Monday, March 20, 2000
Maha Shivaratri
Anita Thakur and Nalini RaoAnita Thakur and Nalini Rao are crusading to keep the rich Indian cultural heritage alive through their research and writings. |
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 This year the Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri was celebrated on 4 March 2000. Shivaratri, literally 'the great night of Shiva' is celebrated on the moonless night of the month of Phalguna, which is the fourteenth day in the dark half. This festival is especially dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer. Its a grand occasion for a Shiva 'Bhakt', or devotee. They observe a fast the whole day, worship Shivalinga and keep 'jagaran' (vigil) the whole night.
Shiva is an ancient deity. Among the Hindu triumvirate, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is considered the destroyer (Trident force). Shiva is also known as, Trilochana, the three-eyed deity. The third eye is known as the eye of wisdom. According to some he was married to Parvati on this day. Lord Shiva's attire consists of deer's skin wrapped around his body; he wears snakes for ornaments and ash on his forehead. He holds a Trishul or trident in his hand, which represents the three gunas, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas.
On the morning of Maha Shivaratri, devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water source (like the Shiva Sagartank at Khajuraho). They offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. This is a purifying rite, an important part of all Hindu festivals. After the holy bath they attire in a fresh set of clothes.
 Next comes a visit to the temples with a pot of water to bathe the Shiva Lingam. Some prefer to set up a small Shiva Lingam at home itself. The worship of Shiva Lingam continues during the day and into the night. It is washed every three hours with milk, yoghurt, honey, rose water, etc., accompanied with puja, meditation and chanting of the Mantra --'Om Namah Shivaya'. Leaves of a forest tree Aegle marmelos (bilwa, maredu, wood apple) are traditionally used for puja. Bilwa leaves, which have to be a stalk with three leaves, is kept on top of the Shivalinga after bathing the Shivalinga. Ber or jujube fruit is a special offering to the god on this day. Beetle leaves are also offered by some. Some also offer bilwa leaves on the belief that the Goddess Lakshami resides in them. Others believe it is offered for its cooling effects on the hot tempered deity.
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:
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?"
The King who had the gift of remembering the incidents from his previous birth explained why, "In my past birth I was a hunter in Varanasi. My name was Suswara and I fended for my family by killing and selling birds and animals. One day I was roaming the forests in search of animals. I was overtaken by the darkness of the 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 probably 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. The 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."
According to another legend in the Shiva Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over who was the superior of the two? Horrified at the intensity of the battle, the other gods asked Shiva to intervene. To make them realise the futility of their fight, Shiva assumed the form of a huge column of fire in between Brahma and Vishnu. Awestruck by its magnitude, they decided to find one end each to establish supremacy over the other. Brahma assumed the form of a swan and went upwards and Vishnu as Varaha went into the earth. But light has no limit and though they searched for thousands of miles, neither could find the end. On his journey upward, Brahma came across a Ketaki flower wafting down slowly. When asked where she had come from, the Ketaki replied that she had been placed at the top of the fiery column as an offering. Unable to find the uppermost limit, Brahma decided to end his search and take the flower as a witness. At this, the angry Shiva revealed his true form. He punished Brahma for telling a lie, and cursed him that no one would ever pray to him. The Ketaki flower too was banned from being used as an offering for any worship, as she had testified falsely. Since it was on the 14th day in the dark half of the month of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a linga, the day is especially auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivaratri. Worshipping Shiva on this day is believed to bestow one with happiness and prosperity.
Unlike most other festivals, where after performing the puja of the deity a feast follows, on this day, after performing the rituals of the puja, the devotees fast the whole day and the worship continues throughout the night. Some people do not consume even a drop of water. In the evening people generally go to the nearby temple where in company of many others they listen to recital of legends and their meanings, listening to discourses in praise of Lord Shiva and related stories to this festival.
There can be various motivations to observe the Shivaratri Vrata (fast). Vrata means, 'to will' or 'to choose'. Its a vow or sacrifice in which one offers penance or worldly goods to God, as gratitude or petition for fulfilling some desire!
Shiva being an ascetic god, Mahashivaratri is very popular with ascetics. The devout often consume Thandai, a drink made of a blend of cannabis, almonds and milk, because cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva!! Many Hindi movies and TV serials show 'bhang stalls' outside the Shiva Temples. The popular Hindi movie had Rajesh khanna and Mumtaj singing "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar..." after consuming thandai outside a Shiva temple!
