Many stories are there about the shivrathri. Some says that the first Shivaling originated in the night of Shivaraatri. Some says that it on this night that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. This is why the day is also called Shiv Gouri Divas. Its a day that Shiva married Parvathi. Parvathi who was the most ardent devotee of Shiva and wanted to marry him. Her earlier efforts to win him over with her physical beauty failed as Shiva simply reduced Lord Kamadeva (who assisted her) to ashes and simply turned his back on her without seeing at second look. In doing so he made her understand that it takes more than physical beauty and passion to win him. She then finally won him not by her tremendous physical beauty but by her austerity, love and devotion and the intense spiritual longing to unite with her Lord.
My Amma says that Shivaratri does not mean just keeping awake the whole night. Many people wish to keep a night long vigil, and spend the nights merely by playing cards the whole night and some people Keeping awake by watching three to four movies but my amma says that it cannot amount to Vigil. Shivarathri means spending the whole night by chanting Lord shiva's name keeping vigil.According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship should incorporate six items: offering bilva leaves to the deity after giving it a ceremonial bath, which represents purification of the soul; applying vermilion paste on the linga after bathing it, which represents virtue; offering food, which is conducive to longevity and the gratification of desires; lighting incense, which yields wealth; lighting an oil lamp, which signifies the attainment of knowledge; and offering betel leaves, which marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures. These six items form an indispensable part of the Mahashivaratri worship, be it a simple ceremony at home or grand temple worship.
Lord Shiva is the god, to whom most Hindus turn to for good spouse and for a harmonious family life; especially women worship him for the welfare of the family. It is said that Shiva showers all his blessings on people, who remember him with an honest and true heart. There is a story that old timers narrate. In the olden days if you went to a village and asked anyone to direct to the house where daily shiva puja takes place the bystanders will tell you to look for the house in front of which an elephant is tied. Lord Shiva is known to be very generous giving away boons, although, he would test his devotees to the core. Shiva not only finds no faults with others, but if someone has even a little good quality, he magnifies it greatly.That is why Shiva is glorified as one who immediately fulfils every ones desires.
It is in fact to be noted that Lord shiva is worshipped by the devas like Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, by asuras like bana, ravana, tripura, surapadma, by humans like shankara bhagavatpada, by other creatures like eagles, monkey, snakes and the list goes on and on. One finds in the puranas the variety of people of different backgrounds and qualities worship the Lord shiva. There are many histories of temples which talk of the cranes, bees, elephants, spiders, snakes worshipping the Lord and getting blessed. So the Lord as the Supreme blesses anyone who worships in sincere devotion. There is no discrimination on who the seeker is. The Lord is so merciful that He showers the boons one look for when there is a determination to seek Him. It is evident from the history of asura bana who attained a great fame of his valor and got the place in the abode of Lord shiva all due to his determined worship of the Lord. So anybody who worships the Lord sincerely could get blessed with Its Grace irrespective of the caste, creed, race, power, status and qualities.
Mahashivratri has immense significance in Hindu religion. While there are many festivals in India celebrated with great pomp and gaiety shivarathri is a festival celebrated by fasting and vigil. It is a night of vigil – vigil over our thoughts, words and actions. It is a night where in we should try to awaken the divinity within us.Its a day that celebrates these three qualities of austerity devotion and love. These are of immense importance in our lives, be it family life or spiritual progress. Anyone who cutivates these qualities is bound to suceed.
Dedicating this post to my Amma Redhi Bhaskaran.
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