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Maha Shivaratri (also Shivratri) is celebrated on Feb. 20, 2012 by Hindus all over the world. This festival glorifies the Hindu god Shiva, lord of cosmic destruction and dance. It is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon during the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna.
The celebration of Maha Shivaratri begins with a night vigil leading up to the day of the festival, during which many Shiva devotees fast and offer special prayers. Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam, a phallic symbol with a yoni that represents female creative energy. Together it represents the union of organs, and the totality of creation. Flowers, incense and other offerings are made, while prayers and bhajans are chanted. Bhang, an intoxicant made from the cannabis plant is commonly consumed by many on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
The celebration of Maha Shivaratri is attributed to several tales in Hindu mythology. One of the most popular tales traces its origins to samudra manthan, or churning of the ocean of milk. According to this belief, when the gods and demons were churning the ocean of milk to obtain amrita (drink of immortality), they came across many unusual substances including a deadly poison. Terrified, the gods approached Shiva for help, and out of compassion for all living beings, Shiva swallowed the poison. The poison was so potent that it turned his neck to blue.
One of the most famous prayers recited to lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri is the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the death-conquering mantra. Below are the words of the mantra in Sanskrit and a translation:
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
Translation: We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.
Click through the slideshow to listen to famous prayers dedicated to lord Shiva -- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Om Namaha Shivaya and Shiva Tandav Stotram. Lyrics and translation are provided.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
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Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.
With today's introductory meditations from Donna D'Cruz, “conscious” entertainer, designer, performing artist and meditation instructor, we are launching the first of what will become a...
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The Maldives' national museum reopened Tuesday without some of its most valuable exhibits a week after a mob of suspected religious...
For Hindu devotees, Thaipusam is a period of abstinence and fasting to cleanse their bodies of sin. Some carried enormous, decorative kavadis, complete with bodily...
9/11 made it clear that religion, which had been ignored and overlooked for decades, was still a force, and perhaps the force in people's personal and communal lives.
Like many other people, I went to last Saturday's protest in East London first and foremost to oppose the far right English Defence League and to defend the Muslim community against EDL thuggery.
Religious people should look at ourselves to make sure that our own behavior fits sane standards of productive engagement with the "other" and represents a profound search of the best wisdom our traditions have to offer.
In what it calls the first Hindu census in the United States, the Institute of American Religion discovered some 1,600 temples and centers with an estimated 600,000 practicing Hindus.
Shiva is much more complex than the Western "god of destruction" mantra! Shiva encompasses creation and regeneration-- because one cannot happen without the other.
The "god of destruction" part is a half truth, and a half truth is more dangerous than a lie.
Not being religious, I take pride in thinking.
Hindu Gods and Goddesses are personifications of natural forces and anyone who understands Hinduism can relate to Nature intimately, but not every human is capable of restraint in the face of overwhelming competition for survival and temptations.
There are foolish, ritualistic Hindus, much as there are foolish people of ALL religious persuasions.
EQ8Rhomes: Shiva is much more complex than the Western "god of
As a few people have mentioned, many non-Hindus don't "get" Shiva.
This song, by Western Kirtan artist Jai Uttal (who lived and performed music in Bengal, for a while), using English lyrics penned by John Lennon, along with a traditional Sanskrit bhajan to Shiva, nicely clears up much of the potential confusion, I'd say.
This is probably one explanation of Shivratri that westerners use to pervert this sacred festival. I suggest that the writer of this article reseach a more respectable and intellectual origin and purpose of Maha Shivaratri.
ewishwar: This is probably one explanation of Shivratri that westerners use
"The flames around the circle represents the endless incarnations the soul must endure, until, with Shiva, you step out of that cycle and attain Nirvana."
I recognise this as part of my spirituality...
it is not a part of my Christian understanding...
it is more a function of my awareness of my spirit...while I am still living here on earth...
We are all connected at some level...
the explanations
merged together
with our understanding and experience
may release us
from our spiritual angst.
