Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva.

It is
also known as padmarajarathri. Alternate common names/spellings include Maha
Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivaratri. Shivaratri literally means the great night
of Shiva or the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the
Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar. Since many different calendars are
followed by various ethno-linguistic groups of India, the month and the Tithi name are
not uniform all over India. Celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha(waning
moon) of the month of Maagha according to the Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama or
Phalguna according to the Vikrama era.[2][3] The festival is principally celebrated by
offerings of Bael or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-nightlong vigil. In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are
performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach
life's summum bonum steadily and swiftly. A week-long International Mandi Shivratri
Fair held at Mandi in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh every year is one of the major
tourist attractions in the state.[4]

Contents

1 Legends
2 Pralaya (the Deluge)
3 The Lord Shiva's Favourite Day
4 The Story Of King Chitrabhanu
5 Rituals of Maha Shivratri
o 5.1 Other Traditional Worship of Lord Shiva
6 Shivaratri in India
o 6.1 International MahaShivratri Fair
o 6.2 Mahashivaratri in Central India
o 6.3 Mahashivaratri in Southern India
o 6.4 Sahasrakalasabishekam
o 6.5 Sivarathri Nrutham
o 6.6 Mahasivarathri Procession
o 6.7 Panchaakshari
o 6.8 Rudrabhisheka'
o 6.9 Mysticism
7 References

8 External links

Legends
Hindus celebrate Mahashivratri, because according to Vedic Literatures ; there is a legend
associated with Samudra Manthan (churning of ocean), a process in which the asuras
(demons) and the gods joined hands to churn out amrut(nectar) from the depths of the
ocean, using a mountain as a churn-dash and a snake as a rope. The devas( deities) and
the asuras (demons) counterparts were churning for a nectar of immortality.[5] Among
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many things that came out, a pot of poison came out of the ocean. This poison was so
potent that it has the power to destroy the whole universe. The problem that arose was
that the poison could not be discarded, it had to be drunk by one of the devas or asuras.
No one wanted to drink the poison because they all felt that they were too valuable or
sacred to drink it. Shiva, upon the request of the gods, came forward in a calm disposition
and said that he would drink the Halahala (poison) for the sake of his family to sustain
peace and allow them to find the nectar of immortality. By drinking the Halahala, he
eliminated its destructive capacity.[5] Shocked by his act, Goddess Parvathi strangled his
neck and hence managed to stop it in his neck itself and prevent it from spreading all over
the universe supposed to be in Shiva's stomach. However the poison was so potent that it
changed the color of His neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called
Neelkanta.. After drinking the poison, Shiva went to the Himalayas to meditate. The
nectar of immortality was found, and the asuras tried to steal it from the devas. They
wanted to become more powerful than the devas to be able to destroy them. After a
series of divine interventions, the devas emerged as the winners and received the gift of
immortality. By drinking the poison, Shiva sacrificed himself for the safety of his family
and humanity.[5]

Pralaya (the Deluge)

Another version relates that the whole world was facing destruction and Goddess Parvati
worshipped her husband Shiva to save it. She prayed for the jivs (living souls) remaining
in se - like particles of gold dust in a lump of waxduring the long period of pralaya
(deluge) night, that they should, upon becoming active again. Have His blessings, but
only if they worshipped him just as she did. Her prayer was granted. Parvati named the
night for the worship of Ishwar by mortals Maha-Sivaratri, or the great night of Shiva,
since Pralaya is brought about by Him.om

The Lord Shiva's Favourite Day

After creation was complete, Parvati asked Lord Shiva which devotees and rituals
pleased him the most. The Lord replied that the 14th night of the new moon, in the dark
fortnight during the month of Phalgun, is his most favourite day. Parvati repeated these
words to her friends, from whom the word spread over all creation.

