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Home , Airavata, Asamanja, Kaustubha, King Sagara, Maha Shivaratri, Mount Mandara

Namashivaya

Maha Shivarathri

Maathaacha Parvathi Pitha Devo Mageshwaraha I Bhandhavaanaam Bhaktacha Swadeso Bhuvanathrayam II

Meaning: Lord Shiva and His consort, Goddess are the Father & Mother of the entire universe! Lord Shiva’s devotees are our friends & relatives! All the three worlds created by the Lord belong to us & we belong to them!

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015

Introduction

Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Grand Night of Lord Shiva’ is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the foremost deities of Hindu Trinity, namely, Lord Shiva, Maha & . Shivaratri falls on the night of Charthurdasi Thithi [14th night – previous night to New Moon Day] in [the fortnight of the waning moon] in the Hindu month of Phalgun [], which corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva to appease Lord Shiva with extra-ordinary, seen-to-believed devotion and religious fervor.

Legends of Mahashivarathri

There are five major interesting legends associated with the festival of that make it extremely auspicious and it is believed that it is on Mahashivarathri Day the following legends, rather, milestones in the Life-history of Lord Shiva took place:

1. Arunachala Lingorbhava – Manifestation of Lord Shiva as Linga in Arunachala [, ].

2. The wedding Day of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati

3. The auspicious night on which Ananda Thandava - the Cosmic Dance of Lord Shiva [the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction] took place.

4. The Legend of Lubdhaka and story of Chitrabhanu.

5. Legend of .

1. Arunachala Lingothbhava

Once Brahma, the God of Creation, was visiting the worlds he created one after one. In the process, he came to Bhooloka. There saw a person sleeping soundly. He was sure he never created him & hence was taken aback. He woke him up violently & the Inquiry began. The sleepy man replied that he was Mahavishnu who created him & so, there is nothing to get confused. Brahma immediately concluded

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015 that the other person is lying & his sole aim is to gain ownership of worlds Brahma created. He started a big, violent fight to finish Mahavishnu. When two biggest of Gods were engaged in a fight to the finish, the entire universe suffered untold miseries. Horrified at the intensity of the battle, the other gods asked Shiva to intervene. Unable to be a silent witness to all this, Lord Shiva appeared as big Column of Fire with a great thunder, penetrating all the worlds from top to bottom. Both Brahma & Mahavishnu stopped their bitter fight when they heard the big thunder which drew their attention to the Column of Fire. Both were stunned at this new phenomenon which both accepted that they did not create & hence wanted to find out its nature. Brahma said he would go up & find the beginning whereas Mahavishnu undertook to go to the bottom to find the roots. It was agreed between them that whoever accomplishes the mission undertaken would be accepted as the winner of the battle they fought so ferociously.

Incidentally, manifestation of Lord Shiva as Column of Fire took place on the full moon [Pournami] night [this is also the longest night in a year] in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec–January) on the Arudra Nakshatra Day. This Day is celebrated as

Arudra Darshan Day and is one of the most important festivals in .

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Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and went upwards while Lord Vishnu assumed the form of - a boar and went into the earth towards nether land.

Both searched for thousands of miles but neither could find either the top or the bottom of the Column of Fire.

On his journey upward, Brahma came across Ketaki flower. Exhausted and bewildered with his search to find the uppermost limit of fiery column, Brahma made Ketaki assent to lie that he had seen the top of the column where the flower had previously resided. Accompanied by his accomplice, Brahma confronted Vishnu and asserted that he had indeed discovered the origin of the cosmic column.

At this point, the central part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full glory. He plucked the head that told the lie out of the five heads that Brahma had. Overawed, both Brahma and Vishnu bowed before him accepted Lord Shiva’s supremacy. Brahma pleaded that he be spared with the remaining four heads which Lord Shiva, a little pacified now, granted. Thus Brahma became Chadurmukh. He is described as Chadurmukh in all the 18 [never Panchamuhk] & hence, it is reasonable to assume that Lord Shiva’s manifestation as the big Column of Fire is the oldest happening in Indian mythology.

