri: That is mentioned in the story only to show that he had

no extraneous thoughts. He was not even conscious of what he was

doing. All his activity was confined to the three Nadis. The leaves,

I have said before, represent the three Nadis. He was in fact in the

second state, namely, the dream state, before he passed into the deep

sleep state.

>

> Atmanathan: He kept vigil the whole night, it is said.

>

> Sastri: Yes, that means that he passed through the deep sleep

state successfully. The dawning of day symbolises the entrance into

the Fourth state called Turiya or super consciousness.

>

> Atmanathan: It is said that he came down and saw the Lingam. What

does that mean?

>

> Sastri: That means that in the Turiya state he saw the Shiva

Lingam or the mark of Shiva in the form of the inner lights. In other

words, he had the vision of the Lord. That was an indication to him

that he would realise the supreme, eternal abode of Lord Shiva in

course of time.

>

> Atmanathan: So it appears from what you say that the sight of the

lights is not the final stage?

>

> Sastri: Oh no! That is only one step, albeit a difficult one. Now

think of how the story continues. He goes home and feeds a stranger.

A stranger is one whom you have not seen before. The stranger is no

other than the hunter himself, transformed into a new person. The

food was the likes and dislikes which he had killed the previous

night. But he did not consume the whole of it. A little still

remained. That was why he had to be reborn as King Chitrabhanu. Going

to the world of Shiva (Salokya) is not enough to prevent this. There

are other stages besides Salokya. These are Samipya, Sarupya and

finally Sayujya. Have you not heard of Jaya and Vijaya returning from

Vaikunta?

>

> Atmanathan: Yes, I have understood now.

>

> Lord Shiva's Assurance

>

> When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to

live on the top of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, " O venerable Lord!

Which of the many rituals observed in Thy honor doth please Thee

most? "

>

> The Lord replied, " The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark

fortnight during the month of Phalguna, is my most favorite day. It

is known as Shivaratri. My devotees give me greater happiness by mere

fasting than by ceremonial baths and offerings of flowers, sweets and

incense.

>

> " The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and

worships Me in four different forms during each of the four

successive three-hour periods of the night. The offering of a few

bilwa leaves is more precious to Me than the precious jewels and

flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the first period, in

curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in honey at

the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins first

and, after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his

fast.

> O Parvati! There is no ritual which can compare with this simple

routine in sanctity. "

>

> Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Shiva. She

repeated it to her friends who in their turn passed it on to the

ruling princes on earth. Thus was the sanctity of Shivaratri

broadcasted all over the world.

>

> The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the

quality of passionate activity) and Tamas (that of inertia). The

Shivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire

day is spent at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord

necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship.

Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger, and jealousy, born of

Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout

the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed

on the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Shiva Lingam

is conducted. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.

>

> The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is

considered to be the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam

represents). He is burning with the fire of austerity. He is

therefore best propitiated with cool bathing. While bathing the

Lingam the devotee prays: " O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water,

milk, etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom? Do Thou

kindly wash me of all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which

is scorching me may be put out once for all, so that I may be one

with Thee-the One alone without a second. "

>

> At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the Shivaratri festival is

celebrated in the following manner.

>

> All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day, many of them without

taking even a single drop of water.

> A grand homam is performed for the peace and welfare of all.

> The whole day is spent in doing the Japa of `Om Namah Shivaya'

and in meditation upon the Lord.

> At night all assemble in the temple and chant `Om Namah Shivaya'

the whole night.

> During the four quarters of the night the Shiva Lingam is

worshipped with intense devotion.

> Sannyas Diksha is also given on this day to sincere seekers on

the path.

> Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily: " I worship the

jewel of my Self, the Shiva residing in the Lotus of my heart. I

bathe Him with the water of my pure mind brought from the river of

faith and devotion. I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of

Samadhi-all this so that I may not be born again in this world. "

>

> Here is another formula for the supreme worship of the Lord: " O

Shiva! You are my Self. My mind is Parvati. My Pranas are your

servants. My body is your house. My actions in this world are your

worship. My sleep is Samadhi. My walk is circumambulation of you. My

speech is your prayer. Thus do I offer all that I am to you.

>

> ******************

>

> FYI. Astika US/Canadian/ Europeans in particular should not rely

on Indian

> panchangas which show Shivaratri as March 6th.