The Story Of King Chitrabhanu

Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole
of Jambudvipa (India), was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha
Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.
The sage asked the king the purpose of his observing the fast. King Chitrabhanu
explained that he had a gift of remembering the incidents of his past birth, and in his
previous life he had been a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only
livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. The day before the new moon, while
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roaming through forests in search of animals, he saw a deer, but before his arrow flew he
noticed the deer's family and their sadness at its impending death. So he let it live. He had
still not caught anything when he was overtaken by nightfall and climbed a tree for
shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. His canteen leaked water, so he was both hungry
and thirsty. These two torments kept him awake throughout the night, thinking of his poor
wife and children who were starving and anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away
the time he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto
the ground.
The next day he returned home and bought some food for himself and his family. The
moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He
served the food first to stranger and then had his own.
At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva, sent to conduct his soul to
the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned
by unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The messengers
told him that there had been a Lingam (a symbol for the worship of Shiva) at the bottom
of the tree. The leaves he dropped had fallen on the Lingam, in imitation of its ritual
worship. The water from his leaky canteen had washed the Lingam (also a ritual action),
and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously had worshipped the Lord.
As the conclusion of the tale the King said that he had lived in the abode of the Lord and
enjoyed divine bliss for a long time before being reborn as Chitrabhanu. This story is
narrated in the Garuda Purana.[6]
Sivaratri means night of Lord Siva. The important features of this religious function
are rigid fasting for twentyfour hours and sleepless vigil during the night. Every true
devotee of Lord Siva spends the night of Sivaratri in deep meditation, keeps vigil and
observes fast.
The worship of Lord Siva consists in offering flowers, Bilva leaves and other gifts on the
Linga which is a symbol of Lord Siva, and bathing it with milk, honey, butter, ghee, rosewater, etc.
When creation had been completed, Siva and Parvati had been living on the top of Kailas.
Parvati asked: O venerable Lord, which of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth
please Thee most? Lord Siva replied: The thirteenth night of the new moon, Krishna
Paksha, in the month of Phalguna (FebruaryMarch) is known as Sivaratri, My most
favourable Tithi. My devotee gives Me greater happiness by mere fasting than by
ceremonial baths, and offerings of flowers, sweets, incense, etc.
Just hear, My Beloved, of an episode which will give you an idea of the glory and power
of this ritual, said Lord Shiva to Parvati.
Once upon a time, there lived in the town of Varanasi a hunter. He was returning from
the forest one evening with the game birds he had killed. He felt tired and sat at the foot
of a tree to take some rest. He was overpowered by sleep. When he woke up, it was all

thick darkness of night. It was the night of Sivaratri but he did not know it, He climbed
up the tree, tied his bundle of dead birds to a branch and sat up waiting for the dawn. The
tree happened to be My favourite, the Bilva.
There was a Linga under that tree. He plucked a few leaves dropped them down. The
night-dew trickled down from his body. I was highly pleased with involuntary little gifts
of the hunter. The day dawned and the hunter returned to his house.
In course of time, the hunter fell ill and gave up his last breath. The messengers of
Yama(Hinduism) arrived at his bedside to carry his soul to Yama(Hinduism). My
messengers also went to the spot to take him to My abode. There was a severe fight
between Yamas messengers and My messengers. The former were easily defeated. They
reported the matter to their Lord. He presented himself in person at the portals of My
abode. Nandi gave him an idea of the sanctity of Sivaratri and the love which I had for
the hunter. Yama surrendered the hunter to Me and returned to his abode. Thereafter,
Yama has pledged not to touch my devotees without my consent.
The hunter was able to enter My abode and ward off death by simple fasting and
offering of a few Bilva leaves, however involuntary it might be because it was the night
of Sivaratri. Such is the solemnity and sacredness associated with the night.
Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Siva on the sanctity and glory of the
ritual. She repeated it to Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on
earth. Thus was the sanctity of Sivaratri broadcast all over the world.
<http://www.dlshq.org/download/lordsiva.htm>