Mrs_Robinsons: "The flames around the circle represents the endless incarnations the
"The greatest threat to civilization is religion"...
I felt a pang of disagreement when I first read the sentence..but I actually agree with it...I am not sure how I feel about it in light of living as a person here on earth...but it is not incorrect.
Another way of stating something similar, might be...
Perhaps the greatest OPPOSITE of civilization is religion...
it is so nonconcrete
compared to
the concrete
focus of civilization.
Mrs_Robinsons: "The greatest threat to civilization is religion"... I felt a
I think this article over simplifies who and what Shiva represents. Shiva is a universal phenomena. He destroys the redundant to make way for the new. We see this in our everyday lives. The horse carriage became redundant when the motor car appeared on the scene. Oil lamps disappeared when the light bulb was invented and on and on. The dance of Shiva is the dance of the cosmos. The universe moving, planets around the sun, seasons coming and going, night dances around the day. Humanity dancing in an endless cycle of births and deaths. Nothing in this universe is static, everything dances. Even a stone when examined is shown to be made up of billions of atoms and ions dancing. Nothing exists in this universe that does not participate in the dance of Shiva. Ancient Hindus understood this amazing phenomena and in harnessing this concept have given it a material image and form so that we could relate to it on a physical plane.
Adiani: I think this article over simplifies who and what Shiva
"Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam, a phallic symbol with a yoni that represents female creative energy. Together it represents the union of organs, and the totality of creation."
A linga is not a phallic symbol. A linga is defined by the Sivanubhava Sutra (3.3) as follows:
That in which all mobiles and immobiles enter, i.e., get dissolved, and that from which the universe goes out, i.e., is created, is called a Lingam by those who are experts in the Principle called Linga.
There are Siva Lingas with faces inscribed (Mukha Lingas) and full form of Siva inscribed (Vigraha Linga). A phallic symbol will not have either face or form inscribed in it. The idea that Siva Linga is a phallic symbol was first peddled by the orientalists.
A Yoni is simply the source of the creative energy behind the universe..
Pradip_Gangopadhyay: The following sentence attracted my attention: "Shiva is worshipped in
Exactly. In fact, the lingam represents Shiva as formless, primordial energy; it's not that the Shiva lingam is a sexual symbol (a typical Western interpretation!) but the other way around:
sex symbolises the union of the individual Atman with Brahman; Shiva as destroyer symbolises the destruction of ego.
Shivaratri is a wonderful all-night celebration, but as well as the more ostentatious foms of celebration there is also silence: meditation.
Aruna_Sharan: Exactly. In fact, the lingam represents Shiva as formless, primordial
I was wondering if you folks knew; is the word "Linga" associated with the Latin word “lingua” and the Italian “linguetta” pertaining to tongues or is that a coincidence?
Redhunteur: I was wondering if you folks knew; is the word
Check out Amish Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy books. The first two of this trilogy are out, and they are a great read. All Shiva devotees will absolutely love it, and it will renew their respect and love towards Shiva. The fictional stories have been told masterfully and will keep you engaged.
disclaimer: I am not Amish, just a fan of those two books :-))))))
DoesItMatter: Check out Amish Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy books. The first two
One aspect of Hinduism that I have always found inspiring is its ability to see the divine in joyous, physical celebration. The concept of a God who conquers ignorance through DANCE is so marvelously beautiful!
ErasmusinNH: One aspect of Hinduism that I have always found inspiring
It is an unfortunate folly of the western world that we inject fear and misunderstanding into the cultural roots of eastern traditions. I hope they don't change tradition and their beliefs because of those who look to demonize a sacred sacrament.
oscar420: It is an unfortunate folly of the western world that
A cute and beautiful festival. Lord Shiva is totally not as stern/dangerous as he looks. His might is only matched with the amount of love/kindness people worship Him for. He is also known as "baba" - or a Grandfather God.
Graphiteh: A cute and beautiful festival. Lord Shiva is totally not
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The Huffington Post Jahnabi Barooah
First Posted: 02/18/2012 10:49 am Updated: 02/22/2012 10:40 am