Maha Shivaratri

[Guest guest]

Maha Shivaratri 2005

 

I don’t know if I can explain this experience. I will try.

 

Instead of celebrating at my home temple, the Shiva*Shakti Mandir, or

at my Gurus' temple, the Devi Mandir, I joined a group of Ammachi

devotees at the home temple of Surya and Prakashi.

 

I had been fasting since the evening meal of March 7. On the 2 and 1/2

hour drive from my mountain home to Surya’s ocean home, I chanted and

sang continuously. All my favorite songs to Lord Shiva.

 

When I parked my car and opened the door, the scent of the ocean and

the sounds of the waves breaking on the shore were very powerful. It

felt very good to be home with Mother Ocean.

 

Surya’s home is dedicated to the Divine Mother. There is a small

shrine opposite the door as you enter. As you go up the stairs to the

temple, goddesses line the wall. Even our beloved Shree Maa.

 

The main temple has an inner sanctum that can be closed off with

curtains. Young girls were in the inner sanctum chanting Om Namah

Shivaya and offering flower petals on the Shiva Lingam.

 

Devotees were arriving for the evening worship. It turned out that I

had just missed the first abishekam. Soon Surya was chanting the Shiva

Sahasranam. After each name, the devotees chanted the mantra of their

Guru. Om Amriteshvaryai Namah. Om we bow to Amritananda Mayi Ma

(Ammachi).

 

The atmosphere was very intense and only got more so as the evening

progressed. Soon the musicians and kirtan leaders started arriving

with their instruments and their full hearted devotion. The bhav was

incredible. So much Divine Love.

 

Most amazing were Surya and Prakashi’s daughters. The older daughter

who looked to be about 8, was accomplished in leading Sanskrit bhajans.

The baby, maybe 18 months to 2 yrs, would stand as if in a trance,

listening intensely to the bhajans and then start to dance

spontaneously. This was an outpouring of her soul. No dance that

anyone could have taught her (except the Divine Mother). Maybe she is

a Kumari.

 

When it came time for the 2nd abishekam, the older daughter started

pouring the yogurt on the top of the lingam, constantly checking with

her father to make sure she was doing it correctly. Then Surya took

the pot and poured it over the whole lingam. As it dripped down in

rivulets, I was transfixed. It was as though Lord Shiva in the form of

Rudra was allowing His tears to flow down on the Lingam. I felt Lord

Shiva’s presence so strongly. I felt His endless Compassion for all of

us. I was crying as I chanted Om Namah Shivaya.

 

At the same time I felt the presence of the Divine Mother. They were

there together, blessing the whole Universe.

 

About 10:30, I suddenly felt that I had to leave. I didn’t know why.

 

By the time that I walked to my car, I knew why. I was beginning to

purge. I looked for the first place with a public bathroom (a

McDonald’s). I won’t go into details for the faint-hearted, but I felt

that I was back in India and had just taken the darshan of a Great

Saint or Deity. I haven’t had this experience in quite awhile.

 

After a half-hour in the McDonald facilities, I knew that I couldn’t

drive all the way back to my mountain home. I went to the first motel

that I thought wouldn’t be outrageously expensive. The sign on the

desk said that they had closed 20 minutes earlier. I took a chance and

rang the bell. What a blessing. The manager came out and arranged a

room for me. Not only that, he was a Hindu and was celebrating

Shivaratri with his family. He had beautiful pictures of Lord Shiva

and RadhaKrishna right there at the main desk.

 

When I got to my room and was able to relax in private, I looked in the

bedside table. There was a copy of the Bhagavad Gita (instead of the

Gideon Society Bible). On the dining table was a complimentary copy of

“The Higher Taste: A Guide to Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking and a

Karma-Free Diet”. What a joy to find such a place when I needed it.

 

So, Maha Shivaratri comes in many forms. Whether a solitary offering

or a group effort. In a car or a motel room. Wherever devotion is,

Lord Shiva comes.

 

My deepest gratitude to Surya, Prakashi, the children and all the

devotees for a truly blessed Maha Shivaratri.

 

Ardis

Maha Shivaratri 2005

Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

[Guest guest]

-Om Namah Shivaya Om! Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Ramakrishna Deva!

i am weeping tears of joy! Om! Om! Om! Maa! Maa! Maa! Lingod Bhava

Kara Lingeshwara!Om!

muktimaa

 

P.S. The highlight of MahaShivaratri for me was an e-mail from our

beloved Swamiji saying: "May Lord Shiva always bless you". :<)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- In , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote:

> Maha Shivaratri 2005

>

> I don't know if I can explain this experience. I will try.

