Festivals - Mahashivratri

MAHA SHIV RATRI

Lord Shiva saves the universe by drinking poison that was produced when the Gods churned the milk ocean.

 

On Wednesday 2nd March, Hindus the world over will celebrate Maha Shiv Raatri, or the Great Night Of  Lord Shiva. This auspicious observance is held on the fourteenth lunar night(chaturdasi)of the dark forthnight(Krishna Paksh)in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the calendar month of February.  
In the Hindu pantheon of Gods, Shiva represents the universal energy that reabsorbs and regenerates the cosmos. Thousands of temples in ancient India and the world at large was built and dedicated in his honor. It is this Shiva whose manifest form is the symbol of peace and bliss whose attributes are revered on the night of Mahaa Shiva Raatri.

A great deal of preparation is involved in order to celebrate this religious event since it requires the performance of Pooja(prayers) with 
Lord Shiva as the main Devta or diety of worship. His symbolic offerings are done in the form of a Linga Pooja (symbolic salutation to the Unmanifest divinity.) The Lingam is a stone with no defined shape, color, dimensions or parameters and represents the abstract, formless attributes  of  God.
During Maha Shiva Raatri celebrations, devotees observe fasting, prayer and vigil. They abstain from eating and drinking forbidden foods and they make all  necessary preparations for the Pooja which  begins  at sunset.
 
Maha Shiva Raatri Pooja consists of four individual poojas, dividing the night into four parts or "Prahars" each lasting three hours.  A vigil is maintained all night before sunrise of the next morning. Bhajans and kirtan(hymns and praises)are encouraged in order to maintain this vigil and also discourses relevant to the occasion are  read.
 
Four  materials are offered or poured onto the Shiva Linga, they are milk, dahee, ghee, honey and cane juice, accompanied by the chanting of mantras or special prayer hymns. The five materials offered are referred to as Panch Amrit, or 5 special nectars for use in worship. These nectars are symbols of purity, divinity, peace, contentment and prosperity, five pillars fundamental to mans elevation to a higher consciousness. The physical body is comprised of  the five elements, drawn into action through the five senses. Such offerings serve to sanctify the mind and body, also to remind man of his real self as a blissful, pure divine being, capable of  leading a Dharmic or Righteous life. Offerings of the sacred Bilve leaves and beautiful flowers express the pure love from the hearts of the supplicant.
 
The Shiva Dhaar to offer onto the Lingam will include Milk, Black Till, White rice, Bael leaves and Flowers. Prasaad to Shiv Ji will include Batasaa, Till Cake, Sugar cane, Fruits and Sweets.
 
Mantra to Lord Shiva: OM NAMAHA SHIVAYAA.
 
Lord Shiva's colour: White- Jhandi, White clothes offerings.

Bhagwan Shiva Pooja

Materials:

Murti/ picture of Bhagwan Shiv.
For Havan; In a Thali, white rice, sugar, gogool, ghee and black till.
Havan Khund, Mango sticks, coals, canphor, matches.
Chandan.
Essence.
Agarbati/insence.
Malas.
Bael leaves.
Bael leaf mala with 108 leaves.
Flowers/datur, chamalee, madar etc.
Lotaa of water for aachman.
Prasaad/ cane, batasaa, till cake, fruits, sweets.
Comfortable seat facing North.

Bilwashtakam Mantras to offer Bilva leaves to Bhagwan Shiva

The leaves of Bilwa, which has multiple leaves, with each leaf consisting of three leaves is very dear to Lord Shiva. Offering this leaf to Lord Shiva pleases him especially on the Shivarathri .There are several stories how people got salvation by offering one Bilwa leaf to Lord Shiva.

Tridalam trigunakaaram trinethram cha triyayusham,
Trijanma papa samharam Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 1

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
Which has three leaves,
Which causes three qualities,
Which are like the three eyes of Shiva,
Which is like the triad of weapons,
And which destroys sins of three births.

Trishakhai bilwapathraischa hyachidrai komalai shubai,
Shiva poojam karishyami, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 2

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
Which has three shoots,
Which do not have holes,
Which are good and pretty,
And worship Lord Shiva.

Aganda bilwa pathrena poojithe nandikeshware,
Shudhyanthi sarva papebhyo, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 3

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For if an uncut leaf is offered,
To his steed the god Nandi,
We get cleaned of all our sins.

Salagrama shilamekaam vipranam jatha cha arpayeth,
Soma yagna maha punyam, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 4

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to, offering a saligrama to a Brahmin,
Or the great blessing got out of performing Soma Yaga,

Dandi koti sahasrani vajapeya sathani cha,
Koti kanya maha danam, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 5

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to gifting thousand elephants,
Or the performing of hundred fire sacrifices,
Or giving away billions of girls.

Lakshmyasthanutha uthpannam mahadevasya cha priyam,
Bilwa vruksham prayachami, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 6

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
For it is equal to giving a tree of Bilwa,
Which was born from the breast of Lakshmi,
And which is very dear to the Lord Shiva.

Darshanam bilwa vrukshasya, sparsanam papa nasanam,
Aghora papa samharam, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 7

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
As seeing and touching of a tree of Bilwa,
Washes away ones sins and also very great sins.

Kasi kshethra nivasam cha kala bhairava darshanam,
Prayaga madhavam drushtwa, Eka bilwam shivarpanam. 8

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
After living in the city of Kasi,
Seeing the Kala Bhairawa,
And also visiting the temple
Of Madhawa in Allahabad.

Moolatho brahma roopaya, madhyatho Vishnu roopini
Agratha shiva roopaya, Eka bilwam shivarpanam 9

I offer one leaf of Bilwa to Lord Shiva,
As Brahma resides at its bottom,
Lord Vishnu lives in its middle,
And Lord Shiva lives in its tip.

Bilwashtakam idham punyaam, padeth shiva sannidhou,
Sarva papa nirmuktha Shiva loka maapnuyath. 10

Reading this holy octet of Bilwa,
In the presence of Lord Shiva,
Would save one from all sins,
And in the end take him to the world of Shiva.

 

You can view a clip from Baba's home on Mahashivratri night 2009

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