>

> --

> Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar (AT) braincells (DOT) com>

>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> Pundit Mahesh Shastriji <shastriji (AT) gmail (DOT) com>

> mypanchangam@ googl. com

> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:28:43 -0800

> When is Mahashivaratri in 2008 Update.

> mypanchangam- owner@googlegrou ps.com

>

> When is Mahashivaratri in

> 2008<http://hindupanchan g.blogspot. com/2008/ 02/when-is-

mahashivaratri- in-2008.html>

>

> Source: http://www.mypancha ng.com/

>

> 1. USA / Canada: March 5th

> 2. Europe: March 5th

> 3. Gulf countries: (DharmaSindhu) : March 5th (This one according to

> Hemadri, Madhava and many rishies)

> 4. *Gulf countries: (NirnaySindhu) : March 6th.* (Nirnaysindhu and

> other grantha).

> 5. India, China, Japan,

> 6. Australia, Newzeland, Fiji: March 6th

>

> --

> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> Pundit Mahesh Shastriji

> Tel: (425) 445-9117

> http://www.mypancha ng.com

> http://www.seattlep andit.com

> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Aaavesh,

 

A nice post on the festival of shivratri.

 

Chandrashekhar.

 

aavesh t wrote:

 

 

Dear Chandrashekarji,Sheevaniji,RKDa,Ramanarayanji,Lalit

and Group,

 

Some useful information

on the forthcoming Shivratri festival

 

Regards,

 

aavesh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal,

 

We are entering into the month of March.

During this month there are two important festivals. One

is Shivaratri and the other is Holi. Every Hindu is well familiar with

these festivals.

 

Having seen the messages of two great Gurus on

these two festivals and concluding that they are very informative, I am

sending them, in three different parts, for your kind information.

 

At the end of this message, I am reproducing a

valuable Message received from Sri Jaldhar H Vyas, a friend and

devotee, in regard to the dates on which it is to be celebrated in

different Countries.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry

 

Part

1.

 

1.Shivaratri

(Magha bahula chaturdashi)

6.3.2008.

(by Swamy Sivananda)

 

This falls on the 13th (or 14th) day of the

dark half of Magha (February-March). The name 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.

 

People observe a strict fast on this day. Some

devotees do not even take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night.

The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every

three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the

chanting of the Mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” continues. Offerings of

‘Bilwa’ leaves are made to the Lingam. Bilva leaves are very sacred as,

it is said, Lakshmi resides in them.

 

Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the

Shiva Mahima Stotra of Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva Tandava Stotra are

sung with great fervor and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara

Mantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. 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.

 

The Story of King Chitrabhanu

 

In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata,

Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma,

refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The

story goes as follows.

 

Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the

Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudveepa, 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.

 

The sage asked, "O king! Why are you observing

a fast today?"

 

King Chitrabhanu explained why. He had the gift

of remembering the incidents of his previous birth.

 

The king said to the sage: "In my past birth I

was a hunter in Varanasi. My name was Suswara. My livelihood was to

kill and sell birds and animals. One day I was roaming the forests in

search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to

return home, I climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a bilwa

tree. I had shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. I

bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As I was tormented

by hunger and thirst, I kept awake throughout the night. I shed profuse

tears when I thought of my poor wife and children who were starving and

anxiously awaiting my return. To pass away the time that night I

engaged myself in plucking the bilwa leaves and dropping them down onto

the ground.

 

"The day dawned. I returned home and sold the

deer. I bought some food for myself and for my family. I was about to

break my fast when a stranger came to me, begging for food. I served

him first and then took my food.

 

"At the time of death, I saw two messengers of

Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord

Shiva. I learnt then for the first time of the great merit I had earned

by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of

Shivaratri. They told me that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the

tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. My tears which I had

shed out of pure sorrow for my family fell onto the Lingam and washed

it. And I had fasted all the day and night. Thus did I unconsciously

worship the Lord?

 

"I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed

divine bliss for long ages. I am now reborn as Chitrabhanu. "

 

Spiritual Significance of the Ritual.

 

The Scriptures record the following dialogue

between Sastri and Atmanathan, giving the inner meaning of the above

story.

 

Sastri: It is an allegory. The wild animals

that the hunter fought with are lust, anger, greed, infatuation,

jealousy and hatred. The jungle is the fourfold mind, consisting of the

subconscious mind, the intellect, the ego and the conscious mind. It is

in the mind that these "wild animals" roam about freely. They must be

killed. Our hunter was pursuing them because he was a Yogi. If you want

to be a real Yogi you have to conquer these evil tendencies. Do you

remember the name of the hunter in the story?