>

> Instead of celebrating at my home temple, the Shiva*Shakti Mandir,

or

> at my Gurus' temple, the Devi Mandir, I joined a group of Ammachi

> devotees at the home temple of Surya and Prakashi.

>

> I had been fasting since the evening meal of March 7. On the 2 and

1/2

> hour drive from my mountain home to Surya's ocean home, I

chanted

and

> sang continuously. All my favorite songs to Lord Shiva.

>

> When I parked my car and opened the door, the scent of the ocean

and

> the sounds of the waves breaking on the shore were very powerful.

It

> felt very good to be home with Mother Ocean.

>

> Surya's home is dedicated to the Divine Mother. There is a

small

> shrine opposite the door as you enter. As you go up the stairs to

the

> temple, goddesses line the wall. Even our beloved Shree Maa.

>

> The main temple has an inner sanctum that can be closed off with

> curtains. Young girls were in the inner sanctum chanting Om Namah

> Shivaya and offering flower petals on the Shiva Lingam.

>

> Devotees were arriving for the evening worship. It turned out that

I

> had just missed the first abishekam. Soon Surya was chanting the

Shiva

> Sahasranam. After each name, the devotees chanted the mantra of

their

> Guru. Om Amriteshvaryai Namah. Om we bow to Amritananda Mayi Ma

> (Ammachi).

>

> The atmosphere was very intense and only got more so as the evening

> progressed. Soon the musicians and kirtan leaders started arriving

> with their instruments and their full hearted devotion. The bhav

was

> incredible. So much Divine Love.

>

> Most amazing were Surya and Prakashi's daughters. The older

daughter

> who looked to be about 8, was accomplished in leading Sanskrit

bhajans.

> The baby, maybe 18 months to 2 yrs, would stand as if in a

trance,

> listening intensely to the bhajans and then start to dance

> spontaneously. This was an outpouring of her soul. No dance that

> anyone could have taught her (except the Divine Mother). Maybe she

is

> a Kumari.

>

> When it came time for the 2nd abishekam, the older daughter started

> pouring the yogurt on the top of the lingam, constantly checking

with

> her father to make sure she was doing it correctly. Then Surya

took

> the pot and poured it over the whole lingam. As it dripped down in

> rivulets, I was transfixed. It was as though Lord Shiva in the

form of

> Rudra was allowing His tears to flow down on the Lingam. I felt

Lord

> Shiva's presence so strongly. I felt His endless Compassion

for

all of

> us. I was crying as I chanted Om Namah Shivaya.

>

> At the same time I felt the presence of the Divine Mother. They

were

> there together, blessing the whole Universe.

>

> About 10:30, I suddenly felt that I had to leave. I didn't

know

why.

>

> By the time that I walked to my car, I knew why. I was beginning

to

> purge. I looked for the first place with a public bathroom (a

> McDonald's). I won't go into details for the

faint-hearted, but I

felt

> that I was back in India and had just taken the darshan of a Great

> Saint or Deity. I haven't had this experience in quite awhile.

>

> After a half-hour in the McDonald facilities, I knew that I

couldn't

> drive all the way back to my mountain home. I went to the first

motel

> that I thought wouldn't be outrageously expensive. The sign on

the

> desk said that they had closed 20 minutes earlier. I took a chance

and

> rang the bell. What a blessing. The manager came out and arranged

a

> room for me. Not only that, he was a Hindu and was celebrating

> Shivaratri with his family. He had beautiful pictures of Lord

Shiva

> and RadhaKrishna right there at the main desk.

>

> When I got to my room and was able to relax in private, I looked in

the

> bedside table. There was a copy of the Bhagavad Gita (instead of

the

> Gideon Society Bible). On the dining table was a complimentary

copy of

> "The Higher Taste: A Guide to Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking and a

> Karma-Free Diet". What a joy to find such a place when I

needed it.

>

> So, Maha Shivaratri comes in many forms. Whether a solitary

offering

> or a group effort. In a car or a motel room. Wherever devotion

is,

> Lord Shiva comes.

>

> My deepest gratitude to Surya, Prakashi, the children and all the

> devotees for a truly blessed Maha Shivaratri.

>

> Ardis

> Maha Shivaratri 2005

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the nice words. I wondered what happened to you.

