MahaShivaratri, the holy day of worship of Lord Shiva
falls on 20th February, 2012. There is a fascinating story behind
this festival. And after learning the story, we will understand the need and
importance of preparing self for worshipping Lord Shiva and receiving His Grace
on this day.
Sati Devi, the daughter of DakshaPrajapati married
Lord Shiva after performing tapas and austerities. DakshaPrajapati did not like
Lord Shiva and was against Him. In order to insult Lord Shiva, he performed a
grand yagna to which he did not invite Lord Shiva. Sati Devi went to attend the
yagna but was insulted by Her father. Seeing the lack of respect Her father had
for Her Husband, Lord Shiva, She was grieved and enraged.
She invoked the
fire of tapas or austerities within Her and gave up the body which was given by
Her father. Nandi reported this tragedy to Lord Shiva who sent Virabhadra to
destroy the yagna. Lord Shiva was in great grief at the death of Sati Devi and
He carried Her dead body on His shoulder and roamed in Akash (space) for many
thousands of years. Then He moved on Earth wandering around the areas where
Sati Devi lived. The grief and pain of Lord Shiva seemed unending and He
refused to let go of the dead body of Sati Devi. Lord Narayana (Vishnu) saw
that the Creation was being affected by the lack of attention from Lord Shiva
and He took matters into His hands. With His sankalpa or intent, He sent the
Sudarshan chakra and cut the body of Sati Devi part by part into 52 parts and
each part fell at different places and formed a Shaktipeeth. Since the dead body
of Sati Devi was cut into pieces by Lord Narayana, She is also called Narayani.
The Shaktipeeths are power spots where worship of the Mother Goddess- Narayani
is performed.
Then Lord Shiva went into period of long, deep
meditation and the Mother Goddess was reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himavan
– the King of Himalayas. She too performed tapas and wedded Lord Shiva.
Shivaratri is the day of their wedding – the day when Shakti or the Universal Power
united with Lord Shiva. When the body does not have Shakti it becomes Shava or
dead. Shakti gives the power to the body and makes it Shiva or Consciousness. On this auspicious, holy night Lord Shiva
embraced Shakti/Parvati and united with Her.
With the union of Shiva with Shakti, blessings, powers and siddhis gushed
out from Lord Shiva. These were received by Gods, Asuras, Demons and Men as per
their nature, needs and preparedness to receive. All those who sought union
with Shiva Consciousness were rewarded with boons of strength and siddhis.
Hence on this day, we are advised to bathe, have a light diet of milk and
fruits and focus on Shiva and Shakti all day and worship Shiva. When we keep
ourselves ready and prepared, the Grace of Lord Shiva and Shakti flows into us
and we are blessed.
The festival of MahaShivaratri is a day and night
worship of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is the Primeval Energy which keeps the Universe
in balance. When Lord Shiva unites with Shakti, He is the creator. In the form
of MahaKaal, He is the destroyer of all that is created. Lord Shiva is the
MahaYogi. He is Mahadeva. He is Chandrashekar. He carries the Ganges on His
head and also the Moon. In His Tandava dance, He reveals the Primordial
Conception, Sustenance and Destruction. He is the Aghori. He is Dakshinamurthy
– the Adi Guru.
On this day of MahaShivaratri, we, the disciples of
the path of Kundalini Maha Yoga should mentally focus on the ParamGuru who is
verily the form of Lord Narayana, Lord Shiva and Shakti and do japa and
meditation of SitaRam Mantra. The Rama Mantra is very dear to Lord Shiva and he
does the continuous japa of Rama Mantra. The Rama Mantra carries the energies
of Lord Narayana as Rama is an incarnation of Lord Narayana. Worship of Lord
Narayana bestows the Grace of Devi Narayani.
So we must prepare ourselves by body, mind and soul to
receive the Grace of Lord Shiva and Shakti. After bath, wear clean and fresh
clothes and light the lamp or candle. Offer incense to God. Sit on the asan and
thinking of ParamGuru, Lord Shiva and Shakti do the japa of SitaRam Mantra. Maa
Sita is Shakti Herself and Rama is ParaBrahman – the Absolute. Surrender to
Divinity mentally and emotionally and do the japa. Lord Shiva has Himself told
Devi Parvathi that the Rama Nama bestows all the treasures of the Universe
including the Knowledge of Self and Ultimate Grace. Paying respects to the
advice of Lord Shiva, let us all do the japa of SitaRam Mantra and receive the
blessings of Lord Shiva and Shakti.