Lord Shiva explained to Brahma and Vishnu that both of them were born out of him and that the three were then separated out into three different aspects of divinity i.e. Creation, Protection & Destruction.

However, Lord Shiva was angry with Brahma for making a false claim. The Lord cursed Brahma that no one would ever pray to him. This legend explains as to why there is hardly any Brahma temple of significance in India. Lord Shiva also punished the Ketaki flower for testifying falsely and banned her from being used as an offering for any worship.

He also said that Mahavishnu, being the personification of Truth & Purity, [as he was the first to admit plain-heartedly that he did not see the bottom & was about to accept Brahma’s supremacy over him] should be treated on par with him. He bestowed upon Mahhavishnu the ultimate in Spirituality, i.e. Sayujya Mukti.

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He, further, declared that He & Lord Mahavishnu are, thereafter, one & same. All worships as per Agama Sastra, should be accorded to Mahavishnu in equal measure as being offered to Him. For this out of the way generosity, Lord Shiva was praised as Sankaranarayana, etc.

Mahavishnu, realizing the magnitude of the favour he got and the power & might of Lord Shiva, started to worship Lord Shiva with 1000 flowers. At the end of it, one flower was missing. Unwilling to break the , Mahavishnu, plucked out one of his eyes & completed the Puja. Extremely pleased with this unusual act, Lord Shiva gave back the eye & more so, Sudarshan, the chakra, using which He killed Jalandarasura earlier. Thus Sudharsan became the primary weapon of Mahavishnu.

Then Mahavishnu prayed to Lord Shiva that he should cool himself to a big mountain of Grace so that all could benefit. Acceding to this request, Lord Shiva became the Arunachala Hill that we all see today at Tiruvannamalai.

Again Mahavishnu requested Lord Shiva to become a miniature Arunachala so that all humans could worship & pray. Since Arunachala was in Linga form, Lord Shiva assumed the form of Linga in a small size & in due course of time, a big temple arose around that Linga which is now known as Sri Arunachalewara Temple of Tiruvanamalai. Thus Mahavishnu gave Linga – worship to Saivism, he being the first worshipper at the temple.

Not to be left behind, Brahma wanted another Linga for his exclusive worship, beseeching Lord Shiva not to drop him like a hot potato. Forgiving Brahma’s short- comings, Lord Shiva took a similar small-sized Linga form exactly on the opposite side to the present Arunachaleswara Temple around which another small temple had spring about. This temple is on the Giripradakshana Road in Adi Annaamalai village, about 8km from Tiruvannamalai town on Giripradakshana Road. It is better for all those who go all the way to Tiruvannamalai to proceed further to this temple also and derive the benefit of worshipping the Lord who was worshipped by Brahma.

Thus it was on the 14th day in the dark fortnight of waning moon [Krishna Paksha] in the month of [Margazhi] that Lord Shiva first manifested himself

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015 in the form of a mighty Pillar of Fire & then as Arunachala Hill Linga and again as a small miniature Linga in the temple at Tiruvannamalai & Adi Annamalai.

Hence this day is extremely auspicious and all 330 million Devas, , Rishis, Sages & people of different worlds like Kinnaras, etc worshipped

Lord Shiva throughout that night that is now celebrated as Mahashivaratri. Thus began the tradition of worship on Mahashivarathri Day. It is obvious that the four legends that follow had happened on subsequent Mahashivarathri Days.