Actually we did the 108 names of Devi first with the response Om

Amriteshwaryai Namah and then the 1008 names of Shiva with the

response Om Namah Shivaya.

I will elaborate more on the details of the great and holy night

later. I have to run out to catch the final showing of a new film on

the 2001 Kumbh Mela.

Bom Bholanath Mahadev!!!

-

Ardis Jackson

mahamuni (AT) cox (DOT) net

Cc:

Thursday, March 10, 2005 4:00 PM

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri 2005I don’t know if I can explain this experience. I

will try.Instead of celebrating at my home temple, the Shiva*Shakti

Mandir, or at my Gurus' temple, the Devi Mandir, I joined a group of

Ammachi devotees at the home temple of Surya and Prakashi.I had been

fasting since the evening meal of March 7. On the 2 and 1/2 hour

drive from my mountain home to Surya’s ocean home, I chanted and sang

continuously. All my favorite songs to Lord Shiva.When I parked my car

and opened the door, the scent of the ocean and the sounds of the

waves breaking on the shore were very powerful. It felt very good to

be home with Mother Ocean.Surya’s home is dedicated to the Divine

Mother. There is a small shrine opposite the door as you enter. As

you go up the stairs to the temple, goddesses line the wall. Even our

beloved Shree Maa.The main temple has an inner sanctum that can be

closed off with curtains. Young girls were in the inner sanctum

chanting Om Namah Shivaya and offering flower petals on the Shiva

Lingam.Devotees were arriving for the evening worship. It turned out

that I had just missed the first abishekam. Soon Surya was chanting

the Shiva Sahasranam. After each name, the devotees chanted the

mantra of their Guru. Om Amriteshvaryai Namah. Om we bow to

Amritananda Mayi Ma (Ammachi).The atmosphere was very intense and

only got more so as the evening progressed. Soon the musicians and

kirtan leaders started arriving with their instruments and their full

hearted devotion. The bhav was incredible. So much Divine Love.Most

amazing were Surya and Prakashi’s daughters. The older daughter who

looked to be about 8, was accomplished in leading Sanskrit bhajans.

The baby, maybe 18 months to 2 yrs, would stand as if in a trance,

listening intensely to the bhajans and then start to dance

spontaneously. This was an outpouring of her soul. No dance that

anyone could have taught her (except the Divine Mother). Maybe she is

a Kumari.When it came time for the 2nd abishekam, the older daughter

started pouring the yogurt on the top of the lingam, constantly

checking with her father to make sure she was doing it correctly.

Then Surya took the pot and poured it over the whole lingam. As it

dripped down in rivulets, I was transfixed. It was as though Lord

Shiva in the form of Rudra was allowing His tears to flow down on the

Lingam. I felt Lord Shiva’s presence so strongly. I felt His endless

Compassion for all of us. I was crying as I chanted Om Namah

Shivaya.At the same time I felt the presence of the Divine Mother.

They were there together, blessing the whole Universe.About 10:30, I

suddenly felt that I had to leave. I didn’t know why.By the time that

I walked to my car, I knew why. I was beginning to purge. I looked for

the first place with a public bathroom (a McDonald’s). I won’t go into

details for the faint-hearted, but I felt that I was back in India and

had just taken the darshan of a Great Saint or Deity. I haven’t had

this experience in quite awhile.After a half-hour in the McDonald

facilities, I knew that I couldn’t drive all the way back to my

mountain home. I went to the first motel that I thought wouldn’t be

outrageously expensive. The sign on the desk said that they had

closed 20 minutes earlier. I took a chance and rang the bell. What a

blessing. The manager came out and arranged a room for me. Not only

that, he was a Hindu and was celebrating Shivaratri with his family.

He had beautiful pictures of Lord Shiva and RadhaKrishna right there

at the main desk.When I got to my room and was able to relax in

private, I looked in the bedside table. There was a copy of the

Bhagavad Gita (instead of the Gideon Society Bible). On the dining

table was a complimentary copy of “The Higher Taste: A Guide to

Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking and a Karma-Free Diet”. What a joy to find

such a place when I needed it.So, Maha Shivaratri comes in many forms.

Whether a solitary offering or a group effort. In a car or a motel

room. Wherever devotion is, Lord Shiva comes.My deepest gratitude to

Surya, Prakashi, the children and all the devotees for a truly

blessed Maha Shivaratri.ArdisMaha Shivaratri

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