PHILOSOPHICAL MEANING OF SHIVA RATRI :

[bhattathiri]

PHILOSOPHICAL MEANING OF SHIVA RATRI :

 

The bilva leaves represent the heart and gross manifestation. Linga

represents the Supreme Brahman (Consciousness). So the worship of the

linga with the bilva leaves represent the merging of the individual heart

with the Supreme consciousness. Water represents the Consciousness and the

Linga represents the Universal Energy (prakruthi and paramatma). The

abhisheka represents the merging the individual consciousness in to the

universal consciousness. Temple represents the human body and the deity

represents the Paramatma.

 

Staying in temple represents the merging the jivatma with the paramatma.

Night represents the prakrithi, which is gross. Sleep represents the

merging within the dynamics of the prakrithi. Waking in the night

represents the process of separation from the prakrithi. Night also

represents the ignorance. Waking represents for the four-fold path of

wisdom- Knowing, understanding, realizing and living. So the celebration

of Shiva Rathri will indicate the objective of the individuals' Moksha and

how it can be achieved. It also represents the fulfillment of the Dharma,

Artha and Kama by having the sound and healthy body. Both are needed for

the progress of the man kind.

 

The scientific aspects and the prevention are needed for every one. Those

who understand the significance of the spiritual aspects also has to

practice them as they need the body to achieve the spiritual aspects.

Lastly the community involvement and group celebration is the key for the

harmony of the society. So the individuals will participate in the temple

activities to transmit this advanced wisdom for the development of the

human race.

 

SCIENTIFIC MEANING OF SHIVA RATRI :

 

Festivals in India include the Scientific wisdom in four different fields

of sciences. Climatology, Astronomy, Ayur Veda and Human Physiology. Human

body is susceptible for the changes in the cyclical motions of the moon

and sun. The impact of these changes are closely documented by the

advanced researchers in the field of bio farming and organic farming. The

ascent and descent of the moon have the impact on the growth of the plants

and all cellular structures, including on the germination of the plants.

Ancient sages understood that these changes also affect at certain

seasonal transitions and devised the methods for the natural adaptations

for these changes. Festivals are celebrated for this adaption. Maha Shiva

Rathri comes exactly at this seasonal transition from the Winter to

Spring. All nature and cosmos covered by the space and time undergoes

three phenomenons. - Creation, Growth, and Dissolution. The time span of

these cycles change. Stars and Galaxies may have a cycle of millions of

light-years and species may have few hours. These three aspects are Called

as the Brahma Tatva, Vishnu Tatva and Maheswara Tatva. During the rotation

around the sun, the earth and all associated creation on the earth undergo

three faces. These are called as Kalas in the Sasthraas. They are Autumn

Time (Grishma Kala), Monsoon Time (Varsha Kala) and Winter Time

(SithaKala). Every time has two seasons namely Spring and Summer (Autumn

Time), Rainy Season and Pre Winter Season (Winter Time), and WinterSeason

and Deep Winter Season), and after the Winter Time the Summer time will

begin. All the flora and fauna will undergo hibernation during the winter

time and will start new germination during the autumn time.

 

This transition time is the most important one for all species including

humans and to make them adapt for these transitions, festivals are

celebrated. Shiva Rathri is celebrated at this time. Maheswara tatva

belongs to the dissolution of this natural cycle so this Maha Shiva Rathri

is celebrated at the last day of the first month in the deep winter

season. Human body also undergoes very subtle cellular and molecular

changes during this time. Most of the lung and respiratory infections are

possible during this time. To avoid them certain rules are prescribed in

the form of celebration of the Maha Shiva Rathri. We have to always

remember that in Sanathana Dharma the science is interspersed with the

human way of life. Now we apply the tanning lotions, vaseline for ultra

violet sun rays during this transition months and other skin rash

medicines during these months. But these have their limitations as these

are reactive and invasive procedures of prevention of disease. The non

invasive prevention techniques are the gradual adjustment of the body's

physiology and this is exactly is the utility of celebrating the festival.

 

According to Ayur Veda the Bilva Leaves have a power full preventive

medicine for all the Respiratory Diseases including the Cardiac Problems.