 

Atmanathan: Yes, he was called Suswara.

 

Sastri: That's right. It means "melodious". The

hunter had a pleasant melodious voice. If a person practices Yama and

Niyama and is ever conquering his evil tendencies, he will develop

certain external marks of a Yogi. The first marks are lightness of the

body, health, steadiness, clearness of countenance and a pleasant

voice. This stage has been spoken of in detail in the Swetaswatara

Upanishad. The hunter or the Yogi had for many years practiced Yoga and

had reached the first stage. So he is given the name Suswara. Do you

remember where he was born?

 

Atmanathan: Yes, his birthplace is Varanasi.

 

Sastri: Now, the Yogis call the Ajna Chakra by

the name Varanasi. This is the point midway between the eyebrows. It is

regarded as the meeting place of the three nerve currents (Nadis),

namely, the Ida, Pingala and the Sushumna. An aspirant is instructed to

concentrate on that point. That helps him to conquer his desires and

evil qualities like anger and so on. It is there that he gets a vision

of the Divine Light within.

 

Atmanathan: Very interesting! But how do you

explain his climbing up the bilwa tree and all the other details of the

worship?

 

Sastri: Have you ever seen a billwa leaf?

 

Atmanathan: It has three leaves on one stalk.

 

 

Sastri: True. The tree represents the spinal

column. The leaves are threefold. They represent the Ida, Pingala and

Sushumna Nadis, which are the regions for the activity of the moon, the

sun and fire respectively, or which may be thought of as the three eyes

of Shiva. The climbing of the tree is meant to represent the ascension

of the Kundalini Shakti, the serpentine power, from the lowest nerve

centre called the Muladhara to the Ajna Chakra. That is the work of the

Yogi.

 

Atmanathan: Yes, I have heard of the Kundalini

and the various psychic centers in the body. Please go on further; I am

very interested to know more.

 

Sastri: Good. The Yogi was in the waking state

when he began his meditation. He bundled up the birds and the animals

he had slain and, tying them on a branch of the tree, he rested there.

That means he had fully conquered his thoughts and rendered them

inactive. He had gone through the steps of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara,

etc. On the tree he was practicing concentration and meditation. When

he felt sleepy, it means that he was about to lose consciousness and go

into deep sleep. So he determined to keep awake.

 

Atmanathan: That is now clear to me; you

certainly do explain it very well. But why did he weep for his wife and

children?

 

Sastri: His wife and children are none other

than the world. One who seeks the Grace of God must become an

embodiment of love. He must have an all-embracing sympathy. His

shedding of tears is symbolical of his universal love. In Yoga also,

one cannot have illumination without Divine Grace. Without practicing

universal love, one cannot win that Grace. One must perceive one's own

self everywhere. The preliminary stage is to identify one's own mind

with the minds of all created beings. That is fellow-feeling or

sympathy. Then one must rise above the limitations of the mind and

merge it in the Self. That happens only in the stage of Samadhi, not

earlier.

 

Atmanathan: Why did he pluck and drop the bilwa

leaves?

 

Sastri: That is mentioned in the story only to

show that he had no extraneous thoughts. He was not even conscious of

what he was doing. All his activity was confined to the three Nadis.

The leaves, I have said before, represent the three Nadis. He was in

fact in the second state, namely, the dream state, before he passed

into the deep sleep state.

 

Atmanathan: He kept vigil the whole night, it

is said.

 

Sastri: Yes, that means that he passed through

the deep sleep state successfully. The dawning of day symbolises the

entrance into the Fourth state called Turiya or super consciousness.

 

Atmanathan: It is said that he came down and

saw the Lingam. What does that mean?

 

Sastri: That means that in the Turiya state

he saw the Shiva Lingam or the mark of Shiva in the form of the inner

lights. In other words, he had the vision of the Lord. That was an

indication to him that he would realise the supreme, eternal abode of

Lord Shiva in course of time.

 

Atmanathan: So it appears from what you say

that the sight of the lights is not the final stage?

