Source
KAUAI, HAWAII, March 9, 2013 (Hinduism Today): Mahasivaratri is the most
important festival dedicated to Lord Siva. This holy day, which takes place
on March 9 this year, is observed by millions of Hindus all over the world.
It is one of Hinduism's most esoteric holy days, when yoga practices,
mantras and meditation take the devotee closer to God's essence within the
core of himself. Hindus typically fast, maintain silence and stay up all
night to perform spiritual practices, such as worshiping, chanting and singing.
In some regions, devotees visit as many Siva temples as they can on this
night.
Who is Siva?
For hundreds of millions of Hindus Siva is the Supreme Being, the absolute
One God who both transcends creation and pervades it--thus existing as our
own innermost essence. Siva is the powerful Deity whose energetic dance
creates, sustains and dissolves the universe in endless cycles. He is the
master yogi delving into unfathomable mysteries, the supreme ascetic, the
prime mystic, the Light behind all light, the Life within all life. Siva is
often called Mahadeva, "Great Being of Light," for He created
other, lesser Gods such as Ganesha and Karttikeya. Although Siva is usually
depicted as male, in reality God and the Gods are beyond gender and form,
as depicted by His half-male, half-female form, Ardhanarishvara. Parvati,
regarded as Siva's consort in village Hinduism, is mystically understood as
His manifest energy, inseparable from Him. The ancient Tirumantiram
scripture says of Siva, "Himself creates. Himself preserves. Himself
destroys. Himself conceals. Himself all of this He does and then grants
liberation--Himself the all-pervading Lord."
What happens on Mahasivaratri?
Many Hindus perform an all-night vigil, plunging the soul into its own
essence, led by Siva, the supreme yogi, who is both the guide and the goal
of the search. Staying awake through the night is a sacrifice and a break
from life's normal routine, a time out of time to be with God within, to
reach for the realization of our true, immortal Self. Siva is known as
Abhisheka Priya, "He who loves sacred ablutions," and thus many
temples and home shrines have water always dripping on the Sivalinga. On
this special night, Sivalingas are bathed with special substances,
sometimes several times. Mahasivaratri occurs on the night before the new
moon in February/March.
What is the Sivalinga?
Linga means "mark, token or sign." A Sivalinga, representing
Siva, is found in virtually all of His temples. The Sivalinga is the
simplest and most ancient symbol of the Divine. It is especially evocative
of Parasiva, God beyond all forms and qualities, the unmanifested Absolute.
Sivalingas are commonly made of stone, but may also be of metal, precious
gems, crystal, wood, earth or even transitory materials like sand or ice.
Ardent devotees make special Sivalingas to worship during Mahasivaratri.
Is there a special mantra for Siva?
Namah Sivaya is among the foremost Vedic mantras. It means "adoration
to Siva" and is called the Panchakshara, or "five-letters."
The five elements, too, are embodied in this ancient formula for
invocation. Na is earth, Ma is water, Si is fire, Va is air, and Ya is
ether, or space.
Tidbits About Mahasivaratri
What is holy ash? Holy ash is a sacrament that is dear to devotees of Siva.
Taken from sacred fires, it purifies and blesses those who wear it. This
fine, white powder is worn on the forehead as a reminder of the temporary
nature of the physical body and the urgency to strive for spiritual
attainment and closeness to God.
What is the special offering to Siva? Hindus believe that offering bilva
leaves (Aegle marmelos) on Mahasivaratri is most auspicious. Legend tells
of a hunter who was chased by a tiger. Scrambling up a thorny tree, he
plucked and dropped its leaves to stay alert. The tree was a bilva, The
leaves happened to fall on a Sivalinga, and it was the night of Sivaratri.
That all-night worship of God, though inadvertent, earned the hunter
liberation from rebirth. Siva accepts devotees irrespective of their faults
and foibles, forgiving man's cognizant and innocent mistakes.
Fasting & Silence
While virtually every Hindu festival comes with a sumptuous list of foods
to feast on, during Mahasivaratri most Hindus fast. A spiritual practice
found in almost all of the world's religions, fasting calms the physical,
mental and emotional energies, helping the devotee draw nearer to the
ineffable Self within. While the most strict fast on nothing but water;
others permit themselves fruits, milk or rice.
Many observe silence on this night, thinking of nothing but God. Silence,
known in Sanskrit as mauna, quiets the demands of the mind and body,
bringing forth spiritual clarity.
In Hinduism, God is not separate from creation. A virtuous life and certain
techniques, such as yoga and ascetic practices, allow a person to remove
the veil that makes us think of ourselves as separate from Him.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment