MAHA SHIVARATHIRI IS THE GREAT NIGHT OF LORD SHIVA TO REMOVE OUT ALL SINS AND ACTIVATE OUR HIGHER BRAIN
Maha Shivaratri Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri (Night of Shiva or "Great Night of Shiva") is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/'vratam' on 14th after sunrise) in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The most significant practices of this day are offering of Vilvam leaves to the Lord Shiva and perform abhishekams, fasting and all through night long vigil chanting Shiva Panchakshara mantra. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra Om / Hmmm NamaShivaya as it is said he who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivarathiri, with perfect devotion and concentration is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva temples.
Story of Maha Sivarathiri
According to one of the legend, during the Samudra Mathanam by the Gods and Demons, a poison came out of the ocean. It was so toxic, that its effect would have wiped out of the entire creation. At this juncture, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, the Gods approached Lord Shiva and prayed him to protect their lives by consuming the poision. The Lord pleased by the prayers out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank this poision and held it in this throat by binding it with a snake. The throat became blue due to the position. That is why Lord Shiva is otherwise called Neelakanta and Lord Shiva remained unharmed. The Ashwini Kumaras advised the Gods to keep Lord Shiva awake during the night as part of the therapy. To amuse Lord Shiva and to keep him awake, the gods took turn performing various dances and playing music. A vigil was thus kept by the gods in contemplation of Lord Shiva. As the day broke out, Lord Shiva pleased with their devotion and blessed them all. Since then, on this day and night, devotees fast, keep vigil, sing glories of Lord and meditate.
As you keep vigil this night, you become aware of your life and karma. It is a great opportunity to connect with the divine formless form Lingam of Lord Shiva, the Lingam, who symbolizes 'all-auspiciousness', and to invite these energies in your life. In essence, Maha Shivarathiri signifies the transition from the darkness of gloom and ignorance to the dawn of divine joy and knowledge
Science of Shivarathiri
Festivals in India include the Scientific wisdom in four different fields of sciences. Climatology, Astronomy, Siddha Vaidyam / Ayur Vedam and Human Physiology. Human body is susceptible for the changes in the cyclical motions of the moon and sun. The impact of these changes are closely documented by the advanced researchers in the field of bio farming and organic farming. The ascent and descent of the moon have the impact on the growth of the plants and all cellular structures, including on the germination of the plants.
OM
Tamil Om
What is the simplest way of appeasing Lord Shiva?
Offering him Vilvam leaves.
Ancient mystics of India understood that these changes also affect at certain seasonal transitions and devised the methods for the natural adaptations for these changes. Festivals are celebrated for these adaption. Maha Shiva Rathiri comes exactly at this seasonal transition from the Winter to Spring. All nature and cosmos covered by the space and time undergoes three phenomenon. Creation, Growth, and Dissolution. The time span of these cycles change. Stars and Galaxies may have a cycle of millions of light years and species may have few hours. These three aspects are called as the Brahma Tatva, Vishnu Tatva and Maheswara Tatva. During the rotation around the sun the earth, along with all associated creation on the earth, undergoes three faces of Time. These are called as “Kalams” in the Sasthraas. They are Spring Time (Usha Kalam), Monsoon Time (Varsha Kalam) and Winter Time (Sitha Kalam). Every time has two seasons namely Vasantha and Grishma rithu (Spring Time and early summer), Sarath and Varsha rithu (Monsoon Time for farming), and Hemantha and Sisira rithu (early and late Winter Time followed by harvest), and after the Winter Time the Spring Time will start again.
Poojas, Mantras and Meditation during Maha Shivarathiri are amplified by 10 million times.
All the flora and fauna will undergo hibernation during the Winter Time and will start new germination during the Spring Time. This transition time is the most important one for all species including humans. Festivals are celebrated to make them adapt for these transitions. Maheswara tatva belongs to the dissolution of this natural cycle so this Maha Shiva Rathiri is celebrated at the last day of the first month in the Late Winter, before the starting of Spring Time. Human body also undergoes very subtle cellular and molecular changes during this time. Most of the lung and respiratory infections are possible during this time. To avoid them, certain rules are prescribed in the form of celebration of the Maha Shiva Rathiri. We have to always remember that in Hinduism, the science is interspersed with the way of human life. Now we apply the tanning lotions and other skin rash medicines for ultra violet sun rays during these months. But these have their limitations, as these are reactive and invasive procedures of prevention of disease.
