when the Shiva principle descends to Earth

a thousand times more than usual.

On this day, to obtain the full benefit of

Lord Shiva”s principle,
one should chant

“Om Namah Shivaya”

as much as possible.
Shivratri
is the time when Shiva takes a rest.
Shiva rests for one “prahar” (three hours) of the night.
This “prahar” is referred to as the Shivratri.
When Lord Shiva takes rest, the function of
“Shivtatva” (Shiva Principle) ceases,
i.e. Lord Shiva goes into a meditative state.
Shiva”s meditative state is the time when
He is engrossed in His own spiritual practice.
During that time,
the “Shivtatva” does not accept any tamogun
(most base of the 3 elements in us - sattva, raja & tama)
or
any halahal (venom churned from the ocean)
coming from the Universe.
As a result,
the ratio of halahal or the pressure
of the negative energies increases.
For protection from this pressure, things like
”bilva patra”, white flowers, “rudraksha” beads etc
are offered to Lord Shiva.

These things attract the “Shivtatva” from the atmosphere,
thus providing protection from the increasing
effect of the negative energies.
The Earth is a gross object.
Gross objects have very low velocities
i.e. they require more time to cover a specific distance in space.
Gods on the other hand, are subtle hence they
are capable of traversing space within a few seconds.
That is why one year on the earth

is equivalent to just one day of heaven.
Science in the worship of
Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri
The function of the
“Shivpindi”
1.
Emitting waves of Knowledge,
Devotion and renunciation
Predominantly
“sattva” waves of knowledge,
”raja” waves of devotion
and
”tama” waves of Renunciation (Vairagya)
are emitted by the “Shivpindi”.
During Mahashivratri,
the emission increases by 30 percent.
2.
Emission of subtle vibrations
of chaitanya, bliss and peace
The “Shivpindi” emits
subtle vibrations of chaitanya, bliss and peace.
During the Mahashivratri,
the emission increases by 25 percent.
This helps purify the subtle-body of
one who worships the Shivpindi on this day.
The “sun” or the “moon” channels
in the body get activated as per necessity.
The capacity to absorb the sattvaguna
and chaitanya also increases.
Due to the presence of the unmanifest
Shiva principle in the Shivpindi
and the vibrations of peace emitted,
the Shivpindi remains cool and the
mind too experiences peace.
Worship of Shivpindi with devotion,
activates the dormant Shiva principle.
An offering of puffed rice and milk
reaches Lord Shiva in the subtle form.
3.
Receiving the
”tarak or marak tatva (element)”
as required
There is a confluence of the manifest
and the unmanifest elements along with the
“tarak and marak tatva” in the Shivpindi.
(Tarak = Saviour; Marak = Destroyer).
That is how worshipers receive the required element.
The temperature of the Shivpindi increases due
to the emission of the marak tatva
and there one experiences bliss.
Similarly,
when the tarak tatva is emitted,
the temperature drops and one experiences peace and bliss.