Rituals of Maha Shivratri

From the very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, young and old, who
come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship (puja) and hence hope for favours
from the god. Devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water
source (like the Shiva Sagartank at Khajurao). This is a purificatory rite, an important
part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing a clean piece of clothing after the holy bath,
worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. They offer prayers
to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva.Women pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons.
An unmarried woman prays for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal
husband. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of Shankerji ki Jai
meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circumambulate the linga, three or seven times, and then
pour water over it. Some also pour milk.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:

Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey, and Wood apple or bel leaves
added to it, representing purification of the soul;
The vermilion paste applied on the Shiv Linga after bathing it, representing
virtue;
4

Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;

Burning incense, yielding wealth;
The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Tripundra refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead by
worshippers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge, purity and
penance (spiritual practice of Yoga), so also they represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.[7]
Wearing a rosary made from the rudraksha seed of the rudraksha tree (said to have sprung
from the tears of Lord Shiva) when worshipping Lord Shiva is ideal. A rudraksha seed is
a mahogany-like color, sometimes black, and sometimes may have traces of sacred
sandalwood powder, turmeric, kumkum, or holy ash if the rosary was used in worship
ceremonies or anointed.

Other Traditional Worship of Lord Shiva

Main article: Jyotirlinga
The twelve Jyotirlingas (lingams of light) are sacred shrines of Lord Shiva, and centres
for his worship. They are known as Swayambhus, meaning the lingams sprung up by
themselves at these places and temples were built there afterwards.
Temples are listed in the India tourist guides.

Shivaratri in India
International MahaShivratri Fair
Main article: Mandi Shivaratri Fair
The Mandi festival or fair is particularly famous as the special fair transforms Mandi
town into a venue of grand celebration when all gods and goddesses, said to be more than
200 deities of the Mandi district assemble here, starting with the day of Shivaratri. Mandi
town located on the banks of the Beas River, popularly known as the "cathedral of
temples", is one of the oldest towns of Himachal Pradesh with about 81 temples of
different gods and goddesses in its periphery. There are several legends linked to the
celebration of this event. The festival is centred around the protector deity of Mandi
"Mado Rai" (Lord Vishnu) and Lord Shiva of the Bhootnath temple in Mandi.[4][8][9] This
festival is celebrated with great fervor here and it is not uncommon to see many foreign
tourists throng to this region especially to partake in the Maha Shivratri celebrations in
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Mahashivaratri in Central India

Central India has a large number of Shiva followers. The Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain
is one of the most venerated shrines consecrated to Lord Shiva where a large
congregation of Shiva devotees turns up every year to offer prayers on the day of Maha
Shivratri. Tilwara Ghat in the city of Jabalpur and the Math Temple in the village of
Jeonara, Seoni are two other places where the festival is celebrated with much religious
fervour.

Mahashivaratri in Southern India

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated widely in the temples all over Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Shiva is considered the Adi (first) Guru from whom the yogic
tradition originates. According to tradition, the planetary positions on this night are such
that there is a powerful natural upsurge of energy in the human system. It is said to be
beneficial for one's physical and spiritual well-being to stay awake and aware throughout
the night.On this day, artists from various fields such as music and dance perform the
whole night.

Sahasrakalasabishekam
This is a very special and rare puja conducted during 10 days of Maha Sivarathri festival.
It is well known that Lord Siva is abhishekapriya (lover of ablutions). Lord Parasurama
and Kroshta Muni, during their worship of the Lord here, are believed to have bathed the
deity with Sahasrakalasam or a thousand pots of holy water according to Vedic rites. Now
during Mahasivarathri festival days the Head Priest (Thanthri) and his team perform this
puja. It is a ten day function, each day an offering of 101 Kalasam or pots of holy water
(100 being made of silver, while one is made of gold), surcharged with mantras recited by
learned Brahmins seated on the Mukhamantapam. These are emptied on the deity, the
golden pot Brahmakalasam being the last one. A magnificent light is the indication or
identity of Lord Shiva and the Shiva Lingam is considered to be the symbol of it. Hence,
the formal worship on Maha Shivaratri consists of bathing the Shiva Lingam. Lord Shiva
is said to be burning with the fire of austerity and so only those items are offered to Him
that have a cooling effect. A cool water bath is believed to propitiate Him best. There is a
belief among devotees that participation in Sahasrakalasam and offering holy worship
materials, will lead to blessings with prosperity and peaceful life. Hundreds of devotees
thronging the shrine with chants of Namah Shivaya, Hara hara Mahadeva, and
Sambho Mahadeva...

