Significance Of Shivrathri

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Significance Of Shivrathri

Maha Shivrathri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the
14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of
Phalguna (Feb/Mar) when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of
destruction.

Here're three reasons to celebrate Shivrathri:-

1. The absolute formless God, Sadashiv appeared in the form
of "Lingodbhav Moorti" exactly at midnight on Maha Shivrathri. That
is why all Shiv devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivrathri
and do "Shivlingam abhishekham" (coronation of the Phallic idol) at
midnight.

2. Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on Shivrathri.
Remember Shiva minus Parvathi is pure Nirgun Brahman. With his
illusive power, (Maya, Parvati) He becomes the "Sagun Brahman" for
the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees.

3. It is also believed that on Shivratri, Lord Shiva became
Neelkantham by swallowing the deadly poison that came up from the
ocean during the churning of "Kshir Sagar". The poison was so deadly
that even a drop in His stomach, which represents the universe, would
have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck,
which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Shivratri is
therefore also a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us
from annihilation.

The 14th shloka of Shivmahimna Stotra says: "O three eyed
Lord, when the poison came up through the churning of the Ocean by
the gods and demons, they were all aghast with fear as if the
untimely end of all creation was imminent. In your kindness, you
drank all the poison that still makes your throat blue. O Lord,
even this blue mark does increase your glory. What is apparently a
blemish becomes an ornament in one intent on ridding the world of
fear"

Many are the stories narrated in the Puranas about the efficacy of
the observance of this festival. The story of the king Chitrabhanu of
Ikshvaku dynasty is one. It is stated that during his previous birth
the king was a hunter by name Suswara and was eking out his
livelihood by hunting birds and animals and selling them. On a Shiva
Ratri day, he was roaming about in the forest and then shot a deer,
bur couldn't take his spoil home as he was overtaken by the darkness
of the night. He got upon a Bilva tree and kept awake the whole night
stricken with hunger and thirst. He had starved for the day and so
couldn't sleep in the night due to hunger. While keeping himself
awake for the whole night, he plucked leaves from the Bilva tree and
dropped them one by one to the ground. He never knew that there was a
Shiva Linga beneath the tree and the leaves he dropped fell on the
Linga. When the day dawned he went home, sold the deer and purchased
food for the family. He fed a stranger who begged him for food,
because of this virtuous deed that he performed, even if unknowingly,
two messengers of Shiva came to him at the hour of his death and
conducted his soul to the abode of Shiva. After enjoying divine bliss
for long, he was again reborn as king Chitrabhanu of Jambudwipa i.e.
India

According to another legend that finds mention in the Puranas, Brahma
and Vishnu, the two supreme Gods had a difference as regards their
supremacy. The matter was referred to Shiva for a verdict. Shiva,
then asked both the Gods to gauge the depth and measure the height of
his Linga. Vishu took the form of a boar and dived below to ascertain
the depth and Brahma on his swan vehicle scaled high to ascertain the
height. High above in the void Brahma came across a petal of Ketaki
flower drifting downwards. As it was falling from the top of the
Linga, He asked the petal about the further distance upward. The
petal couldn't answer since how many ages that it was drifting
downwards. Brahma refrained from going up and went to the nether
world to meet Vishnu. Showing the petal He claimed to have
ascertained the height of the Linga. At this false pretext, the petal
objected. As Brahma was exposed because of the disclosure of the
petal, He, in wrath, cursed – "From this day you would be unworthy
for the worship of Shiv". Vishnu, being pleased with her truthfulness
blessed saying, `On Shiva chaturdaphi you will be worthy for Shiva's
worship. Therefore only on this day Ketaki flower has the right to be
offered to the deity. On no other occasion the flower is ever used
for worship. Almost all the important shrines for Shiva bear festive
look during the festival- :"

Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba in one of his Shivrathri Discourse
says "You will be immensely benefited if you keep awake and sing
the glory of god at least on this night. The moon is the presiding
deity of the mind. The moon has 16 Kaalas (Phases).
On this Shivrathri, 15 Kaalas have already merged in God and only one
remains. By constant remembrance of god, even the 16th Phase merges
in god. So sanctify this precious night by participating in Bhajans.
The bliss that you get from bhajans, the sweetness in the divine
name, the happiness derived from visualizing the divine form cannot
be obtained elsewhere. Everything is possible only through love, so
cultivate love and sanctify your life……."

Bolo Bolo Sub Mil Bolo, Om Nama Shivaya
Om Nama Shivaya sai Om Nama Shiaaya
Parthi Purisa Prsanthinilaya Om Namshivaya
Om Namshivaya Sai Om Namshivaya
Shirdipuriswara Prashanthinilaya Om Namshiyasa
Bolo Bolo Sub Mil Bolo, Om Nama Shivaya