 

Sastri: Oh no! That is only one step, albeit a

difficult one. Now think of how the story continues. He goes home and

feeds a stranger. A stranger is one whom you have not seen before. The

stranger is no other than the hunter himself, transformed into a new

person. The food was the likes and dislikes which he had killed the

previous night. But he did not consume the whole of it. A little still

remained. That was why he had to be reborn as King Chitrabhanu. Going

to the world of Shiva (Salokya) is not enough to prevent this. There

are other stages besides Salokya. These are Samipya, Sarupya and

finally Sayujya. Have you not heard of Jaya and Vijaya returning from

Vaikunta?

 

Atmanathan: Yes, I have understood now.

 

Lord Shiva's Assurance

 

When creation had been completed, Shiva and

Parvati went out to live on the top of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, "O

venerable Lord! Which of the many rituals observed in Thy honor doth

please Thee most?"

 

The Lord replied, "The 14th night of the new

moon, in the dark fortnight during the month of Phalguna, is my most

favorite day. It is known as Shivaratri. My devotees give me greater

happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths and offerings of

flowers, sweets and incense.

 

"The devotee observes strict spiritual

discipline in the day and worships Me in four different forms during

each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. The

offering of a few bilwa leaves is more precious to Me than the precious

jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the first

period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in

honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins

first and, after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his

fast.

O Parvati! There is no ritual which can compare

with this simple routine in sanctity."

 

Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of

Lord Shiva. She repeated it to her friends who in their turn passed it

on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus was the sanctity of Shivaratri

broadcasted all over the world.

 

The two great natural forces that afflict man

are Rajas (the quality of passionate activity) and Tamas (that of

inertia). The Shivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these

two. The entire day is spent at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous

worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the

place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger, and

jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes

vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant

vigilance is imposed on the mind. Every three hours a round of worship

of the Shiva Lingam is conducted. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.

 

The formal worship consists of bathing the

Lord. Lord Shiva is considered to be the Form of Light (which the Shiva

Lingam represents). He is burning with the fire of austerity. He is

therefore best propitiated with cool bathing. While bathing the Lingam

the devotee prays: "O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water, milk, etc. Do

Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom? Do Thou kindly wash me of

all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which is scorching me may

be put out once for all, so that I may be one with Thee-the One alone

without a second."

 

At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the

Shivaratri festival is celebrated in the following manner.

 

All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day,

many of them without taking even a single drop of water.

A grand homam is performed for the peace and

welfare of all.

The whole day is spent in doing the Japa of ‘Om

Namah Shivaya’ and in meditation upon the Lord.

At night all assemble in the temple and chant

‘Om Namah Shivaya’ the whole night.

During the four quarters of the night the Shiva

Lingam is worshipped with intense devotion.

Sannyas Diksha is also given on this day to

sincere seekers on the path.

Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily:

"I worship the jewel of my Self, the Shiva residing in the Lotus of my

heart. I bathe Him with the water of my pure mind brought from the

river of faith and devotion. I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of

Samadhi-all this so that I may not be born again in this world."

 

Here is another formula for the supreme worship

of the Lord: "O Shiva! You are my Self. My mind is Parvati. My Pranas

are your servants. My body is your house. My actions in this world are

your worship. My sleep is Samadhi. My walk is circumambulation of you.

My speech is your prayer. Thus do I offer all that I am to you.

******************

 

FYI. Astika US/Canadian/ Europeans in

particular should not rely on Indian

panchangas which show Shivaratri as March 6th.

 

--

Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar (AT) braincells (DOT)

com>

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Pundit Mahesh Shastriji <shastriji (AT) gmail (DOT)

com>

mypanchangam@

googl. com

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:28:43 -0800

When is Mahashivaratri in 2008 Update.

mypanchangam- owner@googlegrou ps.com

 

When is Mahashivaratri in

2008<http://hindupanchan

g.blogspot. com/2008/ 02/when-is- mahashivaratri- in-2008.html>

 

Source: http://www.mypancha

ng.com/

 

1. USA / Canada: March 5th

2. Europe: March 5th

3. Gulf countries: (DharmaSindhu) : March 5th (This one according to

Hemadri, Madhava and many rishies)

4. *Gulf countries: (NirnaySindhu) : March 6th.* (Nirnaysindhu and

other grantha).

5. India, China, Japan,

6. Australia,

Newzeland, Fiji: March 6th

 

--

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Pundit Mahesh Shastriji

Tel: (425)

445-9117

http://www.mypancha ng.com

http://www.seattlep andit.com

------------ --------- ---------

--------- --------- --------- -

 

 

 

 

 

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