Holy dance of Shiva and legend of Mahashivarathri

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Mahashivarathri at Ramrajya, Kelambakkam - Feb 26 2006 Sunday Holy dance of Shiva - Legends of Shiva - All over India, Maha Shivratri occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month. On a moonless night in February every year, occurs the night of Shiva, the destroyer. This is the night when He is said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Devotees of Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night. In temples all across the country, bells ring, sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of vilvaleaves and milk are made to the Shiv lingam, the phallic symbol of the god. There is a legend behind

Shiva's phallic form. It is believed that once Brahma and Vishnu, the two pillars of the holy Trinity were having an argument as to who was supreme. Brahma declared himself to be the Creator of all and thus more revered. Vishnu claimed that since he was the Creator and the Destroyer, he commanded more respect. At that moment a huge lingam ablaze with flames appeared from nowhere. Both the gods were so overwhelmed by its constantly increasing size, that they forgot their quarrel and decided to determine its size. Vishnu took the form of a boar and went to the netherworld while Brahma in the form of a swan ascended to the skies. Neither could ascertain the size. Just then, Shiva appeared out of the lingam and proclaimed that he was the progenitor of both of them. He was the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. He demanded that thereafter he be worshipped in his phallic form, the lingam.

Special celebration are held at all important Shiva temples at Chidambaram, Kalahasthi ,Khajuraho and Varanasi. --------------------------------Shivarathri is celebrated in all Shiva temples. Srisailam in Andra Pradesh is a particularly famous temple of Shiva. There is a fine story told about this festival at Srisailam. At the foot of the Srisailam range of hills there is a village where a boy of nine years named Bala Ramanna attended primary school. He learned from his friends at school that their sisters and brothers-in-law were coming to their homes to attend the Shivarathri celebrations on the Srisailam Hills. Ramanna went home and wanted his mother to send his sister and brother-in-law to the festival also. His mother told him that

he had no sister and, therefore, no brother-in-law. But he would not listen. He said he must have a sister and a brother-in-law like his friends. So his mother, just to quiet him, said, "You have a sister and a brother-in-law, but they are in the temple on the Srisailam. Their names are Bhramaramba and Mallikarjuna." She gave him the names by which Shiva and His consort are known -- Bhramaramba meaning 'Bee' and Mallikarjuna meaning the 'White Jasmine'. These names are very apt, because the consort draws inspiration, instruction, and wisdom from the Lord even as the bee draws its sustenance from the jasmine flowers. When he was told that his sister was in the temple on the Srisailam, Ramanna insisted that he would go and invite his sister and brother-in-law to come

home and stay there for some time. He wanted to take some presents for them, but his mother said that they were far too rich and that younger members of the family should not present anything to the elders. The mother sent her son with a neighbor who was going to the temple to see the festival. She gave the neighbor money so that he could get presents for the boy. Ramanna hastened up the hill and rushed into the temple crying, "Sister...brother-in-law," and fell at the feet of the idol of Bhramaramba. He held the idol in embrace and began dragging it, wanting it to accompany him. He clasped the idol of Mallikarjuna and would not leave it. At last the priests in the temple drove him away as a mad boy. Then in despair, he climbed a

high rock and threatened to jump from that height unless his sister and her husband came with him. Just then he heard a loud voice from the temple, "Brother-inlaw! Ramanna! Don't jump! We are coming with you..." and soon Lord Shiva and His consort presented themselves before him and accompanied him to his cottage in the valley below. The mother and son were so overwhelmed with Divine bliss that they merged in the Divine Phenomenon and were seen no more. This story has added to the sanctity of the shrine of Bhramaramba and Mallikarjuna at Srisailam.----------------- Story of Shiva at Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu. - The Oorthava thandavam of Shiva ( dance of shiva) Rishi Madyandinar had a son. He, under the direction of his father, came to the forest of Thillai and worshipped the 'Lingam', which had appeared there. He usually got up early before daybreak to collect flowers with which to perform his pooja. One morning he could not collect the flowers early as it was dark and cloudy and he could not see the flowers. After daybreak he went to collect the flowers and found that the flowers had been polluted by the bees and was grief stricken. Lord Shiva on seeing his devotee grief stricken took pity on him and gave him the eyes and limbs of a tiger so that he could see in the dark and climb trees easily to collect the flowers. Thus he came to be known as 'Vyagrapadar' and the forest where he lived as 'Vyagrapuram' or 'Puliyoor'. During this time the rishis living in the forest known as 'Tharukavanam' became very arrogant as they had mastered all the 'Vedas', 'Agamas' and 'Shastras' and could raise powerful creatures from the sacrificial fires to do their bidding. Lord Shiva wished to show these rishis their limitations and appeared as a handsome mendicant with Vishnu as his wife 'Mohini'. This created chaos in 'Tharukavanam' as the wives of the rishis fell under the spell of this charming, handsome mendicant while the youthful rishis fell for the allure of Mohini. The older rishis became very angry and wanted to destroy the pair. They raised a sacrificial fire ('Homam') from which appeared a tiger which was directed at the pair. Lord Shiva killed the tiger, peeled off