Bilvapatra (Bel leaves)
Bilvapatra contains 2% Shiva tatva.
By offering bilvapatra to the Shivpindi on Mahashivratri,
the manifest Shiva tatva near the stalk of
the bilvapatra gets activated.
Due to this, waves of chaitanya as well as Shiva tatva
are emitted by the bilvapatra.
The bilvapatra
attracts 20% of the Shiva tatva present in
the Shivpindi towards itself.
By immersing this bilvapatra
in water or by placing it in grains,
the Shiva tatva present in the bilvapatra is transmitted to them.
The Shiva tatva in the bilvapatra
is activated to a larger extent on Mondays
when it transmits 10% of the Shiva tatva and sattvikta.
On other days only 1% of the Shiva tatva
is activated in the bilvapatra.
Bilvarchan
Offering bilvapatra
to the Shivpindi and chanting the mantra
“Om Namah Shivaya”
with each offering is known as bilvarchan.
Continue offering the bilvapatra until the pindi
is completely covered.
Offer the bilvapatra from the lower part of the pindi.
By starting from the feet of the idol,
more benefit is derived and the idol
can be covered completely.
Chanting on Mahashivratri
“Om Namah Shivaya”
Om represents an unmanifest state beyond
the 3 gunas (elements of sattva, raja & tama).
We bow to Lord Shiva, from whom Om was created.
What does the word “Shiva” mean?
a.
The word Shiva has been derived
by reversing the letters of the word vash.
Vash means to enlighten; thus the one
who enlightens is Shiva.
He remains radiant and also illuminates the universe.
b.
He is the auspicious and
prosperity-bestowing principle.
Some unique attributes
1. Physical attributes
a. Ganga :
Just as the sun is the focal point of the solar system
and the soul that of the body,
the focal point of divine consciousness
(chaitanya) in every object and
pure particles (pavitrakas) is ga-aum.
The flow from which ga-aum originates is gan gaha = Ganga.
Ga-aum flows from Shiva”s head.
This is called the descent of the Ganga
from Shiva”s head.
Since the river Ganga has a fraction
of the principle of the spiritual Ganga,
no matter how polluted it becomes,
its purity is perpetually retained.
Hence,
when compared to any other water in the world,
the water from the Ganga is the purest.
This is realised not only by those
who can perceive the subtle dimension
but also by scientific researchers.
b. Moon :
Shiva adorns the chandra (moon) on His forehead.
The point where the three frequencies
- affection (mamata), mercifulness (kshamashilata)
and motherly love (vatsalya) originate
is referred to as the chandra (moon).
Thus, one can conclude that chandrama
(the moon principle) is the state in
which the three attributes of affection,
mercifulness and motherly love are present.
c. Third eye :
Shankar is three-eyed,
i.e. He can perceive events of the past, present and future.
According to the science of Yoga
the third eye means the Sushumna nadi (channel).
d. Serpent :
One of the Names of Lord Shankar is Bhujanga-patihari.
Bhujang means a serpent or pure particles (pavitrakas),
pati means the nurturer and hari means one
with a garland around His neck.
Bhujangapatihari thus means the One
who nurtures pure particles and wears them like a garland.
Various serpents represent groups of pure particles.
Though externally they appear like serpents,
internally they are a kind of ladder.
To make spiritual progress one has to climb
up holding onto the tail of the serpent.
Lord Shankar adorns serpents at nine points on His body
- one on the head,
one around the neck,
one on each arm,
one on each wrist,
one around the waist and
one on each thigh.
This implies that His body is comprised
of pure particles or that serpents of pure particles
play all over the body of Lord Shankar
who has the universe as His form.
2. Spiritual attributes
a. One performing severe
austerities and the great yogi
Shiva is always seated in a bandha or a mudra.
His temperature rises due to heat generated
by performing severe austerities;
Hence, He uses the Ganga, the moon and
serpents which endow a cooling effect
and lives on the snow-clad Kailas mountain.
b. Short tempered
If someone disturbs His meditation
the radiance generated by spiritual practice
will be suddenly expelled and whoever is in front of Him
will not be able to tolerate it, and gets destroyed.
This is referred to as being “reduced to ashes
by Shankar”s opening of the third eye”.

c.
One who is willing to undergo
any distress for the sake of imparting happiness to others
The poison
generated during the churning
of the celestial ocean (samudramanthan)
was burning the entire Universe but no deity
came forward to accept it.
At that time Shiva drank that poison
and saved the world from destruction.
d.
One who has both,
deities and demons, as His worshippers
Neither did demons
like Banasur, Ravan, etc.
worship Lord Vishnu nor did Lord Vishnu bestow
any boon upon any demon.
However, they worshipped Lord Shiva who blessed them.
e. Master of the spirits
Since Lord Shiva is the master of spirits,
His worshippers are generally not possessed by them.
Science in the idol - in the Human form
This represents the Brahman
in the form of the word (shabda Brahman).
Alphabets consisting of the sounds of
fifty-two basic letters and the forms
of fourteen Maheshvar verses (sutras)
have generated from it.
Later the universe was created from these.
2. Trident :
represents the following -
The three components - sattva, raja and tama
The root of creation, sustenance and dissolution
Volition, knowledge and action
3. Noose (pash) :
The noose represents the noose of time (kalpash)
(The rope in Lord Ganapati”s hand too is the same).
Worship
a. Application of holy ash (Bhasma)
Tripundra refers to the three horizontal
stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead.
These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge,
purity and penance (spiritual practice of Yoga),
so also they represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.

b. Wearing a rudraksha
Wearing a rudraksha when worshipping Lord Shiva is ideal.
A rudraksha is reddish in colour with yellow stripes
and is flat like a fish.
On one side it has a slight opening which
appears like an open mouth.
The rudraksha converts light frequencies of deities
from the universe into sound frequencies in the
body of humans and vice versa.
As a result, humans can absorb frequencies of deities
and thoughts can get converted into the language of deities.
A Genuine Rudraksha
The rudraksha absorbs sama (sattva) frequencies.
Similarly sama frequencies are emitted by its crests.
A real rudraksha can be recognised by the
vibrations felt by holding it in the hand.
At that time the body absorbs the
sama frequencies emitted by the rudraksha.
Nowadays,
mostly Vikrutaksha is sold as a rudraksha.
This is the seed of a type of wild berry.
Vikrutaksha is used for sacrificial fires of
tantriks, black magic etc.
by sorcerers.
c. Ritualistic worship of the pindi
Only cold water and bel is offered
to Lord Shankar”s pindi.
Neither is it bathed with milk and panchamrut
(a mixture of milk, curds, ghee, sugar and honey)
nor offered turmeric, vermilion (kumkum)
or white consecrated rice (akshata).
Milk and clarified butter (ghee) symbolise sustenance
while turmeric is an underground stem and represents
fertility of the soil, that is creation.
Vermilion is prepared from turmeric.
Since Lord Shiva is the deity of dissolution,

