Mahashivaratri – Divine night of Lord Shiva’s meditation

The Hindu festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the Magh month, February 20th of this year. Mahashivaratri is the night of the Deity Shiva, the Deity of dissolution or the destroyer principle of God. Throughout the year Shiva accepts and destroys all spiritually negative frequencies (tamogun and halahal) from the Universe but on this night He goes into a deep meditative state for His own spiritual practice and so does not accept the negative frequencies. Thus there is an increase in these frequencies in the Universe on this night. For protection from the negative energies Lord Shiva’s chant “Om Namah Shivay’ is chanted on this day.

Some other functions of Lord Shiva are that He can create the universe merely by his own resolve. He can also completely destroy any spiritual ignorance about our true nature. He is the auspicious and prosperity-bestowing principle. During Mahashivaratri, devotees smear holy ash on Shiva’s forehead in three horizontal stripes. The stripes symbolise Absolute Knowledge, Purity and Penance which are the three principles of creation.

Another way to worship Lord Shiva is to wear rudraksh beads. The rudraksh is able to facilitate the absorption of Divine frequencies. The symbol of Lord Shiva, the Shivalinga (lingam) is worshiped at this time. While bathing the lingam in cold water, one can maintain the spiritual emotion (bhav) that this may wash one of all sins so that the scorching fire of worldliness may be put out once and for all, and so that one remains focused on God (Shiva) always. Circumbulation around the Shivalinga is also performed as part of the worship as well as chanting of sacred hymns and sprinkling of holy water.

Since the Shivalinga or lingam contains both Shiva and Shakti energy, it generates considerable heat. To prevent its adverse effects, an arrangement of a continuous flow of water is maintained on the lingam. The flowing stream of water is similar to an embodied soul in search of self-realization. If one chants continuously like the flowing stream of water; one eventually is able to progress beyond the barrier of time and attain God consciousness.

In observance of Mahashivaratri , we encourage all Hindus to chant ‘Om Namah Shivay’ in an endeavour towards a closer spiritual union between us and the God principle through regular spiritual practice. For more Divine information, please visit www.forumforhinduawakening.org
 

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