2. The wedding Day or the great convergence of of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati

Once Lord Shiva and his wife or were returning from sage ’s ashram after listening to Ram Katha or story of Ram. On their way through a forest, Shiva saw Lord searching for his wife who had been kidnapped by , the King of . Lord Shiva bowed his head in reverence to Lord Rama. Sati was surprised by Lord Shiva’s behaviour and inquired why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal. Shiva informed Sati that Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Since Sati was not satisfied with the reply, Lord asked her to go and verify the truth for herself. Using her power to change forms, Sati took the form of Sita appeared before Rama. Lord Rama immediately recognized the true identity of the Goddess and asked, "Devi, why are you alone, where′s Shiva?" At this, Sati realized the truth about Lord Ram. But, Sita was like a mother to Lord Shiva and since Sati took the form of Sita, her status changed. From that time, Shiva detached himself from her as a wife. Sati was sad with the change of attitude of Lord Shiva but she stayed on at Mount Kailas, the abode of Lord Shiva. Later, Sati’s father Daksha organised a yagna, but did not invite Sati or Shiva as he had an altercation with Shiva in the court of Brahma. But, Sati who wanted to attend the Yagna, went even though Lord Shiva did not appreciate the idea. To her great anguish, Daksha ignored her totallly and did not even offer Havis [Prasad from Yagna- the first portion should be offered to Lord Shiva which is the usual practice]

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015 to Shiva. Sati felt humiliated and was struck with profound grief. She sat in yogicposition & soon was engulfed by yogic fire & got immolated herself. Lord Shiva became extremely furious when he heard the news of Sati’s immolation. Carrying the body of Sati, Shiva began to perform or the dance of destruction and wiped out the kingdom of Daksha. Everybody was terrified as Shiva’s Tandava had the power to destroy the entire universe. In order to calm Lord Shiva, Vishnu severed Sati′s body into 12 pieces and threw them on earth. It is said that wherever the pieces of Shakti’s body fell, there emerged a Shakti Peetha, including the Kamaroopa Kamakhya in Assam and the Vindhyavasini in UP. Lord Siva was now alone undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. Sati took a re-birth as Parvati in the family of Himavaan whose form is Mount Himalayas. Goddess Parvati was also called Haimavati i.e daughter of Himavaan. It was during this period, Soorapadma, an , ruled the Devaloka usurping the throne from . Soorapadma got a a boon from Lord Shiva that only He or a member of His family can kill him. Devas planned that the by Lord Shiva had to be broken & sent Manmada to break Shiva’s . The Lord, on being disturbed, opened his third eye that reduced Manmada to ashes. It was only after ’s wife ’s pleading that Lord Shiva agreed to revive Kaamadeva. Later, Parvati undertook severe penance to win over Shiva. Through her devotion and persuasion by sages & devas, Parvati was finally able to obtain Lord Shiva’s consent for marriage. Their marriage was solemnized a day before in the month of Phalgun which happened to be day of Mahashivratri.

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Acccording to another legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious night of Mahashivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband.

Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Mahashivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

The beneficial effect of this reunion of Shiva & Parvati was that Lord Muruga was born & He annihilated Soorapadma later on.

3. The auspicious night on which Ananda Thandava - the Cosmic

Dance of Lord Shiva [the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction] took place.

Once Indra - the King of Gods, while riding on an came across Muni who offered him a special garland. Indra accepted the garland but put in on the trunk of the elephant. The elephant was irritated by the smell and it threw the garland on the floor. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as prasada. Durvasa Muni cursed Indra and all devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. In battles that followed this incident, devas were defeated and asuras (demons) led by Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from Lord Vishnu who advised them to treat asuras in a diplomatic manner. Devas formed an alliance with asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them.

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Churning of the milk - ocean was an elaborate process. was used as churning rod and , the King of Serpents, became the churning rope. Lord Vishnu himself had to intercede in so many ways to aid the Devas. All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean and many great beings and objects were produced from the ocean and were divided between asuras and gods. It is said that following things emerged from the Manthan: • Sura or - Goddess and creator of wine • - various divine nymphs • - a rare diamond said to be the most valuable jewel in the world • Uchhaishravas - the divine white horse • - the wish-granting tree • - the wish fulfilling cow • - the • - the Goddess of Fortune and Wealth. Vishnu accepted her as his consort.

