🔱 Happy Maha Shivratri 🔱

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Posted: 1 years ago

#11

शुभ महाशिवरात्रि!

हर हर महादेव! 🙏

Thank you everyone for your insightful comments so far. I personally feel Mahashivratri celebrates one of the purest love in our Hindu culture, and so it is extremely special in that way 🙏

We usually visit to the temple and do the nirjala vrath overnight on this day 🙏

@Simi: Adding this here as you asked me to share this in my post.

This beautiful thread provides more insight on the importance of Mahashivratri:

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Shakti Shiva. Parvati Parinaya.

Uma Maheshwara. Ardhanarishwara.

Maha Shivratri.

Shiva-Parvati's unconditional love is beyond Hinduism's philosophical truths 🙏

'ऊं त्रयम्बकं यजामहे, सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मोक्षिय मामृतात्।’

Maha Shivratri is not just a celebration but a profound spiritual observance. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the 14th night of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Phalguna or Maagh (February or March in the Gregorian calendar). It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and ignorance, marking the night when Shiva performs the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. This dance represents the cycles of the universe, from birth to death to rebirth, mirroring the soul's journey towards liberation.

The story of divine Maha Shivratri begins after the self-immolation of Sati, Shiva's first consort, at her father Daksha's yagna (fire sacrifice), unable to bear the insult meted out to Shiva. Angry, Broken, and filled with rage, Shiva retreated to a life of silence, penance and meditation, withdrawing his interest from the world's affairs. The absence of Shiva's influence caused an imbalance in the universe. Recognizing the need for Shiva's return to recover and strengthen life to restore balance, Hindu gods went to ask for help from Goddess Shakti. She agreed to reincarnate as “Parvati Ji” (reincarnation of Shiva’s first wife Sati), the daughter of the Himalayas, to win Shiva's affection again and bring him back to worldly life.

Parvati, from a very young age, was drawn to Shiva, and her devotion only grew stronger with time. Understanding the enormity of her task, she undertook severe tapasya (penance) to attract Shiva's attention. Her austere meditation, enduring harsh climatic conditions without food or water, moved all the deities, and they interceded on her behalf to Shiva. Shiva, impressed by Parvati's devotion but wanting to test her resolve, appeared before her disguised as a hermit and disparaged himself (Shiva) to gauge Parvati's devotion. Unfazed, Parvati recognized the hermit as Shiva and reaffirmed her unwavering love and respect for him. Pleased with her dedication and recognizing her as Sati's reincarnation, Shiva agreed to marry Parvati.

ओम तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि तन्नो रुद्र: प्रचोदयात।

ॐ नमः मनोभिलाषितं वरं देहि वरं ह्रीं ॐ गोरा पार्वती देव्यै नमःहै गौरि शंकरार्धांगि यथा त्वं शंकर प्रिया।

ॐ गौरीपति महादेवाय मम ईच्छित वर शीघ्र अतिशीघ्र प्राप्त्यर्थं ग़ौर्यै नम: ॥

The marriage of Shiva and Parvati goes beyond the literal to embody deeper philosophical truths. It represents the union of Purusha (the supreme consciousness) and Prakriti (the primal energy), essential for the creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe. Their marriage symbolizes the journey of the soul towards merging with the divine, transcending the limitations of the physical world. It all happens on the great night of Mahashivratri.

The celebration of Maha Shivratri aligns with certain astronomical phenomena. During this period, it is said that the northern hemisphere of the Earth experiences a natural upsurge of energy, facilitating a higher state of consciousness. This is why practices like meditation, yoga, and fasting are particularly emphasized, as they are believed to harness this energy, aiding in spiritual growth and physical detoxification. Fasting on Maha Shivratri holds significant spiritual and physical importance. It is believed that fasting purifies the body and the mind, making it an ideal vessel for divine energies. The act of fasting is seen as a sacrifice offered to Shiva, demonstrating the devotee's devotion and discipline. It helps in detoxifying the body, calming the mind, and enhancing spiritual clarity. The fast typically involves abstaining from food and sometimes water, with many consuming only fruits, milk, and water throughout the day. This practice is also thought to align with the natural cycles of the body, optimizing the spiritual benefits of the rituals performed on this auspicious night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR59XxYXvoA

चंद्रचूड शिव शंकर पार्वति, रमणा निनगॆ नमो नमो |

Maha Shivratri is marked by a series of rituals and practices designed to honour Lord Shiva and seek his blessings: Worship of the Shiva Lingam at midnight, which involves a ceremonial bath (Abhishekam) with milk, honey, water, and bel leaves. This ritual symbolises the purification of the soul.Shiv Bhakts offer fruits, flowers, and bel leaves to Shiva, as these are believed to be his favourite. The offering of bel leaves, in particular, represents the purification of the self, as the trifoliate leaves symbolise the three functions of Shiva - creation, preservation, and destruction.Keeping a vigil throughout the night is a crucial practice, symbolizing the watchfulness over one's mind and the universe. It is a time for chanting mantras, meditating, and reflecting on Shiva's cosmic deeds.The chanting of the sacred mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" is a central aspect of the night's observances, facilitating a deeper connection with Shiva.

Maha Shivratri offers a moment to delve into the philosophical dimensions of Shiva as the eternal light of consciousness that pervades the universe. Shiva is often depicted as the Adiyogi, the first yogi, and the source of spiritual knowledge. The festival symbolises the overcoming of darkness and ignorance in life, aligning with the awakening of higher consciousness.Shiva's dance, the Tandava, performed on the night of Maha Shivratri, represents the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. This dance is not just a symbol of destruction but also a new creation, which cleanses the old to make way for the new.

कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि ।

नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥

ॐ ह्रीं कात्यायन्यै स्वाहा , ह्रीं श्रीं कात्यायन्यै स्वाहा ।।

Shiva represents the supreme reality, the Brahman, which is unchanging, eternal, and formless. Maha Shivratri is an opportunity to recognise the impermanence of the material world and to identify with the eternal essence of the self, which is one with Shiva.

है गौरि शंकरार्धांगि यथा त्वं शंकर प्रिया।

तथा मां कुरू कल्याणि कान्तकान्तां सुदुर्लभाम्।।

हे गौरी शंकरार्धांगी। यथा त्वं शंकर प्रिया।

तथा मां कुरु कल्याणी, कान्त कान्तां सुदुर्लभाम्।

For Shiv Bhakts & all Hindus, Maha Shivratri is an opportunity to realign with their inner selves and the universe. It is believed that on this auspicious night, the natural upsurge of spiritual energy in the human body is at its peak, making it an ideal time for meditation, introspection, and the chanting of Shiva mantras. The vigil kept through the night symbolises a watchfulness over one's own mind, a practice aimed at overcoming ignorance and attaining self-realization.

"ॐ नमः पार्वती पतये," along with the phrases "जय सियाराम " &"राधे-कृष्णा," also represent how our culture accords our Tridev and their avatars to be identified as being relative to their consorts, symbolising that both are equals in all manners. Maha Shivratri is also a celebration of two such souls.

Edited by dhun.laagi - 1 years ago