Sivarathri Nrutham
Sivarathri Nrutham at Thrikkuratti temple, according to religious scholars, resembles the
cosmic dance of Shiva, called Anandatandava,' meaning, the Dance of Bliss
symbolizing the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of
birth and death. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of
eternal energy - creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion.

The Priest keeps sheeveli vigraha (idol) fixed on decorated frame on his head. He makes
seven rounds on Pradakshina Vazhi (holy walkway made of granite around Sanctum
Santorum). When the fifth round is reached at the west nada (Parvathi nada), the door
opens for just 10 minutes. This is an annual ceremony. Thousands of Pilgrims rush to
have a glance of this auspicious moment. At this time all the pradakshina vazhi will be lit
with camphor and brass temple lamps by thousands of devotes who stay awake through
the night while chanting Nama Sivaya, Hara Hara Mahadeva and Sambho
Mahadeva. Older devotees sing Hara sankara siva sankara duritham kala sivane. In
this enlightened serene mood, the Priest performs Nrutham and runs the pradakshina
vazhi towards the east nada. During the next two rounds he accepts Valiya kanikka.
The Sivarathri Nrutham is followed by the well known magnificent display of fireworks.

Mahasivarathri Procession
On Sivarathri day evening a grand procession starts from Kadapra Kainikkara Temple. It
includes, several decorated floats, Kaavadi Aaatam, Mayilattom, Amman Kudom,
Thaiyyam, Vela Kali, Kuthiyotta Chuvadu, richly caparisoned elephants and folk art
forms etc. attracts thousands of devotees and tourists. When the main procession reaches
Market Junction, other mini processions from Kurattikkadu Mutharamman Temple,
Kurattissery Kannamkavil Mutharamman Temple, Thrippavoor Mahavishnu Temple,
Vishavarsherikkara Subrahmanya Swami temple, Sreekaryam Maliekal Rajan temple,
and Alumoodu Sivaparvathy Temple joins and makes the procession quite livening. The
marvellous as well as magical effect of the Sinakari melam and Panchavadyam, a
combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be felt and enjoyed. Among
the varieties of festivals celebrated in Kerala, Thrikkuratti Sivarathri Procession is one of
the most thunderous, spectacular and dazzling. It is an expression of popular fascination
for sound and colour, and because of the pageantry, it appeals to all people including
foreigners. Once the procession reaches the temple, Deeparadhana is followed by
colourful display of fireworks.

Panchaakshari
Shiva, as the god of destroying evil, is the third among the divine trinity of Hindu
mythology. The holy mantra consisting of five-syllables: "Na" "Ma" "Shi" "Vaa" "Ya"
(Om NamaH Shivaaya) in praise of Lord Shiva is chanted incessantly on special
occasions like Shivaratri. His thousands of names, each of which describe His greatness,
may also be chanted. Shiva means "auspicious". As Shankara, He is the giver of
happiness to all. Nataraja (the king of dancers) is a favourite form adored by dancers and
musicians.

