The
Significance of Mahashivarathri
All festivals observed by Bharatiyas have a marvelous inner meaning. But men in a general view them in terms of external observances and celebrate them with feasts and show. These festivals were really intended to be used for the exclusive worship of the Divine, enjoy the bliss of that devotion and overcome pain and sorrow. These holy days were instituted for the purpose of getting rid of ignorance and cultivating right knowledge, the higher wisdom and cosmic consciousness.
Shivarathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the sixteenth day of the lunar fortnight when the moon is warning and the sun is in the sign of Aquarius. The festival is, however related to the moon rather than the sun. That is the reason why it is called Shivarathri, the night of Shiva. Unlike other nights, this particular night is the night of purification, of dedication, and of illumination.
The mind is intimately associated with the moon. Chandra, the deity of the moon, is the presiding deity of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of this brilliance every day after the full moon day and continues waning until on this night he is left with just one sixteenth of his power.
The waned moon may be taken to stand for the mind with all its wild fancies and waywardness, reduced after it has been conquered by spiritual discipline. On this night, there is just a minute part more to be conquered and keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God can do that. The vigil that is prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe, while the rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures for which they crave.
The night long devotional singing is significance of the life-long consciousness of the Divine Presence that every one should cultivate. The rites and vows laid down for Shivarathri are absent on other nights of the year, their observance on this day comes as a reminder that they are useful.
You will do observing Sivarathri in the true spirit of the term only when you give up bad qualities and cultivate divine love. Merely observing vigil on Sivarathri is not sufficient. You have to contemplate on God constantly.
Most people claim that they have observed Jaagarana (vigil) on Sivarathri night by playing cards. The fisherman goes on watching intently so as to trap the fish in the net. Can this be termed meditation? If one abstains from taking food on account of difference of opinion with his wife, can it be called fasting? No. Similarly, observance of sacred vigil on Sivarathri night is not achieved by playing cards the whole night. You should spend this night by chanting the name of God, using the time in doing good deeds.
You will be immensely benefited if you keep awake and sing the glory of God at least on this night. Can you not spend a single night in the whole year singing the glory of God? So sanctify this night by participating in Bhajan. The bliss that you get from Bhajan, the sweetness in the divine name, the happiness derived from visualizing the divine form cannot be obtained elsewhere. Everything is possible only through love. So, cultivate love and sanctify your life.
The lesson of Sivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course.
Have high ideals. Strive to elevate yourselves. Make for the highest goal, God. Whatever the obstacle or opposition, do not be disheartened. Give up the animal in you, stabilise yourselves in human virtues and proceed boldly towards the achievements of Divinity. Do not waver, do not go today to devotion, tomorrow to sensual gratification, and the day after again to devotion. When everything is successful you are all for devotion, when something goes wrong you are filled with despair, when discipline is enforced you start holding back, and when love is showered, you come first. This dual attitude must be give up.
The very Divine principle that seekers strive to visualise by years of penance and renunciation is before you, here and now; realize the good fortune you are endowed with. I have this day, the holy day of Shivarathri, granted pardon for all the errors you have fallen into knowingly or unknowingly up to this time. Have auspicious thoughts, speak auspicious words, and do auspicious deeds. As a result of this, attain the embodiment of auspicious, Shiva Himself.
Immerse your mind in good thoughts and the world will be good, soak it in bad thoughts and the world will be bad for you. So, recollect only good; do, think, and plan only good; speak and act only good. Then as a result you will come close to God, the source of all good. This is the message of Shivarathri.
