By Sanjay Parekh
NHSF Learning Team



12th February 2010 (14th Maha in the Hindu calendar)

By Indian traditions, Shivaratri occurs every month. However, Maha Shivaratri is predominant festival, where Lord Shiva (auspicious) manifested as Shivalinga, is observed on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Maha month in the Hindu calendar.

Lord Shiva (the destroyer of evil) is one of the three aspects of the divine trinity in Hinduism (the others: Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the preserver). The five syllable holy mantra ‘Namah Shivaya’ in praise of Lord Shiva is chanted continually during the night of Maha Shivaratri. Lord Shiva’s other names describing His greatness are also recited.


Glory

Lord Shiva’s glory has been recited in various instances in the Puranas. His worship in Bharat (India) has been since ancient times, initially in his murti form, and later as Shivalinga.

The Shiva Puran relates a story of Maha Shivaratri's glory.

“In ancient times, a Bheel (forest inhabitant) named Gurudruha trudged through a forest to hunt deer. At night, without having sighted a single animal, he unknowingly climbed a Bili tree on the banks of a lake. Later at night, a doe arrived to drink water. Gurudruha aimed his bow and arrow at her. While aiming, he unknowingly dropped some Bili leaves and his drinking water below on a Shivalinga. The deer then requested him to allow her to entrust her fawns to her husband, after which she would return. After much haggling he agreed. While awaiting her return, he stayed awake by aimlessly plucking leaves and dropping them below. Again they fell on the Shivalinga. Thus he unknowingly performed its puja while remaining awake all night.

Finally the doe returned with her family, She informed him that along with her, he'd have to kill her family too. As he aimed, some more leaves fluttered down on the Shivalinga. The collective punya (spiritual merit) accrued from the puja performed unknowingly, eradicated all his sins. This purified his heart. Repenting his flawed life of sin, he set the deer free. As he sat repenting, Lord Shiv manifested in front of him and granted a boon, "You shall be born in a town known as Shrungver, as a man named Gruha. Lord Vishnu will grace your home as Lord Rama and redeem you. Shivji also blessed the deer which attained a better destiny.”




Lord Shiva

On Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva is worshipped as the manifested Shivalinga. However, Lord Shiva has many other forms including:

• Shakara - Giver of happiness to all
• Nataraja - King of Dancers (his favourite form adorned by dancers and musicians)
• Pashupati - Lord of creatures (often with Nandi (bull), his favourite animal)
• Sarpabushana - Lord Shiva’s fearful name

Kailasa peak in the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva, who is also known to bear the Ganges on his head.

During Mahashivratri, Rudra Sukta, from the Vedas, is recited by Pandits, whilst bathing Shivalinga with holy waters of the Ganga. This is known as ‘Rudra-Abhisheka’. Shaligrama is a sacred pebble, from the river Gandaki (at the frozen summits of the Himalyas) also worshipped during Maha Shivaratri.

Bathing the Shiligrama during Shiva puja symbolises the removing impurities from the mind and removing false-self, which we all suffer from, unless we attain self-realisation. False self is the illusion ( ignorance) of covering upon our mind (soul) leading to mistaken identity. According to Vedanta, accumulation of false-self upon our real Self is often the root cause of our sufferings in life. Purification of Shaligrama stone by holy waters also symbolises the eradication of the accumulated material interests, which often blurs the inherent spiritual Reality.

Lord Shiva's divine consort, goddess Parvati (daughter of Himalaya), is the deity of strength. They have two sons, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya (Guha / Shanmukha /Skanda / Murugha).


Ritual

On the night of Maha Shivaratri, fasting and Jaagaran (night vigil) are advocated. Shiva puja is performed by Hindus all over the world with Bili leaves (Aegle Marmelos) and Milk Abhishek.

On Mount Girnar in Surashtra, a grand mela is held, where people flock for the darshan of sannyasis and saints.