Lord Shiva ideology and importance of Mahashivaratri.
In India, there has been a practice of preserving and upholding values for human welfare since the beginning of this creation . Which is full of desire for universal bondage. Where the whole world is seen by the concept of Vaisudhaiva Kutumbakam. Vedic and mythological texts are clearly conveying the message of mutual cooperation, goodwill, mercy, forgiveness, courage, patience, also it have been giving the message of valor among mankind since ages.
Whether it is Gita, Bhagwata Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana or Ramayana in the accepted and authentic texts of Hindu religion, the preeminence of karma has been accepted in all and according to that every person gets good-bad results. The results of the karmas , if not today surely tomorrow will have to be suffered. Because the spirit of universal good and welfare of others has been a habit of God and divine power. The spirit of goodwill, benevolence continues to be transmitted in human beings only with the help and devotion of God. Every human should be happy, their intellect should be pure, their body beautiful-mind happy, they gets divinity, also they gets relief from the frustrations of the mind, malaise, guilt, disease, fear, pain, debts. And they may be get the darshana of the Supreme God. They may be successful in achieving the ultimate goal of life by being a part of human's salvation, in order to achieve this goal, the repetition of various ritual festivals in Hinduism continues to be a continuous process of worship of their respective deities.
In the same sequence, to obtain the blessings of the supreme benevolent Lord Shiva, the fast of Mahashivaraatri celebrate. Shiva is the God of all, the father-Lord of the world, the supreme master of all the vidyas, he is Shamsan vaasi , he is the Ardhnaarishwar, everything is Shiva, Shiva is everywhere. Lord Shiva is the God of the Gods, who is also known as Mahadev. Shiva is the shelter of all. Since all those who have shelter are also revered for all, so therefore Mahashivaratri is worshiped in many countries of the world including India. Because this date is very dear to Lord Shiva. The Shivalinga was first time appear on this day. In the ancient time, Shiva Parvati was married on this day. Thus, there are many reasons the festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated on this day. Children, youth, old men, women and men can observe this fast with faith-devotion. The subjects of this fast are found in the Puranas related to different contexts.
Bholenath is a very simple nature, omnipresent and the God who is pleased very soon by the devotees. If in front of him, demons also came to ask for boon, he do not back down in giving desired boon.
Once, a demon name Bhasmasura pleased Bhole Shankar by devotion and Bholenath appeared in front of him with Mata Parvati. He told Bhasmasura to ask for a boon. Seeing Maa Parvati with Shiva, he becomes fascinated on maa Parvati. But how to ask for her! Considering this, he asks for a boon that if I lay hands on the anybody head, should be consumed immediately and Lord Shiva is naive in nature. He spoke in happiness - so be it !
Bhole Shankar starts going by saying so be it. At the same time Bhasmasura comes to behind him for consume . Now Bholenath understood that he wants to try my boon on me. Bholenath runs to save his life and hides inside a cave. Bhasmasura sits at the entrance of the cave and looks forward to the exit of Lord Shiva. Lord Narayana was watching all this leela.
Lord Vishnu Narayan immediately comes to fascinate Bhasmasura by taking the form of Mohini. Lord Vishnu starts dancing to fascinate Bhasmasura and incites Bhasmasura to dance as well. Bhasmasur is so fascinated with Mohini that he loses his consciousness and starts dancing with her. Mohini makes a dance pose by dancing with own hand on her head. After seeing him, Bhasmasura also puts his hand on his head and he is consumed. Shiva is a donor for everyone, who gives them the same boon as he demands. Shiva's worship, which has been doing by Gods, humans, demons, Yaksha and sages etc. since ancient time.
Lord Shiva is considered a symbol of India's emotional and national unity & integrity, while Maha Shivaratri festival is considered a living symbol of national goodwill. There is hardly any village in India where there is no temple or Shivling of Lord Shiva established. If there is not even a Shiva temple, then there surely will be found Shivlinga situated under a tree or on a platform.
Now the question is that just as the birthday of various legends is celebrated as their 'Jayanti(anniversary)', why is the birthday of Lord Shiva celebrated as 'Night' instead of their 'Jayanti'? The reason for this is probably that the night has been considered a symbol of sinfulness, ignorance and tamoguna, and in the Kaliyuga, saint, human ,seeker, a common man, that is, everyone is unhappy, so every year to destroy these evils form . Every year in the world a divine light descends and this night is 'Shivaratri'.
