Significance of Mahashivratri

Ever assumed why is Shiva the topic of such deep wonder and worshipped so widely in India? Could Shiva be an real person? Does divinity possess a human form ? And would it be limited if that divinity remained in a human body?

Suppose we tell you that your life has a hint of Lord Shiva? What happens if we tell you that when you catch this certain aspect of life, then you can achieve Shiva? Would you trust if we tell you that Shiva is nothing but that deep state of calmness, peace and inner stability? 

Well, whether you trust it or not, it is true. Let’s research about Shiva, it’s symbolism, the essence and significance of Mahashivratri.

Our traditions, festivals and culture have a deeper significance. All of them are associated with a particular divine energy. This divine energy is given a name and form for us to understand the qualities, virtues and its blessings clearly. One among these energies, and the presiding power, is Shiva.

IS SHIVA A PERSON?

The word Shiva simply indicates mangalam (auspicious). Actually, the term Shiva has a much larger connotation which includes:

·         having the potential

·         being favorable or promising

·         boding well

·         being capable of.

 

Shiva can be split into:

·         Sha + ee + Va

·         Sha means shareeram  or body

·         ee  means eeshwari or life giving energy

·         Va means  vayu or motion.

 

If the ee is removed from Shiva, it gets reduced to sha+va or shava, which indicates a lifeless body. We also use the term shavasana in yoga, where one is unmoving and in an absolute state of rest.  

While Shava is lifeless or motionless , Shiva is with the potential of life. Anything with Shiva is with life and anything without Shiva is shava: lifeless. 

So, Shiva is auspicious, Shiva is potential and Shiva is life .Shiva is all-encompassing - the universal soul or consciousness. This awareness of the eternal truth that Shiva is an tattva, energy, leads to ananda, bliss.

However, for centuries, Lord Shiva’s form (pictorial depiction) has been glamorized by historians and enthusiast alike. A body smeared with ash, a tiger skin surrounding his loins, a crescent moon adorning his forehead, matted hair piled high on his head from where the holy river Ganga flows, one hand holding the trident, other embeded in a classical mudra. Often he is playing the dumroo as he is consumed in the cosmic dance. The third eye in between the eyebrows highlighting his strong handsomeness, snakes encircling his azure neck. This picture in its evocativeness has never failed to attract and arouse the curiosity within.

As several metaphors there have been to explain the aesthetic appearance of Shiva, there are more names to explain the qualities that he is known to personify. The 1008 names of Shiva only serve to represent his infinite and flexible nature, his unknowable secret, which is devoid of composite, polarities and synthesized. Yet, he is beyond definition or description .

 Lord Shiva can only be experienced and also lived through.

MAHASHIVRATRI: THE NIGHT OF SHIVA

The most spiritual festival of Shiva falls on the 14th night of the new moon, throughout the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna. This is some time in between February and March. This is Mahashivratri or the wonderful night of Shiva.  

Enthusiast of Shiva stay awake the whole night on this auspicious night of Shivratri. Some perform meditation, chant Vedic mantras or Rudram, practice sadhana and poojas. These spiritual practices bestow a sense of peace within us and unity with the world.

“Every Mahashivratri is indicated to awaken every particle of your body. The event is a wake-up call to move away from dispute and move towards peace, truth, beauty, and benevolence – the spiritual qualities of Shiva.”

WHY IS MAHASHIVRATRI CELEBRATED?

There are many stories around Shiva. While each of these stories is significant, Gurudev sheds light on the importance of Mahashivratri. He says, Shiva is not a person, but the very energy on which the whole creation rests. This energy pervades the entire world and is present within every living being. This energy is called the Shiva Tattva.

Meaning of Mahashivratri

Ratri implies that which gives rest, and comforts you. Night is when all activities stop. Every little thing is quiet and peaceful. The atmosphere becomes calm and the body naturally goes into rest/sleep mode. 