Rudrabhisheka'
There is a special mantra in the Vedas, (the most ancient scripture in the history of human
race and which forms the fountain-head of the Hindu culture) - Rudra Sukta (Rudri) which is recited by Bramhan/pundits while they offer a holy bath to Shiva-lingam. Which
are the symbol of Lord Shiva, with the waters of sacred rivers like the Ganges, Cow milk,
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Curd, Ghee, Honey and Sugar powder. This ritual is known as "Rudrabhisheka".
Rudrabhisheka of the Shiv lingam is an important part of Shiva-puja.

Mysticism
According to the mystic mythology of the Puraanaas, the Kailasa peak of the Himalayas
is the abode of Shiva and He bears the Ganges on His head. As the Lord of creatures, He
is metaphorically called as Pashupathi (with Nandi, the bull, His favourite animal) and
His fearless nature is euphemised as Sarpabhushana. Shiva's posture in the meditation is
ascribed to Him as the head of Yogis (Yogiraja) who practises various spiritual feats to
attain salvation. Lord Shiva's divine consort, Goddess Parvati (who is also the daughter of
Himalaya), is the deity of strength.

Shivaratri
by Swami Sivananda

THIS FALLS on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (FebruaryMarch). The name means the night of Shiva. The ceremonies take place chiefly
at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva was married to
Parvati on this day.
People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop
of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout
the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc.,
whilst the chanting of the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings of

bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said,
Lakshmi resides in them.
Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra of
Pushpadanta or Ravanas Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung with great fervour and
devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya. He who
utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and
concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives
there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims
flock to the places where there are Shiva temples.

The Story Of King Chitrabhanu

In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of
arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri
by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows.
LORD SHIVA
Om Namah Shivaya
Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the
whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha
Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.
The sage asked, O king! why are you observing a fast today?
King Chitrabhanu explained why. He had the gift of remembering the incidents of
his previous birth.
The king said to the sage: In my past birth I was a hunter in Varanasi. My name
was Suswara. My livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day I was
roaming the forests in search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of
night. Unable to return home, I climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a
bael tree. I had shot a deer that day but I had no time to take it home. I bundled it
up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As I was tormented by hunger and thirst, I
kept awake throughout the night. I shed profuse tears when I thought of my poor
wife and children who were starving and anxiously awaiting my return. To pass
away the time that night I engaged myself in plucking the bael leaves and
dropping them down onto the ground.

The day dawned. I returned home and sold the deer. I bought some food for
myself and for my family. I was about to break my fast when a stranger came to
me, begging for food. I served him first and then took my food.
At the time of death, I saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down
to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. I learnt then for the first time of
the great merit I had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the
night of Shivaratri. They told me that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the
tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. My tears which I had shed out of
pure sorrow for my family fell onto the Lingam and washed it. And I had fasted all
day and all night. Thus did I unconsciously worship the Lord.
I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages. I am now
reborn as Chitrabhanu.

Spiritual Significance of the Ritual

The Scriptures record the following dialogue between Sastri and Atmanathan,
giving the inner meaning of the above story.
Sastri: It is an allegory. 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. Do you remember the name
of the hunter in the story?
Atmanathan: Yes, he was called Suswara.
Sastri: Thats right. It means melodious. The hunter had a pleasant melodious
voice. 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. This stage has been spoken of in detail in the Swetaswatara
Upanishad. The hunter or the Yogi had for many years practised Yoga and had
reached the first stage. So he is given the name Suswara. Do you remember
where he was born?
Atmanathan: Yes, his birthplace is Varanasi.
Sastri: Now, the Yogis call the Ajna Chakra by the name Varanasi. 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