substances such as milk, vermilion and
turmeric are not used in His worship.
d. Circumambulation
(pradakshina)
When circum-ambulating one should begin
from the left side and continue till the channel
of the shalunka from where the water offered
during the ritualistic bathing (abhishek) flows.
Without crossing it one should complete
a circum-ambulation by moving in the reverse direction up
to the other side of the channel.
The flow of a shalunka is not crossed
as it is the flow of energy which adversely
affects the formation of semen and
the five internal vital energies (pran vayu).
e. Chanting the Name of Lord Shiva
“Namaha Shivaya is Shiva”s five-syllabled mantra.
The spiritual meaning of each of the five syllables is:
na = Foremost deity of all the regions (lokas)
ma = Bestower of supreme spiritual knowledge (gyan)
and redeemer of the greatest of sins
shi = Benevolent, serene and responsible for
initiation by Lord Shiva
va = Symbolic of a bull as the vehicle
and Vasuki and Vamangi energy (shakti)
ya = Auspicious abode of Supreme Bliss and Lord Shiva.
Hence, obeisance (namaskar) to these five syllables.

Mahashivaratri Mantras

Maha Mrityunjay Mantra

One of the ancient Sanskrit mantras, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a verse of Yajurveda. It is the great death-conquering mantra, which is popularly referred to as Tryambakam Mantra, as it is identified with the three-eyed Hindu deity - Lord Shiva. The Mantra has many names and forms. It is sometimes called the Rudra Mantra, with reference to the furious face of Lord Shiva. On the other hand, when it is called the Tryambakam Mantra, then it is referred to the alluding three eyes of Lord Shiva. When it comes to life, it is Mrityunjaya Mantra is called the Mrita-Sanjivini Mantra.

Mrityunjaya Mantra holds the highest place among the Sanskrit mantras used for meditation. The recital of Mrityunjaya Mantra is beneficial for the body and soul in many ways. According to Yajurveda, if the mantra is chanted with immense concentration and devotion, then it purifies the karmas of the soul. Mental, emotional and physical health can be improvised by the regular chanting of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. In the following lines, we have provided the Mrityunjaya Mantra.

Mrityunjaya Mantra
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

English Translation
“OM. We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, O Shiva. You are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality.” - by Arthur Berriedale Keith

Word By Word Translation
Tri-ambaka-m - The three-eyed-one Yaja-mahe - We praise Sugandhi-m - The fragrant Pusti-vardhana-m - The prosperity-increaser Urvaruka-m - Disease, attachment, obstacles in life, and resulting depression” iva “-like Bandhanat - From attachment Stem (of the gourd); but more generally, unhealthy attachment Mrtyor - From death Mukshiya - May you liberate Ma - Not Amritat - Realization of immortality

Mahashivaratri Significance

Mahashivaratri is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated with religious fervor across the length and breadth of India. Followers of Lord Shiva consider the festival very special, as it is the time to show their love and devotion to their favorite deity. It is significant in every devotee’s life, as it also tests ones ability to abstain from food (because fast is observed on the day) and remain vigil in the night without sleeping (because one has to remain awake all through the night, on Mahashivratri). In addition to this, Maha Shivaratri bears significance in Hindu mythology. In the following lines, learn all about the significance of Mahashivaratri.

Significance Of Maha Shivratri

Importance In Hinduism
According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva declared that the rituals performed by his devotees on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun please him the most. Therefore, year by year, the day is observed as Mahashivratri, wherein devotees observe fast, sing songs and bhajans and offer prayers to the Almighty to seek his blessings. Pujas conducted in Lord Shiva temples during the day have significance too. This is because the rituals are conducted strictly in accordance with the method that is prescribed in Shiva Purana, a Hindu epic. According to the Purana, poojas are conducted once in every three hours, on Maha Shivaratri.

Importance In Human Lives
It is believed that the devotion of Lord Shiva on Mahashivaratri would freed the devotee from the past sins. Moreover, the devotee would reach the adobe of Lord Shiva and live there happily, because he/she is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, once he/she attains moksha or salvation. Therefore, all the devotees of Lord Shiva would flock the temples to offer their prayers. To serve the purpose, jujube fruits, stalks of Bilwa leaves, flowers and garlands are offered to the Shiva Linga by the devotees. If the devotee celebrates the festival at home, he/she would perform the Mahashivratri Puja by taking a holy bath (in warm water) early in the morning, wearing new clothes and then smearing bhasm (holy ash) on their forehead.

Importance For Women
Maha Shivaratri is especially important for women. Ladies, both married and unmarried, would perform Shiva Puja and observe fast with great devotion and sincerity. This is predominantly done to appease Lord Shiva along with his consort Goddess Parvati, who is often called Ma Gauri. It is believed that Ma Gauri bestows marital bliss on unmarried women and blesses the married women with healthy and blissful married life. Since Lord Shiva is regarded as the ideal husband by the Hindu women, the unmarried women would not miss to observe the stringent fast on Shivaratri.