10/02/2018
Mahashivratri
Every year on the fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon, is known as Shivratri. Among all the twelve Shivratris that occur in a calendar year, Mahashivratri, is the one that occurs in the months of February-March each year and has a greater and the most spiritual significance. On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. This nightlong presence of yourself allows this natural upsurge of energies to find their way to you and so one remains awake with the spine vertical throughout the night.
Mahashivratri is very significant for people who are on the spiritual path.
But, for the ascetics, it is the day he becomes one with Lord Siva. He became like a mountain – absolutely still. In the yogic tradition, Siva as Adi Guru, from whom the science of Yoga originated is constantly in meditation. On the day of Sivarathri He becomes absolutely still. All movement in him stopped, so ascetics see Mahashivratri as the night of stillness and silence. As a spiritual seeker it is your time to communicate with Him.
Biologists have pointed out that one of the biggest steps in the evolutionary process of an animal was the movement from a horizontal to a vertical spine. It was only after this step that the flowering of the intelligence has happened. So, by making use of this natural upsurge of energies on the nightlong Mahashivratri, with the right kind of mantras and meditations, we can move one step closer to the Divine.
The raising of energies takes place even if there is no sadhana in a person’s life. But especially for those people who are into some kind of yogic sadhana, keeping the body in a vertical position- or in other words, not sleeping on this night- is very important. The natural upsurge of energy within the human body will allow one to do certain types of powerful sadhana which would normally be unsuitable for those who have not put in the necessary preparation.
This scientific fact is an experiential reality in every yogi. The word “yogi” means one who has realized the oneness of existence. Yoga is the way in knowing the unbounded and the oneness, and the night of Mahashivratri offers a person an opportunity to experience this.
“AUM Nama Sivaya” may be chanted sincerely with devotion to the Lord silently throughout the night.
For those who find it difficult to be silent and in meditation can chant, sing or listen to devotional songs and chants to focus their mind on Lord Siva through the night into dawn. Try to be in nature or in a spiritual place and be silent as far as possible.
“The Addhi Yogi sitting in utter stillness where the only sign of life were His tears of bliss trickling down His cheeks.”
The seekers who were with Him wanted to know this bliss and they approached with great bakthi and sacrifice wishing that they be taught. Seeing their perseverance, Lord Siva the Aadiyogi gave them some preparatory sadhana. They did the sadhana with single-minded focus for over 94 years, while the Aadiyogi ignored them. On the day of the summer solstice, the start of Dakshinayana, the Adiyogi noticed them to be shining receptacles of knowing. After closely observing them for the next 28 days, on the next full moon day, today known as Guru Pournami, he transformed into the first Guru – Sri Dakshanamurthy. He began a systematic exposition of the science of yoga to his first disciples, who today are celebrated as the Saptarishis.
He expounded 112 ways through which human beings can transcend their limitations and reach their ultimate potential. Lord Dakshanamurthy’s offerings are tools for individual transformation. For individual transformation is the only way to transform yourself. His fundamental teaching is that “this is the only way out” for human wellbeing and liberation.
“The wild animals that the hunter fought with are lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and hatred. The jungle is the fourfold mind, consisting of the subconscious mind, the intellect, the ego and the conscious mind. It is in the mind that these ‘wild animals’ roam about freely. They must be killed. Our hunter was pursuing them because he was a Yogi. If you want to be a real Yogi you have to conquer these evil tendencies.”
If a person practices Yama and Niyama and is ever conquering his evil tendencies, he will develop certain external marks of a Yogi. The first marks are lightness of the body, health, steadiness, clearness of countenance and a pleasant voice.
As one progresses on the different steps of yoga he reaches a point where he begins to work on his Ajna Chakra. This is the point midway between the eyebrows. It is regarded as the meeting place of the three nerve currents (Nadis), namely, the Ida, Pingala and the Sushumna. An aspirant is instructed to concentrate on that point. That helps him to conquer his desires and evil qualities such as anger and so forth. It is here that he gets a vision of the Divine Light within.
The Yogi was in the conscious state in his meditation. He bundled up the birds and the animals he had slain and, tying them on a branch of the tree, he rested there. That means he had fully conquered his thoughts and rendered them inactive. He had gone through the steps of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, etc. On the tree he was practising concentration and meditation. When he felt sleepy, it means that he was about to lose consciousness and go into deep sleep. So he was determined to keep awake.
One who seeks the Arul (Grace) of God must become an embodiment of love. He must have an all-embracing sympathy. His shedding of tears is symbolical of his universal love. In Yoga, one cannot have illumination without Divine Arul (Grace). Without practising universal love, one cannot win that Arul (Grace). One must perceive one’s own ‘self’ everywhere. The preliminary stage is to identify one’s own mind with the minds of all created beings. That is fellow-feeling or sympathy. Then one must rise above the limitations of the mind and merge it in the ‘Self.’ That happens only in the stage of Samadhi, and not earlier.
On the dawn of Sivarathri - the dawning of the day symbolises the entrance into the Fourth state called Turiya or superconsciousness. This means that in the Turiya state he saw the Siva Lingam or the mark of Siva in the form of the inner light. In other words, he had the vision of the Lord. That was an indication to him that he would realise the supreme, eternal abode of Lord Siva in the course of time.
“For Lord Siva on Sivarathri His devotees give Him greater happiness by mere fasting and meditating on Him with devotion and longing than by ceremonial baths and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense. As the devotee observe a strict spiritual discipline on the day and worships Him in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night, the offering of a few bael leaves is more precious to Him than precious jewels and flowers. There is no greater ritual which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity.”
The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality of passionate activity) and Tamas (that of inertia). The Shivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee’s constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger, and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed on the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Siva Lingam is conducted. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.
Lord Shiva is considered to be the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam represents). He is burning with the fire of austerity.
The devotee prays: “O Lord! I will bathe Thee with devotion, do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom. Do Thou kindly wash me of all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which is scorching me may be put out once for all, so that I may be one with Thee—the One alone, without a second.”
Thus is Sivarathri performed by the devoted soul.
At the ARUL GURUKULAM, we practice in the following manner.
1. All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day, many of them without taking even a single drop of water.
2. The whole night is spent in devotion and meditation with the Japa of Om Nama Sivaya in silence.
3. At night assembled in the temple and chant Om Nama Sivaya.
4. During the four quarters of the night the Siva Lingam is worshipped with intense devotion.
5. At dawn, emerging out of mediation and chanting to observe the vision of the Lord.
Offering this inner worship to Lord Siva with sincerity and devotion sets the aspirant on his journey to the Lord so that he may not be born again in this world.
The formula for the supreme worship of the Lord is: “O Siva! you are my ‘Self.’ My mind is Parvati. My Pranas are your servants. My body is your house. My actions in this world are your worship. My sleep is Samadhi. My walk is circumambulation of you. My speech is your prayer. Thus do I offer all that I am to you.
OM NANA SIVAYA