10

aspirant is instructed to concentrate on that point. That helps him to conquer his
desires and evil qualities like anger and so on. It is there that he gets a vision of
the Divine Light within.
Atmanathan: Very interesting! But how do you explain his climbing up the bael
tree and all the other details of the worship?
Sastri: Have you ever seen a bael leaf?
Atmanathan: It has three leaves on one stalk.
Sastri: True. The tree represents the spinal column. The leaves are threefold.
They represent the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis, which are the regions for
the activity of the moon, the sun and fire respectively, or which may be thought of
as the three eyes of Shiva. The climbing of the tree is meant to represent the
ascension of the Kundalini Shakti, the serpentine power, from the lowest nerve
centre called the Muladhara to the Ajna Chakra. That is the work of the Yogi.
Atmanathan: Yes, I have heard of the Kundalini and the various psychic centres
in the body. Please go on further; I am very interested to know more.
Sastri: Good. The Yogi was in the waking state when he began 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 determined to keep awake.
Atmanathan: That is now clear to me; you certainly do explain it very well. But
why did he weep for his wife and children?
Sastri: His wife and children are none other than the world. One who seeks the
Grace of God must become an embodiment of love. He must have an allembracing sympathy. His shedding of tears is symbolical of his universal love. In
Yoga also, one cannot have illumination without Divine Grace. Without practising
universal love, one cannot win that Grace. One must perceive ones own Self
everywhere. The preliminary stage is to identify ones 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, not earlier.
Atmanathan: Why did he pluck and drop the bael leaves?
Sastri: That is mentioned in the story only to show that he had no extraneous
thoughts. He was not even conscious of what he was doing. All his activity was

11

confined to the three Nadis. The leaves, I have said before, represent the three
Nadis. He was in fact in the second state, namely, the dream state, before he
passed into the deep sleep state.
Atmanathan: He kept vigil the whole night, it is said.
Sastri: Yes, that means that he passed through the deep sleep state successfully.
The dawning of day symbolises the entrance into the Fourth state called Turiya
or superconsciousness.
Atmanathan: It is said that he came down and saw the Lingam. What does that
mean?
Sastri: That means that in the Turiya state he saw the Shiva Lingam or the mark
of Shiva in the form of the inner lights. 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 Shiva in course of time.
Atmanathan: So it appears from what you say that the sight of the lights is not the
final stage?
Sastri: Oh no! That is only one step, albeit a difficult one. Now think of how the
story continues. He goes home and feeds a stranger. A stranger is one whom
you have not seen before. The stranger is no other than the hunter himself,
transformed into a new person. The food was the likes and dislikes which he had
killed the previous night. But he did not consume the whole of it. A little still
remained. That was why he had to be reborn as King Chitrabhanu. Going to the
world of Shiva (Salokya) is not enough to prevent this. There are other stages
besides Salokya. These are Samipya, Sarupya and finally Sayujya. Have you not
heard of Jaya and Vijaya returning from Vaikunta?
Atmanathan: Yes, I have understood now.
Lord Shivas Assurance
When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live on the top
of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, O venerable Lord! which of the many rituals
observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?
The Lord replied, The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight during
the month of Phalgun, is my most favourite day. It is known as Shivaratri. My
devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths
and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense.
The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships Me in
four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the

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night. The offering of a few bael leaves is more precious to Me than the precious
jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the first period, in curd
at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last.
Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins first and, after performing the
prescribed ceremonies, he can break his fast. O Parvati! there is no ritual which
can compare with this simple routine in sanctity.
Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Loid Shiva. She repeated it to
Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus was
the sanctity of Shivaratri broadcast all over the world.
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 devotees 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 Shiva Lingam is conducted. Shivaratri is a
perfect Vrata.
The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is considered to be
the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam represents). He is burning with the fire
of austerity. He is therefore best propitiated with cool bathing. While bathing the
Lingam the devotee prays: O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water, milk, etc. 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 Theethe One alone without a second.
Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily: I worship the jewel of my Self, the
Shiva residing in the Lotus of my heart. I bathe Him with the water of my pure
mind brought from the river of faith and devotion. I worship Him with the fragrant
flowers of Samadhiall this so that I may not be born again in this world.
Here is another formula for the supreme worship of the Lord: O Shiva! 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.