The worshiping Shiva with these leaves means using them with hand and

smelling the aroma of these leaves. This involves the aroma therapy.

According to the advanced research when moon goes to an angle between 840

to 1800 in it's rotation around the earth there will be profound influence

on the Brain, Digestive Organs, Kidneys, Reproductory Organs, and Spleen.

Especially in the months when the sun heat is less in the peak of winter

time (which results due to the increased distance between the earth and

the sun due to its longitudinal axis). This influence reaches peak on the

14 day of the moon's descent in the peak of deep winter season which is

Maha Shiva Rathri day. So on this the Fasting is prescribed according to

Ayur Veda. This is intended to keep the body systems intact.

 

The shiva lingas are made with the special granite and other different

precious metals which have a specific crystalline structure. This

structure is found to have a specific property of resonating the cosmic

vibrations. Water has a peculiar property called colloidal property. This

enhances the water molecules to change their bond angles when came in to

contact with the cosmic resonances and to increase their energy which then

becomes powerful medicine. The abhisheka of the Shiva Lingas is to do this

complicated exercise for the benefit of the mankind. All Temples build on

the principles of agamas are the Accumulators of the Cosmic energy and Geo

Magnetic Energies for the disseminating them for the individuals who go to

temples.

 

Going to temples and staying in the night of Maha Shiva Rathri involves

the taking and assimilating the energy for the whole night so that the

energy imbalances that occur during the transitional changes are

corrected. The mantras used in the abhisheka or in the worship is definite

energy states which produce a specified quantum of energy if recited. This

energy is absorbed by the molecules of his body and they in turn radiate

heightened infrared band of energies. These energies radiated are picked

up by the Acu Points or Adharas which distribute the energy for all the

systems of the body for the energy correction. That is the reason why the

Rudra Namakam, Chamakam and Mahanyasam and other powerful Vedic Mantras

are recited on this Maha Shiva Rathri Day.

 

 

History of shivaratri

 

Once when everything in all the worlds got reduced into Lord Shiva, in

that darkness of nothing present, the mother Parvati worshipped Lord shiva

in the Agamic way with great devotion. The parameshwar pleased by Her

prayer blessed Her. She asked for the benefit of all the creatures that in

future whoever worships the Lord on the shiva ratri day with devotion,

they should be blessed and should be given the ultimate liberation. The

pashupati granted that showing way for all of us to get blessed easily.

 

When Brahma and Vishnu fought between themselves as "who is the greatest",

Lord Shiva appeared before them as a pillar of fire. They were not able to

find the starting and end of that pillar. This day is Thirukkaarthikai.

 

Then Brahma and Mahavishnu repented for their mistake and prayed to Lord

Shiva for forgiving their sin worshiping the Shiva Lingam which is the

form of the flame. In the night of Shiva rathri Lord Shiva appeared before

them and blessed them. Devotees pray the God throughout the night of Shiva

Rathri by performing Abisheka, chanting and other holy deeds.

 

There are many incidents told about the greatness of this day. Once a

hunter in a jungle after searching throughout the jungle, was quite tired

and could not get any animal. In the nightfall a tiger started chasing

him. to escape from that he climbed a tree. That was a Bilwa tree. The

tiger sat under the tree waiting for him to come down. The hunter who sat

on a branch of the tree was quite tense and didn't want to sleep. He was

plucking the leaves and putting down as he was not able to be idle. Below

the tree there was a Shiva lingam. The whole night went on like this. God

was pleased with the Upavasa (hunger) and the Pooja the hunter and the

tiger did even without knowledge. He is the peak of the grace. He gave the

hunter and the tiger "Moksha".

 

In a Shiva temple on a Maha Shiva rathri day the lamp kept in the altar

was very dim. That time a mouse which came take its prey touched the

flame. Due to the heat it moved its head immediately. In the process it

kindled the lamp and the altar was illuminated well. Lord Shiva, pleased

by this deed made the mouse Mahabali, the renowned asura king.

There are many incidents like this told in our Puraanas. If we do the

vrata with pure devotion and love there can be no doubt about getting the

Grace of the Almighty.