its skin and tied it around his waist. Then the rishis produced a poisonous serpent, which Lord Shiva caught and wore around his neck. The rishis also sent a demon 'Muyalakan' against Lord Shiva whom he crushed under his feet. Then the rishis sent the sacrificial fire against him which he put on his left hand. The rishis having lost the fire sent the vedic 'mantras' which the Lord wore around his ankles. At this the rishis conceded defeat and the Lord revealed himself by dancing the 'Oorthava thandavam' with his matted hair unfurling in all eight directions and the world reverberating to his steps. Lord Vishnu described this incident to Adishesa, the serpent on which Lord Vishnu reposes. Adishesha wished to see this dance and taking leave of Lord Vishnu went and

prayed to Lord Shiva to grant him the honour of witnessing his dance. Lord Shiva advised Adhishesha to go to Vyagrapuram where he would one day perform this dance. Adishesha was then born on this land and was given the name Pathanjali. Pathanjali approached Vyagrapadar and told him of his quest. As Vyagrapadar himself was eager to see the Lord's dance he was delighted to receive Pathanjali and accompanied him to the temple of Lord Shiva and prayed for the Lord's appearance. On an auspicious day the celestial beings arrived at Thillai along with other Rishis, and sages and assembled where Vyagrapadar had his temple. The heavenly musicians too arrived. Then Lord Shiva appeared with one of His right hands beating the drums and the other hand bestowing grace. With His left hand holding the fire and the other

pointing to his right leg trampling Muyalakan under the foot, He appeared with His left leg raised in a dancing pose. The guardian of the forest in Thillai, Goddess Kali, refused to allow Lord Shiva to dance in Her domain. Lord Shiva therefore challenged Her to a dance competition on condition that if He won then She would be banished from that area. The competition began. While Naradha played the veena, Nandikeswara played the drums and other celestial musicians accompanied with their instruments Lord Shiva danced with his hair flung in all directions. With the 'vedas' as his anklets, the serpent as his waist band, the tiger skin as his attire with Ganga and the crescent moon on his crest, He performed the 'Ananda thandavam'. At one stage Lord Shiva took a pose with His left foot raised above His head but modesty

prevented Goddess Kali matching the same pose. Thus She lost the competition and had taken residence in the northern end of Chidambaram in the Thillaiamman temple. Every devotee who comes to Chidambaram after worshipping at the Natarajar temple visits this temple too. Pathanjali and Vyagrapadar prayed to Lord Shiva to remain at Thillai as the eternally dancing god 'Lord Natarajar' so that all the earthly beings could witness his dance and receive his grace and blessing. - Madurai is one of the important holy places to worship Lord Shiva. There are totally five sabhas for the Dancing diety. First and the second being the 'Kanaka Sabha' and 'Ratna Sabha' in Swamy Sannithi. Third is the 'Rajatha

Sabha' in Velliambalam. Fourth being the 'Deva Sabha' in Hundred Pillars Mandapam. Fifth being the 'Chitra Sabha' in Thousand Pillars Hall. Pathanjali and Vyakirapathar came for Meenakshi's marriage. They used to eat only after seeing the dance of Lord Shiva in Thillai. They wanted to go to Thillai even on that day. But, Lord Somasundarar did not permit them to leave Madurai without having food. The Lord himself danced making them realise that he was the one who danced in Thillai. The Pandyan King Rajasekarapandian was an expert in various arts except Bharata Natiyam. So,he appointed a teacher and started learning the art. He felt the pain on his legs. Then, he realised that the Lord will also experience the pain as he danced continuously in

Velliambalam. He performed prayers and requested the Lord to change the position of his legs while dancing so that he could not feel the pain. He also promised that he will die if the Lord does not accept his request. In acceptance to his request, Lord Shiva changed his legs' position and performed the Paramananda Thandavam. In Thillai and other holy places, the Lord appears in the dancing posture with his right legs on the ground. But in Madurai, he poses with his left legs on the ground. The dancing posture of 'Ambalavanan' (Lord Shiva) with ten hands can be seen only in Velliambalam. Lord Shiva performed seven types of dance. Among them, the dance he performed in Madurai came to be known as 'Paramananda In Bangalore in India, there is a huge Shiva statue

behind Kemp Fort- where special poojas are done for Mahashivarathri the whole night. White Meditative Shiva - sitting with the Himalayan backdrop= with Ganga water falling from his hair. Also there are different lingas kept there which are there in the different states of India. The different divine places of Jyothir lingas.- all in one place - like a cave inside. ---------------- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA! OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA! OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

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