SIVA, THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

by
Swami Adhyatmanada

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Siva is Universe. Lord Siva is the Lord of the Universe. He is known as Jagat
Pati. He is Jagat Guru (Universal Teacher) also. He is the destroyer of Tripura
(three cities) which symbolizes with three Gunas like Anger, Lust and Greed.
He is known as Uma Shankar, Gauri Shankar. He is full of light power and
wisdom (Jyoti, Shakti and Jnana). Siva is Bliss. He is Yogi of the Yogis. Also he is
known as Mahadev, Shankara, Hara, Shambhu, Sadashiv, Rudra, Sulapani,
Bhairava, Uma Maheshwar, Nilkantha, Chandrashekhar, Ardhanareshwar,
Maheshwara, Nilalohita, Param Siva, Digambara, Dakshinamani, etc. Siva in
Holy Sri Siva Puran is being explained with thousands of names and each of his
names has meaning and which describes the great glory of him.
Siva is an embodiment of renunciation, mercy, love and wisdom. Unfortunately
GOD world is being described G for Generator, O for Organizer and D for
Destroyer. The Lord Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are known for these
acts. Its a great mistake to say that he is the destroyer. Lord Siva in reality is the
Re-generator. Whenever ones physical body becomes unfit by disease, old age
or other causes, it is He the one who removes this rotten physical sheath and
gives a new, healthy, rigorous body for further quick evolution. He wants to take
all his childrens to his Lotus feet quickly. He desires to give them the grace of
SIVA PADA. It is easier to please Siva than Hari. A little prem or devotion, a
little chanting of his divine name is quite sufficient to infuse delight in Siva. He
gives boons to his devotees quite readily. He gave shastra (a missile presided
over by him) to Arjuna, without any difficulty for his little penance. He gave a
precious boon to Bhasmasura. In Kalahasti near Tirupati. He gave vision to a
devotee hunter who plucked his two eyes to replace the weeping eyes of an idol.
Even the untouchable Pariah Saint Nanda had darshan of Lord Siva. He ran with
tremendous speed to make the boy Markandaya immortal when he was in the
clutches of the God of Death, Yama King of Sri Lanka the famous Ravan pleased
him with SAMA Chantings.
He initiated the four virgin youths Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and
Sanatkumar into the mysteries of Jnana in the form of Guru, Dakshinamurti.
Once he assumed the form of a boy and carried earth on his head for a devoted
lady for the sake of sweetmeat as wages when an anicut was erected in the
Vaigai River. Look at the unbounded mercy for his devotees, when Brahma and

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the Lord went to find out the head and feet of Lord Siva. He assumed the form of
an infinite, expensive blare of light Jyotirmay Svaroopa. They were baffled in
their attempts. How magnanimous and self effulgent he is.
Lord Siva is the Lord of ascetics and Lord of Yogines robed in space. His Trishul
(trident) that is held in his right hand represents the three Gunas (Virtues) Sattva,
Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of sovereignty. He rules the world through
the three Gunas. The Damaru (drum) in his left hand represents Sabda Brahma.
It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is he, who formed the
Sanskrit Language out of the Damaru Sound Pranava or Om denotes the
external form of the Lord (like Paddy i.e. rice with husk) and Panchakshar and
Panchakshara are one. The five letters Na Mah Si Va Ya (Panchakshara)
denote the five actions or pancha kriyas of the Lord, viz. Srishti (creation), Stithi
(Preservation), Samhara (Destruction), Tirodhana (Veiling) and Anugraha
(Blessing), also the five elements and all creations through the combination of
the five elements.
In the worship of Lord Siva there is no distinction of caste and creed. The
devotees of Lord Siva, served the poor, nursed the sick, helped the down
trodden. They never knew any philosophy nor they knew any Vedanta or they
hardly had any formal education, but they had total surrender and dedication
towards Lord Siva. May we too remember him at all the times, in all conditions
and abide in him. Who is Bliss Absolute.
Om Namah Sivaya!

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