Haalaa-Hala - the Poison During the Sagar Manthan by the gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a pot of poison also came out of the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was so toxic that it would have wiped out the entire creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, Gods approached Lord Shiva for protection. On the request of gods and out of for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison. However, Goddess Parvati pressed his neck so that the poison does not reach his stomach. Thus, it stayed in his throat neither going up nor going down and Shiva remained unharmed. The poison was so potent that it changed the color of Lord Mahadeva’s neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakantha (the blue-necked one) where ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kantha’ means neck or throat.

As part of the therapy, doctors advised gods to keep Lord Shiva awake during the night. Gods took turn performing various dances and playing music throughout that night. As the day broke out, Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion, blessed them by joining them in their revelry. He gave on that day His best performance in the art of Dance that is known as Ananda Thandavam. Mahashivaratri is the celebration of

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015 this event by which Shiva saved the world. Since then, on this day and night - devotees fast, keep vigil, sing glories of Lord and meditate.

Churning Out the milk-ocean continued At last, - the Divine Physician appeared with a pot of (nectar of immortality) in his skilful hands. Fierce fighting ensued between devas and asuras for the nectar. To protect the nectar from asuras, devas hid the pot of nectar at four places on the earth - Prayag (), , and Nasik. At each of these places, a drop of the nectar spilled from the pot and since then, it is believed that these places acquired mystical power. Grand is celebrated at the four places after every 12 year for this reason. Eventually, Lord Vishnu took the form of a beautiful woman, . While her beauty bewildered asuras, Mohini seized the nectar and served it only to the Devas.

4. The Legend of Lubdhaka and story of Chitrabhanu.

The legend of Lubdhaka is deeply related to Mahashivaratri and explains the popular custom of all-night worship of Lord Shiva on the festival. As a tradition, devotees recite the legend of Lubdhaka while they observe fast in worship of Lord

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Shiva on Mahashivaratri. And, it is only after observing an all night fast that devotees eat the prasad offered to Shiva.

There is yet another version of this legend, which is popular as the legend of King Chitrabhanu. This legend has been narrated by Bhishma in Shanti Parva of the and has been discussed next in this article.

Story of Lubdhaka Lubdhaka - a poor tribal man and a devout worshipper of Lord Shiva once went into the deep forests to collect firewood. As the darkness engulfed the jungle, Lubdhaka lost his way and could not find his way home. He became extremely terrified as deep growls of animals began to fill the jungle. Seeking protection till daybreak, Lubdhaka climbed the nearest bael [Bilva] tree and sought safety and shelter in its branches. Since Lubdhaka was perched on the branch of a tree he was afraid that if he dozed he might fall off from the tree. To keep himself awake all night, Lubdhaka decided to pluck one leaf [Bilva Patra] from the bael tree and drop it while chanting the name of Shiva. By sunrise, the devout tribal realized that he had dropped thousands of leaves on to a Shiva Lingam, which he had not seen in the darkness. Lubdhaka’s all night worship pleased Lord Shiva and by his divine grace, he obtained Shiva Saayujya Mukti. Thus, Lubdhaka not only survived but was also rewarded with divine bliss. According to Puranas, ever since that day, the story of the tribal Lubdhaka has been recited every year on the night of Mahashivaratri. This popular legend also forms the basis of the popular custom of offering bael () leaves to Lord Shiva on Mahashivaratri.

Different Version of the Legend - Story of King Chitrabhanu Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, talks about the legend of King Chitrabhanu observing the festival. The story, as told by Bhishma while resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharmaputra, says that once King Chitrabhanu of the dynasty who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage came on a visit to the court of the king and inquired the king about reasons for keeping a fast.

