Mahashivaratra (Magha Krushna Paksha Trayodashi – 11th March 2021)
Every Deity has a specified ‘science of worship’, meaning, there is an underlying science in each, specific step of the worship. Performing each action of the worship in an appropriate manner after understanding the science helps the worshipper benefit to the maximum. With this perspective, various steps such as how should a worshipper apply bhasma (Sacred ash) to himself before worshipping Deity Shiva, which rangoli should be drawn in front of Deity Shiva, which flowers should be offered to Him and in what numbers, the incense-stick of which fragrance is to be waved in front Him, which fragrance must be offered to Him, etc. have been elucidated in Sanatan’s Spiritual text – ‘Spiritual science underlying worship of Deity Shiva’.
This will help not only the devotees who worship Deity Shiva every day, but also devotees who observe Vrats (Vowed religious observances) and celebrate festivals such as Solaha-Somvar, Shravan-Somvar, Shivamuth, Haritalika, Mahashivaratra.
We present here some important portions.
On the day of Mahashivaratra, the Shiva Principle is a 1,000 times more active than on other days. To get maximum benefit of the Shiva Principle, besides worshipping Shiva with complete bhav (Spiritual emotion), we should also chant ‘Om Namaha Shivaya I’ as much as possible.
Chanting the Name of Deity Shiva
‘Namaha Shivaya I’ is Deity Shiva’s panchakshari (Five-lettered) mantra. In an anuvak (One sub-part) of the Yajurveda, the Rudradhyaya begins with these words. The mantra is taken from there. When it is prefixed with the pranav (Om), it becomes ‘Om Namaha Shivaya I’, the shadakshari (Six-lettered) mantra.
1. Meaning
1A. The spiritual meaning of each letter of the five-lettered mantra is as follows :
Na = The foremost Deity of all the lokas or subtle-regions
maha = Bestower of supreme spiritual knowledge and destroyer of the greatest of sins
Shi = Benevolent, serene and responsible for initiation by Shiva
va = The representation of a bull as the vehicle and Vasuki and Vamangi Shakti
ya = The auspicious abode of Supreme Anand and Shiva
Hence, Namaskar (Obeisance) to these five letters.
These five letters also have a correlation with the tandav dance of Nataraj Shiva, which is as follows :
Na = The hand holding fire
maha = The foot on the demon Muyalak
Shi = The hand holding a damaru (An hour-glass shaped drum)
va = The outstretched hand
ya = The hand bestowing protection
These five letters are also said to be indicative of Ishwar (God), Shakti, Atma (Soul), the antardhan (Unmanifest one) and vanquishing of demerits respectively.
1B. ‘Om Namaha Shivaya I’ means coming from ‘Om’ (nirgun) to ‘Namaha Shivaya I’ (sagun).
1C. Om in the chanting of Shiva’s Name : For creation of the sagun (Maya) from the nirgun (Brahman), tremendous amount of energy is required. Such energy is generated by ‘Om’. Chanting of ‘Om’ by one whose spiritual level is not high can cause physical distress such as rise in the body temperature, etc. or psychological distress like restlessness.
The waves created from ‘Om’ generate a lot of energy or heat in the body. This does not affect the male reproductive organs since they are outside the body cavity.
However, in case of women, this heat can affect the reproductive organs since they are within the abdominal cavity. They may experience distress or suffer from excessive menstrual flow, amenorrhoea, pain during menstrual cycle, etc. Hence, it is advisable for women not to prefix ‘Om’ to the Name unless otherwise recommended by the Guru; for example, they may chant ‘Namaha Shivaya |’ instead of ‘Om Namaha Shivaya |’. Otherwise, they should use Shri as a prefix. This rule is applicable to an ordinary woman, but those at a spiritual level above 60% can prefix ‘Om’ to the Name.
Circumambulation of Deity Shiva is like the crescent, that is, Somasutri. The channel which runs northwards towards the Som (Moon) from the shalunka till the boundary of the temple is known as the Somasutra. We should begin circumambulating from the left side and continue till the channel of the shalunka from where the water offered during the Abhishek flows. Without crossing it, we should complete a circumambulation, by moving in the reverse direction up to the other side of the channel (Also known as the strota). This rule applies only if the Shivalinga has been installed or created by man; it does not apply to a swayambhu or a chalalinga which is placed in the house. The flow of a shalunka is not crossed, since it is the flow of Shakti. When we cross it, the legs are spread. As a result, formation of semen and the five vayus (Internal vital energies) are adversely affected. Flow of devdatta and dhananjaya vital energies is obstructed too. However, it does not have any effect if while crossing it the body is contracted, that is, the nadis (Channels) are contracted.
Since rationalists do not understand the subtle dimension, they feel that the channel of the linga is not crossed because while doing so the dirt on our feet contaminates the water there. If devotees consume this water as Tirtha (Sacred liquid), it could result in illness.
Prevent denigration of Deities.
Nowadays, Deities are being denigrated in various ways. For example, the anti-Hindu artist MF Husain drew nude pictures of Hindu Deities and sold them openly. Deities are criticised through lectures, books, etc.; beggars dress like a Deity and seek alms; Deities are used as models in commercial advertisements. Denigration takes place rampantly through stage plays and films too.
Some examples of the denigration of Deity Shiva
1. The anti-Hindu painter MF Husain had drawn pervert paintings like ‘Shiva watching Parvati copulating with a bull on the day of Shivaratra’, ‘A half-naked Parvati without legs, sitting near Shiva, who is without a head, with hand and legs cut off and Shri Ganapati sitting on Her thigh’, and many more. Husain sold such perverted paintings openly in the world market.
2. An undergarment manufacturer printed pictures of Shiva and Shri Ganapati on their products.
Preventing denigration of Deities is a spiritual practice at the samashti level
Worship of Deities is based on faith. Their denigration as mentioned above adversely affects this faith and causes irreparable harm to Dharma. Preventing this harm amounts to abiding by Dharma as per the present time and signifies worship at the samashti level for society. The worship of a Deity cannot be complete without samashti worship. Hence, devotees of Deity Shiva ought to wake up and stop such harm being caused to Dharma. Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti are actively engaged in this noble task in a lawful manner.
Take the following preventive steps to stop the denigration of Deities
1. Protest against anti-Hindus and exhibitions, where nude pictures of Deities are displayed or openly sold.
2. Boycott products of companies which denigrate Deities through commercial advertisements, news-papers and events.
3. Prevent beggars who dress like a Deity and seek alms.
4. Lodge a complaint with the Police about your religious feelings getting hurt due to denigration of Deities.
Join the mission of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha to protect Dharma
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha have been spear-heading public awareness campaigns on a large scale in a lawful manner against the denigration of Deities and Saints, malpractices in festivals, the proposed heretic ‘Anti-Superstition Bill’, takeover of temples by the Government, etc. O’ devotees of Deity Shiva ! Join these campaigns and fulfil your duty unto Dharma and thus obtain more grace of the Deities. If you protect Dharma, then only Dharma (God) will protect you.
Some prayers to be made to Deity Shiva
1. O’ Mahadev ! Let the spiritual emotion of detachment be created in me as in You.
2. O’ Shivashankar ! Protect me from the distress being caused by negative energies. I pray at Your Holy feet for a protective sheath of the chant of Your Name around me constantly.