Shivarathri explanation

Maha Shivarathri
Shivarathri means the night dedicated
to Lord Shiva and is the most sacred
festival of Shiva. A twenty-four hour
fast and vigil is observed on this day for
self-purification.
There are five types of Shivarathri –
Maatha Shivarathri, Nithya Shivarathri, Pakka Shivarathri, Yoga Shivarathri and Maha Shivarathri. Among
these five, Maha Shivarathri is the most
sacred.
According to our Hindu Calendar, the
fourteenth day in the Krishna paksham
of Phalgun (in the Tamil month of
Masi : Mid February – Mid March) is
Maha Shivarathri. This year it will be
celebrated on 19th February.
Humans are endowed with good and bad
qualities. Anger, greed, lust, egoism, hatred. jealousy, cruelty etc. and all other
negative qualities have to be subdued by
our good qualities.
During Shivarathri, Hindus often
devote their time to purifying
themselves, in order to help this
process. It is said that worship offered
on Shivarathri Day is equal to a whole
year of normal worship!
Those who observe Shivarathri
properly, take one meal just before the
start of Shivarathri and then fast
throughout the whole day.
They wake up early and bathe during
“Brahmma Muhutam” (dawn), wear freshly washed clothes and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Then the whole day is spent performing
good deeds. For example, helping the destitute, feeding the poor,
nursing the sick and other such virtuous acts.
The night worship is divided
into four 3- hour periods
(jaamams). The whole night
is spent in devout worship.
Prayers then commence with
an invocation to Lord
Ghanapathy, who removes all
obstacles and bestows success
in all undertakings.
Then special prayers begin to
Lord Shiva in the form of the
Shiva Lingam.
At the Temple, each fourhour period begins with the
abishekham (divine bath),
with the offering of pancham
ritham (special fruit mixture)
and a steady pouring of
water.
The Lingam is then
adorned with holy ash,
sandlewood paste,
kum-kum, fresh flower
garlands and ornaments.
The various names of
Lord Shiva are recited,
combined with the
offering of flowers and
“Bael (vilva) Leaves”,
sacred to Lord Shiva.
Hymns are sung in His glory. Cooked food (naivedyam) is offered
and sanctified with the recitation of “Vedic Mantras”.
Then “arathi” (the offering of the sacred light) concludes the rites.
Until the end of the first period of prayer, religious dramas, dances,
religious talks and music recitals relating to Lord Shiva are often
performed.
Some devotees perform Japa (meditation), chanting the
“Panchachara Mantra” and other mantras given by their gurus.
Thirumurais (sacred hymns), composed by the Nayanmars (saints
devoted to Lord Shiva), are also sung to increase the level of
devotion and the positive vibrations in the Temple.
These religious rites and ceremonies are repeated
every three hours and the worship continues
throughout the night. Lord Shiva is worshipped
with intense devotion and the prayers are concluded
at day-break, when the worshippers offer a handful
of flowers and prostrate in total submission to Lord
Shiva. The festival ends with the fast being broken
with prasadam (blessed food) and the hope of a
more spiritual future.
The aim of human life is to realise God, to be freed
from the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Shivarathri is regarded as the most sacred of days
during which to cleanse the inner impurities of the
body and mind, through devout worship and
spiritual discipline.
Shivarathri, if observed
annually with faith and
devotion, will help to
quell our sins and grant
us spiritual peace.
May Lord Shiva bless us
all with the strength and
determination to reach
our spiritual goals and
continue to shower His
grace upon us all.
Aum Nama Shivaya.