Never, ever miss to observe Shiva Rathiri especially Maha Shiva Rathiri
The non invasive prevention techniques are the gradual adjustment of the body’s physiology through these festivals. According to Siddha Vaidyam, the Vilvam Leaves have a power full preventive medicine for all the Respiratory Diseases including the Cardiac Problems. The worshiping Shiva with these leaves means using them with hand and smelling the smell of these leaves. This involves the aroma therapy. According to the advanced research when moon goes to an angle between 840 to 1800 in it’s rotation around the earth there will be profound influence on the Brain, Digestive Organs, Kidneys, Reproductive Organs, and Spleen. Especially in the months when the sun heat is less in the peak of winter time ( which results due to the increased distance between the earth and the sun due to its longitudinal axis). This influences reaches peak on the 14 day of the moon’s descent in the peat of deep winter season which is Maha Shiva Rathiri day. So on this the Fasting is prescribed according to Siddha Vaidyam. This is intended to keep the body systems intact. The Shiva Lingams are made with the special granite stone which have a specific crystalline structure. This structure is found to have a specific property of resonating the cosmic vibrations. Water has a peculiar property of called colloidal property. This enhances the water molecules to change their bond angles when came in to contact with the cosmic resonance and to increase their energy which then becomes powerful medicine. The abhishekam of the Shiva Lingams is to do this complicated exercises for the benefit of the mankind.
Maha Shivarathiri is considered the most auspicious time to please Lord Shiva to gain his blessings.
All Temples build on the principles of Siddhatham Agamas in South India especially at Tamil Nadu are the Accumulators of the Cosmic energy and Geo Magnetic Energies for the disseminating them for the individuals who go to temples. Going to temples and staying in the night of Maha Shiva Rathiri involves the taking and assimilating the energy for the whole night so that the energy imbalances that occur during the transitional changes are corrected. The mantras used in the abhishekam or in the worship are definite energy states which produce a specified quantum of energy if recited. This energy is absorbed by the molecules of the body and they in turn radiate heightened infrared band of energies. These energies radiated are picked up by the Acu Pressure Points or Adharas which distribute the energy for all the systems of the body for the energy correction. That is the reason why the Rudra Namakam, Chamakam and Mahanyasam and other powerful Mantras are recited on this Maha Shiva Rathiri Day
Shivarathiri Puja
Shivarathiri Pooja has been given tremendous significance in Hindu mythology. It is said that ritual worship of Lord Shiva on a Shivarathiri day pleases Lord Shiva the most. Devotees further believe that by pleasing Lord Sankara on the auspicious Shivarathiri day, a person is absolved of past sins and is blessed with Moksha or salvation. 
According to Shiva Purana, sincere worship of Lord Shiva yields merits including spiritual growth for the devotees. Shiva Purana further says that performing abhishekam of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas including milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya used in the abhisheka blesses a unique quality.
Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness.
Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny.
Honey is for sweet speech.
Ghee is for victory.
Sugar is for happiness.
Water is for purity.
Besides, worship of Lord Shiva on Shivrathiri is also considered to be extremely beneficial for women. While, married women pray to Shiva for the well being of their husbands and sons, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.
To perform the worship of Lord Shiva on Shivrathiri, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in the holy waters of river Ganga. This is followed by worship to Sun God, Vishnu and Shiva in accordance with the purification rite observed on all-important Hindu festivals. Devotees then wear fresh new clothes and pay a visit to the nearest Shiva temple. As a tradition, devotees observe a fast on a Shivarathiri day. Some do not consume even a drop of water.
What Can You Do at Home on Maha Shivarathiri? 
According to Shiva Purana, sincere worship of Lord Shiva yields merits including spiritual growth for the devotees. Shiva Purana further says that performing abhishekam of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas including milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya used in the abhisheka blesses a unique quality.
Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness.
Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny.
Honey is for sweet speech.
Ghee is for victory.
Sugar is for happiness.
Water is for purity.
Besides, worship of Lord Shiva on Shivrathiri is also considered to be extremely beneficial for women. While, married women pray to Shiva for the well being of their husbands and sons, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.
To perform the worship of Lord Shiva on Shivrathiri, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in the holy waters of river Ganga. This is followed by worship to Sun God, Vishnu and Shiva in accordance with the purification rite observed on all-important Hindu festivals. Devotees then wear fresh new clothes and pay a visit to the nearest Shiva temple. As a tradition, devotees observe a fast on a Shivarathiri day. Some do not consume even a drop of water.
-Clean your home and clear your mind
-Enlighten your thoughts with remembering the Divine and Sing praise to the Divine with a full heart.
-Enjoy yourself! God is not a killjoy. The more joyous you are, the closer you get towards the spring of joy and bliss!
-Light a ghee lamp and some incense. A sweet smell is sure to be pleasing and purify any negative energies in the space
-Forget life's problems, the pains of your past, and worries about your future. Celebrate everything that is good in your life right now!
-worship Lord Shiva at home by offering Vilvam leaves and by chanting mantra - 'Hmmm Nama Shivaya'
Hmmm Nama Shivaya (Om is recited as Hmmm..)
Prayers offered during Maha Shivarathiri are promised to be amplified 10 million times. If there is a time that you can purify your thoughts and activate the empowerment of your goals, it is this special night. Throughout the night keep vigil, dont go to sleep, keep your stomach empty (if you fast you can stay alert to receive more energy) and chant Hmmm Nama Shivaya.
~ by Vijayakumar Alagappan #www.iksacademy.com
#Ondre Kulam Endru Paduvom, Oruvane Devan Endru Potruvom #Anbe Shivam #Shivoham
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