The literal meaning of 'Shiva' and 'Raatri' is stated in a religious book, "In which the whole world sleeps, which is devoid of disorder, it is Shiva or the one who destroy the inauspicious, He is form of happiness & auspicious. Lord Shiva is karunasagar who merges the whole world into himself.
The God who is eternal, true, base of world, devoid of disorder, witnessing is Shiva. Shiva in the form of Mahasamudra is an unbroken supreme element, many of its various elements are worshiped by many names, he is omnipresent and supremepower, he expressly and implicitly called 'Saguna Ishwara' and 'Nirguna Brahm' and also he is the divine, soul of world, Atma, Shambhava, Mayobhav, Shankar, Mayaskar, Shiva, Rudra etc. are addressed by many names. ''
Pt. Sriram Sharma Acharya Ji has explained the philosophy of Lord Shankar Ji's true nature in such a way that everyone can become like Shiva in life,
Discussion about Shivalingas becomes necessary here because the origin of the linga on the day of Mahashivaraatri. Although the number of linga is many thousands according to the scriptures, in which there is a very detailed description of the structure and glory of each linga. Here a brief description of the names of the major twelve (Dwadash Jyotirlinga) Shiva lingas etc. is being done. There is great glory of these Shiva lingas, just by remembering these lingas all the sins of the person are released. And he gets happiness and peace. It is a matter of seeing and worshiping these Shivalinga, who is going to fulfill all desires. It is by the grace of Shiva that peoples gets the privilege of linga darshana in the life.
* Jyotirylinga
The great glory of these twelve Jyotirlingas is said in the Veda-Puranas. Who is going to give salvation to everyone with all the desired results like happiness, wealth, knowledge, prosperity, longage etc.
* Shivlinga
Shivlinga is a symbol of Lord Shiva. Shiva means welfare and Linga means creation. Linga is worshiped as a creator. In Sanskrit, Linga means symbol. Lord Shiva is the symbol of eternity. According to beliefs, the linga is a giant cosmic ovary, which means the universe. It is also considered a symbol of the universe.
Lingam means identity, the symbol by which you can recognize the truth, know the reality. One who is presently invisible but can be identified by a sign is a Shivalinga. When a child is born, how do you identify whether the child is a boy or a girl? Only through a part of the body can you identify the child whether he is a boy or a girl. This is why genitalia are also called lingams.
Similarly, how can you identify the creator of this world? He has no form! That is why it was said that a mark should be made to identify him. The symbol by which you are able to distinguish between male and female is a combination of the two, a symbol of the lord who has no form or symbol of his own - which is omnipresent in this entire universe - this is Shivalinga.
Shiva Linga is very ancient. It is actually the most ancient. Through the Shivalinga you go from the real to the formless. It is a symbol that represents both the creation and the creator by the same form. It represents Shiva and Shakti, both the principles of creation. The simultaneous expression of incognito silence and manifest dynamism is in the form of a Shivalinga. The Shivalinga is not just Shiva but the complete manifestation of the entire Supreme Consciousness.
* Shiva's vehicle "Nandi"
Shiva's vehicle bull is also a source of strength. Sober - Sattvic bull is a symbol of strength, a symbol of courage. To saying own words in Nandi's ears it reaches to Shiva.
Nandi and Shiva are really the same. Shiva was born as Nandi. Legend has it that a sage named Shilad became free from worldly affection and got absorbed in austerity. Due to this his ancestors and Pitra got worried that their dynasty would end. On the advice of the pitras, Shilad meditated on Shiva and obtained an immortal son who became known as Nandi. Being part of Shiva, Nandi wanted to be close to Shiva. With the penance of Shiva, Nandi became prominent in Shiva's ganas and got the privilege of becoming Shiva's vehicle in bull form. The bull has been considered a symbol of religion around the world for a long time. Lord Shiva walking on the bull means that when you walk on the path of dharma and truth, then the divine infinite consciousness and innocent consciousness stays with you.
* Moon - Peace, Balance
Moon is adorned on Shivji's forehead. Moon is a executant of mind. The Moon controls the mind. According to Shiva Purana, the moon was married to 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati. These girls are 27 constellations. Among these, the moon had special affection for Rohini.
