Maha Shivaratri is an important Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate Lord Siva. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Phagun. The festival finds mention in the Skanda Puranam, Linga Puranam, Padma Puranam and Shiva Puranam. On this day the natural flow of cosmic energies are particularly potent. Shiva is believed to be the absolute timeless Supreme Being: the ultimate creator and destroyer, said Prof. Kumool Abbi.
Various cosmological legends and narratives reflecting the multiple, diverse beliefs are associated with the festival of the night. One legend celebrates Shivaratri as the night Shiva weds Parvati. In the Shavia tradition, it is held that the dance of creation, preservation and destruction is performed by Shiva on this night; the dance of cosmic, galactic particles throbbing and resonating with the divine rhythm, of creation and dissolution of infinite universes.
Another legend states that Shiva swallowed the halahala (poison) that was created during the churning of the ocean, to save creation. He held it in his neck which became blue, thus giving him the title of Neelakanth. Mahashivaratri honours this deed. It is also believed that on this day Shiva became one with Mount Kailas. He became like a mountain, absolutely still, in the yogic tradition considered as a adiyogi immersed in his own being. The Linga Purana states that on this day Shiva took the form of the Lingam, a column of light with no beginning and no end, to signify infinity. Semiologically, this festival celebrates the triumph over nesience, darkness and ignorance from the material world through knowledge and detachment. It also signifies the victory of wisdom and awareness over evil tendencies. Meditation on Shiva helps overcome obstacles in spiritual practices. Shiva is pure inner knowledge, reality, eternity, infinity, Holiness and Omnipresence. Shiva is satyam, Shivam, Sundaram: truth, consciousness, auspiciousness, purity and beauty.
The worship of Shiva, the Supreme energy, leads to a state of elation, of being immersed in meditative contemplation and absorption in one’s inner being. Mediating upon him leads to cutting the cord of material bondage. Obeisance is paid in the Jyotirlingam temples, including the ones at Varanasi and Somnath. The ceremonial abhishekam, of bathing the lingam with honey, water, milk yogurt and ghee is performed. Offerings of bilva leaves, sweets and milk are made and the sacred mantra, ‘Om nama: Shivaya’, is chanted and Shiv Chalis recited. Devotees fast and keep a vigil, praying all night.
Published – February 26, 2025 04:48 am IST
