Significance of Mahasivaratri and different legends attached to the occasion :
It is believed that on the day of
Shivratri, Lord Shiva became 'Neelkantham' or the blue-throated one
by consuming the deadly poison which he did not swallow
that emerged following the churning of "Kshir
Sagar" or the milky ocean. Gods and Demons alike were petrified seeing the
pot emerge which was brimful of poison. They ran seeking
refuge to Lord Shiva. The poison was extremely
lethal that even a drop in his stomach, which represented
the universe, would have obliterated the entire creation .
Acknowledging the pitiable sight of the Devatas and
Asuras , Lord Shiva drank the venomous substance but
held it back in his throat , which
consequently turned blue due to the negative the effect of poison.
Shivratri is therefore also referred to as the day of
thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from annihilation and destruction.
According to the Shiv Purana , Lord Vishnu
and Lord Brahma the two gods of the holy trinity were once
engaged in a ferocious fight to prove their superiority over
the other. The battle of attrition assumed alarming proportions and the
Devatas were horrified of the baleful consequences. They approached
Lord Shiva to intervene and resolve the matter.
Lord Shiva assumed the form of a column of
fire between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The magnitude and enormity of the
fire was dazzling. To identify its source, Lord Brahma assumed the form of a
swan and traveled upwards , while Lord Vishnu incarnated as Varaha and moved in
the downward direction, but the fire did not seem to have any end. Lord Brahma
on his flight upwards came across Ketaki flower which was wafting slowly in the
descending direction . Using this as a ruse , Lord Brahma abandoned his
search for Shiva and claimed to have spotted the origin of the column of fire .
An enraged Lord Shiva revealed his true self and remonstrated Lord
Brahma . Lord Brahma was cursed that no one would pray to him and Ketaki flower
which had falsely testified would never be utilised in any manner during
religious practice or ritual.
As it was on the 14th day in the dark half of the
month of Phalguna that Shiva manifested himself in the form of Linga, the day
is auspicious and celebrated as Mahashivaratri.
There is another parable of celebrating Shivaratri
the entire night. Once an old tribal ( an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva)
went deep into a dense forest to collect firewood. As night fell, the
forest was covered with darkness and resounded with rustle of wild animals and
frightening growls. A panic stricken , tribal climbed a tree . In order to
ensure that he did not fall asleep and fall off the tribal kept plucking
one leaf at a time and dropping it . In the process he dropped a thousand
flowers and they fell on a Shiv Linga below. Lord Shiva was extremely pleased
with the devotee and revealed his magnificent self to the tribal.
ShivaRatri is also a moonless night and
people worship the God who adorns the crescent moon as an adornment in his
hair. This is to dispel darkness and to pray that moon arises the next day , is
yet another tale of Shiv Ratri.
A Festival Significant for Women:
Shivratri is considered especially
auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands
and sons. While the unmarried women pray for an ideal husband
like Lord Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But
it is believed commonly that anyone who utters the name of Lord
Shiva during Shivratri with sincerity and devotion devotion is
purged from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and
gets liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
These parables and tales essentially
focus on the supreme power , the sign of fertility , ushering in of
spring , dispelling of ignorance and emulation of superior
knowledge and intelligence.
Shivaratri
is taking refuge in Shiva. You take refuge in Shiva for your true nature is
Shiva. Shiva is that blissful and innocent consciousness which exists in every
atom of the universe and also in us. Celebrating the Shiva Tattva in oneself is
called Shivaratri. ‘Ratri’ means night, the time for rest, when everything
becomes quiet and peaceful. Shivaratri is not only rest for body, but for mind
and ‘Ego’. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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