When other girls complained to Daksha, Daksha cursed the moon to decay. To avoid this curse, the moon meditated on Lord Shiva. Pleased with the austerity of the moon, Shiva saved the life of the moon and placed it on his head. The place where the moon did penance is called Somnath. It is believed that the moon keeps on decreasing-increasing due to the curse of Daksha.
Shiva tattva is that element which is beyond the mind. The Moon is a symbol of the mind. How can one express the nirgun(formless) state beyond the mind? How can one understand this inexplicable situation? It is necessary to use a little bit of psyche to understand, experience and express. Some mind is needed to express the latent, infinite, subconscious state in the visible world. Therefore, to express the avyakt(indistinct), it is a thin moon on the crest of Shiva, which signifies the mind.
The incident of Ganga seated on the forehead of Lord Shiva is believed to be related to King Bhagiratha. Legend has it that Bhagiratha had descended the Ganges from heaven to earth to liberate the sons of his ancestor Sagara. But there are many stories behind this story from which Bhagiratha's attempt was successful. It is said that Brahma's daughter Ganga was very humorous. One day when Durvasa Rishi came to bathe in the river, his clothes flew from the wind and then Ganga laughed.
Angry Durvasa cursed Ganga that you will go to earth and sinners will wash their sins in you. After this incident, Bhagiratha's tenacity began and Lord Shiva granted a boon to Bhagiratha and told Ganga to come from heaven to earth. But to protect the earth from the velocity of the Ganges, Shiva ji had to tie her in his jatas. The story also says that Ganga wanted to be close to Shiva, so she took a severe form before descending on earth. To handle this situation, Shiva gave Ganga a place in his jata.
Ganga means knowledge; The knowledge that purifies our soul. The forehead has always been a symbol of knowledge. Heart is a symbol of love. If Ganga meant love, she would have been portrayed as coming out of the heart of Lord Shiva. She is coming out of the head because it means only knowledge.
Knowledge gives salvation , knowledge brings freedom, knowledge purifies. These are all signs of knowledge. Knowledge has state, there is a flow in it. That is why Ganga (knowledge) is depicted coming out of the head of Lord Shiva (Divinity).
The flow of the Ganges from the head means the Gyanaganga. Ganga ji comes here as a powerful spiritual force of knowledge. Mother Ganga takes shelter in whose jata, which is full of the store of knowledge, which will make the environment happy and peaceful, fill the ignorant people who come to the shelter with the light of knowledge. Only a great man with the determination power like Shiva could keep the Ganges of Brahmgyan and make it flow for public benefit.
* The third eye of lord Shiva
The third eye, that is, the enlightenment, the visionary prudence, by which Kamadeva was burnt to ashes. The third eye has given to every human being by the creator. Under normal circumstances, this is awake as a conscience, but that is so strong and complete in himself that even a deep rage like lust cannot spoil it. The ability to burn them also remains in his conscience.
* Tripund tilak on Shiva forehead.
Tripund tilak on the forehead of Shiva is considered a symbol of three guna (qualities). It is also considered a symbol of Raz, Tama and Satt guna. But how these three lines of ash came to Shiva's forehead is a very interesting story.
The garland of snakes is always wrapped around Shiva's neck. It is believed that Lord Shiva drank the poison emitted during the churning of the ocean and took welfare of everyone. It is said that Vasuki Nag was an ardent devotee of Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva made him the king of Nagaloka and also blessed him to be stay around his neck like a jewel.
The state of samadhi - where nothing happens - only chidakash(universal soul) - that is Shiva; The state in which you remain alert but have no action. This alertness is depicted by putting a snake around Shiva's neck. That is, the snake is a symbol of alertness. When the eyes are closed in the state of meditation, then it appears that the person is sleeping, but he is not asleep, he is alert. To express this state of consciousness, a snake is shown around the neck of Shiva. Lord Shankar has used a black poisonous snake in the throat in such a way that, for him, he became profitable, useful and could not even bite. The art of making enemies even friends.
* Neelkanth - Adoption of Intermediate Policy
Shiva carried the halal poison around his neck, neither spill out nor drank. If spill out poison it spread in the environment, if when he drinking poison then stomach uproar. It is learned from this that neither poisoning is acceptable , nor can it be spill out by disturbance. Keep it restricted to the throat.
Intermediate policy is adopted, as if the Yogi Siddha men have no effect on the world's sorrow,pain,insult and bitterness. He accepts them as ordinary events and keeps his spiritual instinct of world welfare fixed. He himself drinks poison, but keeps donating nectar for others. This is Yogasiddhi.