Ratri also means that which gives relief from the 3 types of problems: to the mind , problems to the body and to the soul - adhibhoutik, adhyatmik,  and adidaivik. When you are sleeping at night, you are not worried about water, food or clothing. All that you want is to rest, so that it gives you relief from the fears of the day. 

Therefore, the 3 types of peace are required, to even get that deep rest: first is material peace. If there is disturbance around you or fighting around you, then you can’t rest/sleep. Second, you need peace in the mind, body. Third, you need peace in the soul. Without any one of the three, deep rest is incomplete. So, that which gives rest from all three aspects- mental, physical and spiritual is night/ratri.  And Shivratri is the night of that transcendental divine consciousness, which brings solace to all layers of consciousness. This night is symbolic of the combining of Shiva and Shakti, making the environment more alive. Thus it is helpful to stay awake on Mahashivratri.

This night brings a sense of deep peacefulness and benevolence. Any meditation done on this day is a hundred times more effective.

It is also astrologically connected: when the sun and moon are in a particular alignment, it helps to raise the mind. Old seers said such days were gracious for spiritual practices. According to Indian astrology, there are specific days and time frames in a year that are conducive to spiritual development and meditation. Mahashivratri is one such day. 

Mahashivratri is the wedding of the spiritual and material. It is stated that the Shiva tattva (principle/ energy) is, usually, ten inches above the material ground. On this particular day, this consciousness come down and touches the earth element. It is a great time for our inner consciousness to come active within our body. That is why a spiritual seeker has a unique significance for Mahashivratri. When such subtle all-pervading energy unites with the earth, it helps achieve a deeper and improving experience of meditation.    

IMPORTANCE OF MEDITATION/ SADHANA ON MAHASHIVRATRI

Mahashivratri is a time to honor the Shiva tattva. Spiritual seekers and devotees of Lord Shiva meditate and enjoy in the Shiva energy. Shiva represents our soul, and tattva is a principle or fact. This is that time of year when we relax in the principle /truth of our soul. It means we are seeking the higher truths of life that are existing within us.

It is a time for sadhana, a deep rest for the mind, body and ego. That deep rest which awakens a devotee to the highest expertise of the Shiva Tattva.

Meditation provide us accessibility to something that is beyond the scope of the mind and intelligence. There is a point during meditation when we can experience space: a space of nothingness and love. This experience takes us to the 4th level of consciousness that is also called Shiva.

“When one has access to mystical realms via deep sadhana and detachment to the material globe, one ha the ability to experience the Ananda Tandava. There are multiple dimensions of presence. One who has acquired access to the subtle realms of development will find that the dance of Shiva is happening in a continuous continuum. This joyous dance of the cosmic rhythm can be enjoyed only after transcending the mind, body, intellect and ego complex.”

IN A NUTSHELL

·         It is believed that praying on Shiva on the day of Mahashivratri honors one with goodness and success as Shiva is admired as Mahadev.

·         Shiva is the sprit of every little thing. 

·         Mahashivratri is an event to remember the eternal truth of Shivoham, meaning ‘I am that principle. I am Shiva. I am the truth, beauty, eternity, benevolence.’ 

·         Mahashivratri is a New Year for spiritual seekers. It is considered as an auspicious day for spiritual development and material achievement. On this night, when the constellations are in a favourable position, it is really auspicious for meditation. Hence practicing meditation is considered to be the most essential aspect to experience the Shiva tattva.

·         In old days, people used to say if you cannot meditate regularly, even then do it at least once in a year. On Mahashivratri, stay awake and meditate. Wake the divinity that is within you. 

·         When we chant Vedic mantras, these mantras bring a huge change in the environment. It brings pureness to the atmosphere , bad karmas are destroyed, positivity is increased, and events dawns within and in nature. That is why Rudraabhishekam has been performed for thousands of years. It is suggested to listen /chant to Rudra Puja on Mahashivratri. 

·         Eating light food, meditating, chanting, realizing the presence of Shiva as a tattva permeating through the deep space and within us is the core of Mahashivratri.

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