Mahashivratri 2015, The Festival of Lord Shiva

(An auspicious time to receive blessings from Lord Shiva)

Whenever his beloved devotees run into predicaments, Lord Shiva pleased with their devotion Himself destroys their troubles. Maha Shivratri (The great night of Shiva) is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals, celebrated every year on the thirtieth night in the Krishna Paksha in February. It’s the night when devotees worship and offer prayers to Shiva who destroys the darkness of ignorance.

Many mythological legends shed light on the significance of this festival. Maha Shivratri connotes the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and His consort Shakti aka Goddess Parvati. The festival is also marked to honor Tandava, the cosmic dance.

One of the legends says that Shiva rescued the world from a great annihilation which was caused by a poison emanating from Samudra Manthan; the churning of the sea. Shiva drank the poison holding it in his throat with yogic powers. As a result his neck turned blue and henceforth he was called Neela Kantha, Neela means blue and Kantha means throat.

The most famous mythological tale is about a hunter. A tired hunter of Varanasi after killing game birds sat down below a tree to rest in an evening. He woke up and found it was all dark around him. He didn’t know that it was the night of Maha Shivratri. He climbed up the tree and tied the bund of game birdd to a branch. A Lingam stationed under the tree could not come to his notice. And the tree was Lord Shiva’s favorite, the Bilva tree. Accidently, he plucked and dropped a few leaves. Also, dew that formed on his body too trickled along with the leaves down onto the Lingam. Such an event pleased Lord Shiva. Later in life, the hunter died calling the death god Yama who decided to take him to Hell. At the same time, Lord Shiva sent his messengers to take the hunter to Him. A great fight between the men of Yama and Shiva ensued leading the defeat of Yama. At the request of Shiva’s devotee Nandi, Yama surrendered the hunter to Shiva learning that no devotees should be touched without the divine consent of Lord Shiva.

Maha Shivratri witnesses huge convergences and congregations at Shiva’s temples wherein devotees engage in scared rituals pouring water/milk onto the Shiv Ling in order to please Him. When pleased, the Lord blesses them the fulfillment of all desires.

The Shiva Purana mentions the rituals and prayers to be performed on this day. The Ling should be offered milk, honey and water. Vermilion paste signifying divine virtue should be marked on the Ling followed by the presentation of fruits, incense sticks, a lamp and betel leaves.

Anyone can perform this simple rite and please Lord Shiv who always blesses His devotees!

Shravan Maas in 2014

Shravan Maas is the fifth month in the Hindu calendar. In 2014, as per Gregorian calendar Shravan Maas will commence on 13 July and will last till 25 August 2014. During this month, on the full moon day the Shravana Nakshatra rules the sky, thus the whole month gets its name as Shravan Maas or month. The month of Shravan, often referred to as Sawan is the holiest month of the year as the entire month is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many ancient Vedic texts speak about the importance and auspiciousness of the holy month of Shravan.

Each day of the Shravan month is considered auspicious more so Mondays (Somvars) are considered as the best days to fast and to worship Lord Shiva. Numerous festivals are celebrated during the month of Shravan such as Nag Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan and many more. It’s highly auspicious to wear Rudraksha In the month of Shravan and offer worship and do abhishekam for Lord Shiva using Bel Patra, Milk, Ganga Jal, Curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar, Coconut Water, Sugarcane Juice, Lotus flowers, Datura fruit and much more.

During the Shravan Month and especially on Shravan Mondays devotees throng to Shiva temples big and small to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and seek health, wealth and prosperity. Various Pujas such as Shravan Maas Shiv Pujan, Laghu Rudra Abhishekam, Maha Rudra Abhishekam, Shiva Mantra Japa, Maha Mritunjaya Mantra Japa are offered to Lord Shiva during the month of Shravan. During Shravan Maas, women observe fast on Mondays and recite the Shravan Somvar Vrat katha so as to find a good husband.

As per Legends it was in the month of Shravan that the Samudra Manthan took place. And it was on a Monday in the month of Shravan that Lord Shiva drank the Halahala poison that emerged from the Samudra Manthan. Shravan Maas is also an excellent time to get in touch with one’s spiritual side, do meditation and Mantra Japa especially Maha Mritunjaya Mantra and the Maha Mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.

Mahashivratri Festival 2014

Mahashivratri is celebrated yearly by all Shiva devotees in the month of Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar. Maha Shivaratri 2014 will be celebrated on 27^th of February.  On the day of Mahashivratri devotees observe a strict fast and make it a point to visit a Shiva temple. Bhajans and Mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva are sung and chanted with dedication on this day.

On the day of Mahashivratri Shiva temples big and small are decorated to the hilt. One can find long serpentine queue of devotees at all Shiva temples on the day of Mahashivratri. Devotees perform Shiva Abhishekam using sacred articles such as Panchagavya, Gangajal, milk, curd, honey, water and more. Flowers, fruits such as Datura and Ber, Betel nut and Bel Patra are also offered to Lord Shiva.

There are many legends which are associated with Mahashivratri such as that on this day Lord Shiva married Maa Parvati. Also on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva performed Tadava. One more legend is that on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva consumed the poison Halahala which emerged during the churning of oceans and also that Mahashivratri is the favorite day of Lord Shiva.

One more legend is that on the day of Mahashivratri, Maa Parvati performed strict penance for the wellbeing of Lord Shiva and hence on this day married women worship Shiva for wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried girl for an understanding life partner. According to Shiva Purana worshipping Lord Shiva with milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water and with utmost sincerity and dedication is blessed with all worldly pleasures and finally attains Moksha.