* Munda mala - the ultimate culmination of life
Both king and general peoples leave this body . They are all threaded together, this is the Samvata Yoga, the face that we see many times in the mirror, decorating it, it is just a piece of the bones . The outer pieces of the color that we see, exposing it, you will find that only the piece of bone is lying behind the beauty of human being.
* Damru
Shiva also has Damru in his hands. Religious belief is that Lord Shiva is the father of music. The story of Bhagwan Shiva coming to Damru in hand is very interesting. At the beginning of creation, when Goddess Saraswati appeared, the Goddess gave birth to sound in the creation with the tone of her veena. But this sound was devoid of tone and music. At that time Lord Shiva vibrate damru fourteen times with dancing and this damru's sound produduced grammar and music's stanza,tone,tune etc. It is said that Damru is the form of Brahma which is seen from far away to show very huge, but as we get closer to Brahma, it gets compressed and merges with the other end and then moves towards vastness. Lord Shiva appeared with it to balance the universe.
Shiva also plays Damru and dances when he has fun. It is a symbol of the fun of Pralayankar. A person is depressed, frustrated and disillusioned, does not sit and lose his available powers, live a happy life. This is what Shiva does, adopting the same policy. His Damru is a symbol of knowledge, art, literature and victory. This repeatedly says that Shiva is the god of welfare. In every word of his, the sound of satyam, shivam comes out.
Damru is the symbol of this universe. The universe is always expanding and disappearing. It expands, merges and then expands again, this is the law of creation. If you look at your heartbeat, you will find that it does not just move in a straight line, it has a rhythm that is up and down. There are different rhythms all over the world; Energy rises and falls and is resurrected again. Damru is a symbol of this. Look at the shape of the damru - first it is widened, then it becomes thinner and widens again.
Damru is also a symbol of sound. Sound is rhythm, sound is energy. This entire universe is just a beam of waves - it has only different vibrations. Quantum physics also says the same - the whole universe is nothing but waves. That is only one wave (advaita). That is, the damru symbolizes the monotheistic nature of the universe.
* Trishul(Trident) - Knowledge, Karma and Devotion
Trishul (Trident) one such weapon which can destroy greed, fascination, arrogance these three bondage and establish justification in every sphere , this weapon is held in the form of trishul - the sharp flow of knowledge, deeds and devotion.
The trident represents the three aspects of consciousness - awakening, dreaming and sleepiness, and it also symbolizes three qualities - sattva, rajas and tamas. Shiva holding the trident signifies that Shiva (divinity) is beyond all the three stages - awake, dream and sleep, and yet he is holding all three. Shul means problems or sorrow. Trishul means - the one who ends all suffering. And it is in the hands of Shiva.
There are three levels of anguish in life: -
1. Adibhautik (physical)
2. Adhytmik (Spiritual-mental)
3.Adidaivik (invisible)
All these anguish and sufferings end by the trishul (trident) - and it is in the hands of Shiva. There is always a trishul in the hands of Lord Shiva. It is believed that when Shiva appeared from the Brahmnad in the beginning of the universe, along with Raja, Tama and Sat, these three guna (qualities) also appeared. These three qualities became the three prongs ie trishul of Lord Shiva. Without reconciliation between them, the operation of creation was difficult. Therefore Shiva held these three qualities in his hands in the form of a trident.
* Baaghambar
Shiva wears tiger skin. Just like a tiger in life, courage and bravery are required by which to fight perversion and undesirable.
* Ash on body - unaffected by change
* Ruler of the crematoriums
He is called ruler of crematoriums. He keep dropping the yellow leaves of autumn and feeding on the spring's leaves and flowers, the death is not frightening and there is no imperfection in it, the dirt which spreads through rottenness, the no longer question of decay if the body was duly cremated , every person should have knowledge of Shiv Satta as a death, so he has put his camp in the crematorium.
* Residence in Himalaya
Shivatattva attains the heights of successes by battling the hardships of life. Life is full of struggles. Just as there is a fear of a dreaded animal in the himalayas, there is a struggle life. The Shiva devotee does not panic with it, making it useful and attains the heights of the himalayas. Shiva resides on Mount Kailash and also is in the crematorium. Kailash means 'where there is only joy', and cremation means 'where there is only zero'. Divinity is found in nothingness or in any celebration. And there is also void and celebration within you.
