SHAMBO MAHADEVA........................

THE NIGHT OF SHIVA THANDAVA......

12th,February,2010

Friday

11.45a.m

Dear Friends,

Good Morning!

''Om

Thrayambakam yajamahe ,

Suganadhim pushti vardhanam,

Oru varukamiva badhanaan,

Mrithyor mukshiya maamritat!''

HAPPY SHIVRATHRI to one and all.I have just come back after praying in Shree Khanteswar Nath Temple and Sree Ayyapa Temple.there were two long queues at Shiva Temple.after having a head bath, the ladies had left their hair.they were decked up in the best of their sarees.Amma always tells us to go to temples in simple attire.many of my colleagues were standing in the queue.here,devotees bathe Shiva Linga in milk.In many other places they bathe the Lingas with milk,water,honey and offer fruits,flowers and 'bhel' leaves to appease Lord Shiva.It is said that preforming pooja of Shiva Linga with six different liquids[dravya] including milk,yoghurt,honey,ghee,sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram,Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most.so,the devotees do the same.

As there was another long queue at Shree Damodar Temple, I could not go and pray.I must tell you,friends,a temple visit and the darshan of Lord fills our minds with positive energy.

Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Krishna Paaksha of the Magh month of the Hindu Calendar-Magh Krishna Chaturdashi-that is today,celebrates Lord Shiva ,one of the deities of Hindu Trinity.

There are so many legends related to Shivratri.One of the most popular legends is that on this day Lord Shiva married Parvathi.According to another belief,on this auspicious night,Lord Shiva performed the 'Thandava'-the dance depicting primal creation,preservation and destruction.The Linga Purana states that it was on the day of Shivratri that Lord Shiva manifested in the form of a 'Linga'.Hence,for Shiva devotees,the day is extremely auspicious and they celebrate it as Maha Shivarathri-the great night of Lord Shiva.

this is an auspicious day for married women.They pray to Lord Shiva for the well being and long life of their husbands.teh chanting of,'Om Namah Shivaya',the ringing of temple bells and the keeping of night long vigil are also observed.many devotees keep whole day fast without taking even a drop of water.they express their wholehearetd devotion to Lord Shiva.This is celebrated for one day and night only.Maha Shivrathri is observed by all pious Hindus with fasting,singing of bhajans,recital of Sanskrit shlokas,offering of prayers,flowers,fruits and food that is specially prepared in honour of the deity and his divine consort,Goddess Parvati.In keeping with the mood for the occasion let us pray wholeheartedly.

In Goa,the most famous celebration happens at the Shri Rudreshwar temple at Harvelem-Sanquelim.here,Shivrathri celebrations starts on the day before Mahashivrathri with the taking of planquin procession followed by cultural programmes.On the day of Shivarthri,devotees visit the temple of Shri Rudrehswar and perform,'Abhisheka' and offer flowers,fruits and prayers to the Lord,seeking blessings.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of the state throng to Harvelem where they take a holy dip in the Harvelalem waterfall before entering the temple to perform,'Abhisheka'.At night,the palanquin procession of the idol of Shri Rudreshwar is held as part of the celebrations.On the following morning,the 'Rathostav'-chariot procession with the idol of the Lord seated in a decorated chariot is held.On the day of Maha Shivarathri,there is a big fair at Harvelam.

Shri Vathdev is a natural Linga that lies in the Bicholim River at Vathdev.Devotees perform'abhishekam' on this Linga.the base of the linga is partly immersed in the river.Devotees visit the temple located near the temple.There is also a'muktadwar Parvani' for devotees on the day of Maha Shivarathri from 7a.m -6p.m.

The celebration of Shivrathri in Alwaye,Kerala is very famous.As my sis-in -law's house is on the river bank,I had visited this Temple.super location with the river background and huge baniyan tree!Always Shivrathri is celebrated at the Shiva Temple on the banks of Periyar River and the place is called Aluva Manappuram[land with sand].Pilgrims offer Bali to their ancestors in the morning succeeding the holy rights.Lakhs of people reach at Aluva Manalpuram for Bali Tharpan Rituals[paying the holy rites to the departed souls].The sand banks of Aluva attached to the Mahadeva Temple is all set for the Shivarathri Festival.

MAY LORD SHIVA BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

my Achan always used to chant,'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' and 'Shambo Mahadeva' while walking or doing some work.In our place Mammiyoor Shiva Temple is very famous.In Trichur,Vadakkunnathan Temple is so popular.early morning itself,the long queue gets formed.for the last so many days,cultural programmes were going on giving a great feast to the eyes and ears!

You know what happened today morning?I was praying at Khandeswar Nath Temple.There is a Tulsi Mandap there and a healthy holy plant grows in it.while praying,I suddenly forgot the prayer.Amma has taught me this prayer.But in this flat as I don't chant this shloka daily,I just forgot the lines.I felt like crying.as I don't carry my mobile to local temples,I could not ask Amma.I had written the same in my earlier post,Tulsi Vivah.

Namo tulsi kalyani,

Namo Visnupriye shubhe.

Namo moksha prabhe devi,

Namo sampat pradayike![you can learn and teach the same your dear ones].

I recited the poems Amma wrote on Lord Shiva in Amma's book.really,I felt nice and peaceful.In our ancestoral home,we used to make bhasmam[ash] in the evening of Shivarathri.after lighting the lamp at twilight,chanting 'Om N amshivaya'.we light the cowdung balls covered in the husk of paddy to make ash.Even if we are not keeping fit,if we have strong feelings of discipline,devotion,dedication and determination we can suceed in following our rituals.

Let me share a forward I received now from my Mumbai friend on

What is special about Shivarathri?It will enrich your knowledge.It reached me right on time!:)Thanks a bunch!

Every night is marked by darkness. But tonight it is Shivarathri (the holy night of Lord Shiva). What is the difference between rathri (night) and Shivarathri? For the man who has recognized his divinity, every night is Shivaraathri. For the man immersed in worldly concerns, all nights are the same. That night is marked by darkness. This night is marked by light. Every night is marked by darkness. But tonight it is Shivarathri (the holy night of Lord Shiva). What is the difference between rathri (night) and Shivarathri? For the man who has recognized his divinity, every night is Shivarathri. For the man immersed in worldly concerns, all nights are the same. That night is marked by darkness. This night is marked by light.
Spirituality is the lighthouse that spreads light for the man who is full of despair, immersed in insatiable desires. The name of God is the lighthouse. By chanting the name, the bearer of the name can be realized. To recognize the omnipresence of the Divine is the purpose of observing Shivarathri.
This purpose is not served only by fasting and keeping awake through the night. These are mere auxiliaries to what is considered the ultimate goal. But God-realization should not be put off to some distant future. It has to be taken up here and now. That is the purpose of Shivarathri.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Chanting the prayer for the world peace and happiness,

''Om shivam shivakaram shantam,

Shivatmanam shivotam,

Shiva marga pranetharam,

Prana tosmi sadashivam!''

It's Anu signing off......

Thanks a lot dear blogger guru for the wonderful pictures of Lord Shiva!

Reminding you to watch Asianet at 5 p.m to enjoy 'Kailasam',the abode of Lord Shiva,

Anu loves you all,

It's Anu signing off.............

Wishing one and all A Happy Shivarathri,

Sasneham,

Anu