Rituals for Mahashivratri festival celebration 2014

Rituals for Mahashivratri

The celebration of Maha Shivratri starts on the night of Chauthas, the fourteenth day of the waxing moon and continues till the morning of Amavas (dark night). On the day of Mahashivratri, devotees observe a strict fast and make it a point to visit a Shiva Temple. In the morning devotees after taking a bath preferably a dip in Holy Ganga, head towards a Shiva temple. At the temple, after circumambulating the Shiv Lingam three or seven times, devotees bathe the Shivling with either water or with milk.

According to Shiva Purana, the Maha Shivratri rituals must compulsorily incorporate the following six items Bael Leaves, Vermilion Paste, Fruits preferably Ber (jujube fruit) or Datura, Incense, Oil Lamp and Betel Leaves. On Mahashivratri the entire night is divided into four Prahars or quarters and special prayers are offered during each quarter. At the end of each quarter Shiva Abhishekam is done with Milk, Gangajal, Yoghurt, Honey, Sandalwood Paste and Rose Water. Shiva Bhajans (Hymns in praise of Shiva)are sung throughout enhancing the festivities. Mahashivratri is also one of the best days for Spiritual meditation and Mantra Japa of Shiva Mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ using a Rudraksha Japa Mala.

Importance of Calling Priest at Home

Be it a holy puja like a janamdinpooja, satyanarayanpooja, vaastu shanti puja, Navagraha puja or any other puja, in Hindu tradition, we always call a priest or a Brahman home in order to perform the rituals. Even if someone dies, a priest is called in order to conduct the funeral rituals. This is not just restricted to Hinduism but even Christianity and Islam follow the same.

Have you ever given a thought as to why the priests, Maulvi or Fathers are given so much importance? Why do we need to call them in order to perform the pujas and not do it ourselves? Let us now explore…

Who is a Priest?

Before finding the reason behind why are priests called at home for performing different rituals, we need to understand who is a priest! A priest is a person from the Brahmana community, it being the highest among other castes. Brahmanas or priests are often referred to as pandit which means “learned scholar.” Priests, brahmanas or pandits are trained in vedas and they know all the important and relevant mantras or hymns to perform any kind of religious pooja or ritual. They are expected to know all the religious scriptures and also Sanskrit. In fact, some of them work in the temples as pujaris or the ones who conduct daily rituals to the deity.

Why do we call priests at home?

Poojas or rituals are conducted in order to seek the blessings from the Almighty. It is believed that in order for the pooja ritual to reach the Supreme Being, hymns or mantras are necessary. Since the priests are trained and well-versed with the hymns or mantras, they are called home in order to perform the different rituals. The priests act as an intermediate between us and the God. In this way, the Almighty is pleased and in turn, we receive His blessings and find solace in life.

So, the next time you plan to conduct any pooja or ritual, make sure that you call a priest home in order to make sure that your prayers reach the God in the right way!

Rudra Centre specializes in various Pujas services. Our Pujas for Success include Laxmi Puja, Baglamukhi Puja and Satchandi Puja. We also conduct various Dev Pujas like Shiv Puja, Laxmi Puja and Ganesh. Our Siddhi Pujas include Laxmi Mantra Siddhi Japa, Maha Mrutyunjaya Mantra Siddhi Japa, etc. For Dosh Nivaran, we conduct Pujas like Shani Dosh Nivaran, Pitra Dosha Nivaran Puja, Kaal Sarp Dosh Nivaran Pula, etc.

Relation Between Ganesha & Kartikeya

 

 

There are many stories revolving around Ganesha and his younger brother Kartikeya in Hindu mythology. While Lord Ganesha is worshipped throughout India, Kartikeya has more influence towards South India. In south, Karthikeya is also known as Murugan, Subramanya and Arumugam. Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya are two contrasting personalities in mythology.  It is quite interesting to know the differences that exist between the two siblings.

While Lord Ganesha is known to be comfortably plump, kind and patient, brother Karthikeya is full of energy and impulsive. While Ganesha prefers his mouse as his vehicle, Karthikeya prefers a flashy peacock as his vehicle. In fact, even the conversations and the interactions between the two are child-like and quite interesting. There is one legend that is distinct and worth a mention.

Once, a mango that was believed to be filled with divine knowledge was brought to Mount Kailash. The mango couldn’t be cut or shared. There was just one mango and both Ganesha and Karthikeya wished to have it. In order to get rid of this dilemma, Lord Shiva and Parvati decided to have a competition.

It was decided that the one who completes three rounds of the planet will win the mango. On hearing this, Kartikeya immediately left on his journey. But Ganeshas at there and was thinking as this was an impossible task for him.

Within sometime, Ganesha found an answer. He made Shiva and Parvati sit together and then worshipped them and circled them thrice. Later, he said that according to the Vedas circling parents is same as circling the world.

Lord Shiva and Parvati were impressed and convinced with his logic and handed over the mango to him. Meanwhile, Karthikeya returned and was furious to know about this. In a fit of anger, Kartikeya left for Mount Krouncha, also known as Palani and it is believed that Shiva goes to visit on new moon (amavasya) and Parvati goes to visit him on full moon day (purnima).

However, this never hampered the relation between Ganesha and Karthikeya. They were cordial yet again. Till date, Ganesha and Karthikeya are considered as the epitome of sibling relation.