Do you all know which Hindu festival is being celebrated on
the 13th of Feb’18? Let us tell you something about this festival…
Maha Shivaratri is a major Hindu festival
celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva It is celebrated once a year
in February/March, or Phalguna and before the arrival of spring. Shivaratri means
"the Great Night of Shiva".
Shiva is the soul (of everything) – there is no difference between the soul and Shiva.
Your true nature is Shiva, and Shiva is peace, infinity, beauty and the non-dual one.
Ratri means 'to take refuge'.
Shivaratri is taking refuge in Shiva (the soul). It is celebrating the Shiva Tatva within oneself.
Ratri (which translates as night) is that which gives you rest, or peace.
Three types of peace are needed:
1. Material peace
2. Mental peace and
3. Peace in the soul
If there is disturbance around you, you cannot be peaceful. You need peace in your environment. You also need peace in the body and mind, and you need peace in the soul.
Shiva is the soul (of everything) – there is no difference between the soul and Shiva.
Your true nature is Shiva, and Shiva is peace, infinity, beauty and the non-dual one.
Ratri means 'to take refuge'.
Shivaratri is taking refuge in Shiva (the soul). It is celebrating the Shiva Tatva within oneself.
Ratri (which translates as night) is that which gives you rest, or peace.
Three types of peace are needed:
1. Material peace
2. Mental peace and
3. Peace in the soul
If there is disturbance around you, you cannot be peaceful. You need peace in your environment. You also need peace in the body and mind, and you need peace in the soul.
This festival is solemn and marks a
remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the
world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting,
doing Yoga, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint,
honesty, non-injury to others, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.
The ardent devotees keep awake all night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples
or go on pilgrimage to Jyotirlingams. This is an ancient Hindu festival
whose origin date is unknown.
Different legends describe
the significance of Maha Shivaratri. According to one, this is the night when
Shiva performs the heavenly dance of creation, preservation and destruction.
According to another legend, this is the night when Shiva and Parvati got
married. A different legend states that the offering to Shiva icons such as the
linga is an annual occasion to get over past sins if any, to restart on a
virtuous path and thereby reach Mount Kailasha and liberation.
The major Jyotirlinga Shiva temples of India, such as in
Varanasi and Somnatha, are particularly frequented on Maha Shivaratri. They
serve also as sites for fairs and special events.
Maha Shivaratri is
celebrated widely in the temples all over Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
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