Shivaratri at the Mandir - Satyeshwar,Yajneshwar,Napeshwar...

[Guest guest]

presence, he would occassionally ask me to take his coat/hat and cane,

as he walked between the main temple and Napeshwar. After greeting

everyone, Maa and Swamiji requested us to do an Arati to commence the

proceedings. All the assembled devotees took turns to wave the lights

at the deities. Then Swamiji said that he and Maa would take the

sankalpa for the evening puja and requested devotees to participate

offering at the fire "Om Namah Shivaya Swaha". They (Maa and Swamiji)

went to Satyeshwar, took the sankalpa, proceeded to do their first

puja, and offered milk to the Shiva Lingam. They then handed off to a

disciple and requested him to take charge of the main puja. (We had a

system of one disciple at one altar during the 4 pujas). After

offering at Yajneshwar and Napeshwar, they made their way back to the

main temple. Several devotees were waiting in line to do their first

puja, which involved offering milk, water,

flowers. They also got a thread tied to their wrists (kushasane sthito

brahma...) and a Rudraksha mala for their efforts. They then proceeded

with the Yajneshwar,Napeshwar route. At about 7pm, Maa started her

Kirtan. The assembled crowd went wild - dancing to her songs. Maa

asked twice - "More?" and we cheered her to go on! At 9 pm - we had

the second puja, and offered yoghurt to the three deities and then sat

down to chant the Shiva Sahasranam. After this, Maa sang a few more

songs - and then a song which she said "is different from rock and

roll" - Jaya Jayadeka. This is a song the she had written many years

ago - and it put us all into a peaceful and meditative mood. The

evening wore on - and several people left after the first or second

pujas. At midnight, we did the third puja and offered ghee. We then

sat down for the Rudrashtadhyayi at about 1 am. Even

though this is my favorite text for chanting, and I was sitting right

behind Maa, perhaps it was the fasting that I had done that day, or

the lateness of the hour ... but I promptly dozed off during the

Chamakam. I came to a few mins later and resumed where I left off -

but I was wondering why I could not keep up my resolution to stay

awake. When I walked back with Swamiji, I mentioned it to him and

asked "When the body really needs the rest,how does one keep going on

at the Sadhana?" And then Swamiji said (and I paraphrase)," That is

when Tapasya begins! When everything is fine, and we are able to keep

at the sankalpa, then its just a good party to be in. Its when the

body is crying for sleep, its when we are so tired that we cant go

on, and we need the food... and YET we keep going at our sadhana...

that tapasya starts". At 3 am, we finished the final puja, the

assembled devotees performed Arati again and formed

a line to get Maa and Swamiji's blessings. Maa handed out the paran (

a deeelicious concoction of milk and honey and other goodies that

Parvati knows more about) and for most of us that was the first

liquid/solid food in over 30 hours. Maa also blessed each person with

either "Shuddha Bhakti Pradayakam" (may you be blessed with pure

devotion) or "Jnana Dristi Pradayakam"(may you be blessed with pure

knowledge" And then everyone went to the kitchen (at 4 am) for a

hearty Shivaratri dinner/breakfast! We cleaned up and then some of us

went to bed and the others stayed up to keep at their sadhanas. Maa

of course came back to do her morning puja and Swamiji his chanting.

You were all fondly remembered when I did each of the offerings. I

took it as a sign of blessing for the entire group, when one of our

group members that specifically came for the event, was asked to

offered a coconut to the

fire at the end of the puja. JAI SHIVANanda

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", Nanda <chandimaakijai wrote:

>

> Dear All,

...........

When I walked back with Swamiji, I mentioned it to him and

asked "When the body really needs the rest,how does one keep going on

at the Sadhana?" And then Swamiji said (and I paraphrase)," That is

when Tapasya begins! When everything is fine, and we are able to keep

at the sankalpa, then its just a good party to be in. Its when the

body is crying for sleep, its when we are so tired that we cant go

on, and we need the food... and YET we keep going at our sadhana...

that tapasya starts"."

 

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Dear Nanda,

 

Thanks so much for sharing Shivatri night with us. I can imagine

what a beautiful party you guys had. JAI SHIVA KI JAI . Thanks and

pranams also to the group member who offered the coconut to the fire.

 

Just wanted to share something in response to the para above.

 

I took a sankalpa a few months ago and each day begin worship

between 4:30 a.m. and 4:45 a.m depending on the preparation needed so

that I can be finished by 6.30 to leave for work at 7.00 a.m. Due to

work and family commitments evening worship commences mostly around

8.30 - 9.00 p.m. by the time I reach bed it is well after 11.00 p.m.

Most time the eyes are so full of sleep that the thought comes to

just go to bed and I have done so once or twice but got up soon after

because it just did not feel right. Anyway, there are times when

sleep overcomes me during worship and I was wondering what effect

falling asleep would have. Hence that particular section was like a

message. I pray that my Tapasya has really began.

 

Thanks again Nandaji.

 

Pranams to Beloved Gurujis. May They be eternally Blessed.

 

Jai Shiva