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Om Namah Shivaya

Shivaya Namaha

 

Hara Hara Hara Mahadeva

Trishula Damaru Dhari

AdiNath, ChandraNath

Maheshwara Tripurari

Gangadhara Trilochana

Vamadeva Phanavihaari

Shankarashri Bhootanath

Aayo Sharana Tihari

Hara Hara Hara Mahadeva

 

Let’s begin at the Samudra Manthan (churning of milky ocean) story. Devas (gods & demigods) & asuras (non-gods) came together in quest of Amrutha or the elixir of immortality. These opposing parties agreed to churn the milky ocean (metaphor for mind) to attain this elixir (metaphor: quest for that part of us which never dies). First emerged a lethal poison, Halahala, that could potentially destroy the Universe. Shiva consumes the poison; however, Parvati worried for her husband’s life, holds Shiva’s throat to prevent him from swallowing the poison. As a result, the poison collects in Shiva’s throat & making him ‘Neelakantha’, one with the blue (neela) throat (kantha). Mythologically speaking, this event takes place on the night of MahaShivaratri

When our minds are churned on our quest for ultimate truth, first emerges all the poison (unwanted thoughts, habits, behavioral patterns, unresolved emotional/psychological/mental & physical issues etc.) On this night we are invited to hand over our poison to Shiva & surrender in his grace. With all the poison Shiva consumed during Samudra Manthan his body becomes feverish. To cool his fever, devotees pour water, milk, ghee & yogurt on the Shiva lingum on this night. Devotees also observe an ardent fast on this day to purge their bodies of toxins (detoxification)

On MahaShivaratri, both Sun & Moon are in Saturn ruled signs (Capricorn/Aquarius); Saturn being inimical to both luminaries. Moon in particular is very dark as it is the night before no moon. Stories exist of how Chandra, overlord of the moon, got cursed to fade away – & right before Chandra is about to disappear, Shiva picks up the crescent moon & wears it on his head, thus allowing the moon to wax & wane. This is also a metaphor for Shiva stabilizing our wavering minds

So, if you are spiritual seeker or in love with Shiva like me then on the night of MahaShivrati bring loving, heart-centered focus onto him. You may decide to stay up all night, listen to Shri Rudram, chant a shiva mantra or just silently hear the reverberation in the sound Har Har Mahadeva. Feel Shiva’s essence, who is in deep meditation in one moment & in ecstatic dance in the next

Love, Light & Blessings,

Dr. Malini Iyer