The Puranas contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. According to one, during the samudra manthan, a pot of Poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the gods and demons, as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world. They ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from its evil effects, Shiva drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. Because of it, his throat turned blue, and he was given the name 'Neelakantha', the blue-throated one. Shivaratri is also known to be a celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world.
Shivaratri celebration in States:
Phalguna is a peculiar month. Immediately after Mahashivaratri, almost like a miracle, the trees are full of flowers as if to announce that after winter, the fertility of the earth has been rejuvenated. And this perhaps is the reason why the linga is worshipped throughout India as a symbol of fertility. The festivities differ in various parts of India. In southern Karnataka, for example, children make believe that they are kings and dole out punishments to all and sundry. The tradition is based on the mythological incident of Shiva punishing Brahma for lying.
Sacred Chariot of Gokarna, Karnataka.
I read about this on Harry Peronius's site at http://www.bahnhof.se/~harryper/ In the words of Harry, "Each year a team builds up the huge chariot which is used during the Shiva Ratri-festival. More than a hundred people are needed to pull the chariot with thick roaps while priests conduct religious ceremonies inside. During the four day Shiva festival the small town of Gokarna is visited by up to 20.000 pilgrims" click here for more Chariot pictures.
The Vishvanatha Temple at Kashi in Varanasi celebrates the linga (symbolic of the pillar of light) and the manifestation of Shiva as the light of supreme wisdom. Mahashivaratri is thus not only a ritual but also a cosmic definition of the Hindu universe. It dispels ignorance, emanates the light of knowledge, makes one aware of the universe, ushers in the spring after the cold and dry winter, and invokes the supreme power to take cognizance of the beings who were created by him. People also believe that on Shivaratri day the snakes come out of their hibernation.
In Kashmir, the festival is held for 13 days; the thirteenth day is observed as Herath, a day of fast followed by a family feast.
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh reportedly has the biggest Mahashivaratri puja in the country, at the temple of Bhutnath. There is a Shobha Yatra led by the Governor of the state. The chief minister of the state inaugurates the function which is presided over by the Governor. The royal family of Mandi started this tradition some 500 years ago. It is an eight-day fair where artists from all over the country and from other countries are invited to perform arts.
In Andhra Pradesh Shiva temples are very important. It appears the ancient faith of the Telugu people was some form of Saivism. There are important centers like Srisailam, Kalahasti, Kalesvaram, Keesara and many others.
In Karnataka, the Lingayats, people of the Shiva cult, worship Linga. Married women wear a linga made of silver or gold on their body.
 In Madhya Paradesh people take a holy dip in Sagar tank in Khujaraho. There is a beautiful Shiva temple there.
Long ago, Puri was a center of Shiva worship. According to legend, Lord Ramachandra himself installed the lingam in the Lokanath Temple. This lingam is kept submerged, in a vat of water. It can only be seen on Pankodhar Ekadasi, before Shivaratri, when the water is removed from the vat. On that day, thousands of devotees come to take darshan.
In Assam the great Shiva temple, Umananda Temple, situated on the peacock island in the middle of Brahamaputra in Guwahati attracts devotees from all over the country during the Shivaratri celebrations.
 In Nepal famous Shiva Temple Pashupati receives thousands of visitors from South Asia on Shivaratri. Non-Hindus are not allowed entry to the temple at any time.
In the Mauritius Maha Shivaratri is held for over three days in February or March and is the largest and most important Hindu festival outside of India. Most of the island's Hindu population makes a pilgrimage in honour of Lord Shiva to the holy volcanic lake, Grand Bassin, where they make food sacrifices and stockpile vessels of the holy water.
Little rivers can be seen formed of the much excessively overflowing milk and fruit in the Shiva temples on this day. There are special shops set up out side the Shiva temples selling, Bilwa leaves, an essential part of the linga offerings and beetle leaves. In some temples the Pujari (priest) will perform special puja for some people who want to pay extra to the priest for the service. Food offered to the Shivlinga is not consumed as Prasad. But at some places 'Bhandara' is organised by the community where food is served to all. At times these bhandaras turn out to be nightmarish because of food going stale or lack of proper hygiene. For example, at Katni Kalan, near Ludhiana, Punjab last year, hundreds of people were taken ill after consuming food at Shivaratri bhandara.
Shivaratri is a blessed occasion for all to practice self-restraint, self-control, contemplation and meditation.
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