Being a complete Yogi despite being a householder is an important event in the life of shiva. He is a yogi even while keeping the worldly system, following full celibacy, also seeing his wife as own self power, this is the second ideology of is greatness, Riddhi-Siddhi feel pride in being near him. Here he has proved that even as a householder, the work of welfare is not impossible, by keeping purity in life, it can be accomplished by laughing and playing.
* Pashupatinath
Shiva has been called Pashupati. It is the job of Pashupati to control the maladies and vicious tendencies within the periphery of animalism. When an animal living in the form of a male animal comes under the shelter of the welfare worker Shiva, the animalism is easily disposed of and humanity and divinity begin to develop respectively.
* Lord shiva fully dedicated for his gana
Shankar ji has taken care of the ghosts, the helpless, the backward and has taken them in his marriage. That is, by always taking the backward, the handicapped, the deranged together, the purpose of service-cooperation .
* Lord Shiva's family- An ideal family
In Shiva's family, all are rich in individualism and very useful in their personalities. In Shiva's family along with Shiva , ardhangani maa Bhavani, eldest son Devsenapati Karthikeya and younger son are the first worshipers Ganapati. Naturally bull-lion, snake-peacock are enemies . But they are with each other in the family due to Shivattava.
* Blessing of Shiva
Bhaang-bhang means breach - destruction, dissolution of the unity of maya and jiva, dissolution of ignorance's cover, dissolution of narrow selfishness, dissolution of evil - sin. This is the delicious food of Shiva. Where the blessings of Shiva will be there, the darkness of night will be dissolving and auspicious sun will be giving virtuous darshan.
* Belapatra
Grind the belapatra with water and drink it, human can live without food for many days, the body can remain completely stable, the senses of the body and the vices of the fickle mind are concentrated and the esoteric element awakens power , so belapatra is accepted for the attainment of Shivatattva.
* Shiva-mantra "Om Namah Shivaya"
"Shiva" means welfare, we should take steps keeping in view of welfare and every action - activity and way of thinking should be created - this is the meaning of the word Shiva. Where is our pleasure, not this but where is our welfare? If our vision of welfare is born, then we can say that we have come to know the meaning of lord Shiva's name. Mantra chanting is the work of remembering this sentiment again and again.
Om Namah Shivaaya is one of the most powerful mantras. It activates the body and purifies the environment. Mantras are sounds that help in the upliftment of consciousness.
*The meaning of lord Shiva's worship.
Contemplating and trying to receive it, trying to move on that path, the true worshipers of Shiva are those who abandon their selfishness in their minds and adopt the attitude of philanthropy.
* Why Shiva's body color is blue?
Blue means infinite, like the sky. The blue color symbolizes infinity, which is infinite and omnipresent. It has no form. Shiva has no body. Shiva never came as a person. The ancient sages created a form of Shiva to symbolically symbolize that unfathomable, infinite divinity and to give the knowledge of Shiva for general public to create a divine form. There is no form of knowledge, but it is ingrained in every particle of the universe. The whole world is Shivamaya - his body is the whole universe.
* Tandava------
The whole creation is the dance of the same consciousness (Shiva). A consciousness danced and appeared in millions of species of creation. Therefore this infinite creation is the dance of Lord Shiva or Shiva's Tandava. The whole world is the abode of Shiva.
* Message of Mahashivraatri------
Among the many characteristics of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the biggest feature is that this husband and wife. When living in private, they convert that solitude of marriage into divinity. The biggest message of the festival of Shivaratri is that the relationship that is at the center of the families of India is from the husband and wife. This relationship seems very sweet in public.
couples also seem devoted to each other, but the reality of this relationship comes to light when men and women are in solitude as husband and wife. Parvatiji was a very settled woman. The world knows the same conversation as the Ramkatha, the questions she asked her husband Shiva in the solitude of the marriage.
Slowly, Parvatiji kept asking deep questions, Shivji kept answering. Literature like Yogasutra and Tantrasutra were also given to the world by this divine couple through their mutual conversation. Today, if the husband and wife save their solitude, be alone and be loving, be honest, then it has the biggest impact on the child. Parents and children, if their synergy is correct, no one can break the families of India. Therefore, the festival of Shivaratri should be celebrated specially in families, assuming that the husband-wife relationship in the center is like Shiva-Parvati. Shiva and Parvati are the names of divine solitude, mutual understanding and a special understanding towards children.