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Answering the sage’s query, King Chitrabhanu who had the gift of remembering the incidents from his previous birth said that in the past birth he was a hunter in and his name was Suswara. His livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while he was roaming through the woods in search of animals, he was overtaken by the darkness of the night. To seek shelter from wild animals, Suswarna took shelter in the branches of nearest tree, which happened to a bael. Suswarna has also shot a deer that day but had no time to take it to home. So he bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. Hunger and thirst tormented Suswarna and kept him awake all night. Feeling sad that his poor wife and children were starving and must be anxiously waiting for his return, Suswarna began to shed profuse tears. To pass away time, Suswarna engaged himself in plucking bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground. It happened to be Mahashivarathri Day.

Having passed the night thus, next morning, Suswarna sold the deer and bought some food for himself and his family. But, the moment he was about to break his fast, a stranger came to him begging for food. Humbly, Suswarna served food to stranger first and then had his own.

Later, at the time of his death, Suswarna saw two messengers of Lord Shiva who were sent down to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. It was then that Suswarna learnt the great merit he had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Mahashivarathri. The divine messengers told Suswarna that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree on which he spent the night. The leaves he dropped therefore fell on the Lingam. While his tears, which he had shed out of sorrow for his family, fell on the lingam and washed it. Besides, he had observed a fast all day and all night. Thus, Suswarna had unconsciously worshiped the Lord Shiva in accordance with rules of worship on a Mahashivarathri Day. Concluding the story, the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages. Now, he has reborn as Chitrabhanu.

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Legend of Ganga

Ganga’s descent from the heavens into the earth has been narrated in the epic, . The legend explains the popular custom of giving bath to Shiva Linga on Mahashivarathri festival.

Once - the ruler of and an ancestor of Lord Rama successfully performed the Ashwamedha Yagya for 99 times. Each time, he sent the horse around the earth it returned to the kingdom unchallenged. However, Indra - the

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King of God’s became jealous of King Sagara’s success because, once King Sagara completes the 100th Ashwamedha Yagna, he will attain Indrahood & would replace the present Indra. So when King Sagar performed the sacrifice for 100th time, Indra intervened & kidnapped and hid the Yagya horse in the hermitage of Muni. In search of the horse, sixty thousand princes from Ayodhya reached Kapila Muni’s hermitage. They mistook the sage to be the abductor and attacked him. Kapila Muni, by mere glance, burnt the 60,000 princes to ashes. King Sagara had a son by name, from one of his queens, by name, Kesini. He was a born Gnani & one day he disappeared into the forest leaving his son, Amsuman. King Sagara ordered Amsuman to find the Yagna horse which he did after great efforts. Instead of taking away the horse, he, with all humility, bowed to Sage Kapila & sought his blessings. Pleased with him, the sage said that if he could bring Ganga to that place and if her waters touch the ashes, all his 60,000 uncles would attain Mukti. Amsuman spent the rest of his life doing penance but before he could achieve anything significant, he passed away. His son was Dileepan too made great efforts but could nort achieve anything concrete. His son, King , on hearing the plight of his father and uncles, left his kingdom and began to meditate for the salvation of the souls of his ancestors. Bhagirath observed a penance to Ganga Mata requesting her to come down to earth from heaven and wash over his ancestor′s ashes to release them from the curse and allow them to go to heaven. Pleased with the devotion, Ganga Mata agreed to do so but expressed her reservations that Mother Earth would not be able to hold the force of her flow & she may pierce Earth & go down to Rasadhalam, a world below Earth. Bhagirath then started the most difficult penance to please Lord Shiva as he strongly felt that He only could find a solution to this problem.

Appreciating unmatchable, superhuman efforts of King Bhagarath, Lord Shiva agreed to hold Ganga in his matted hair & release her to the extent Mother Earth could withstand. Accordingly, Lord Shiva held out his thick matted hair to catch the river as she descended. The meandering through Shiva’s lock softened Ganga’s journey to the earth and the holy waters of river Ganga thus washed away the ashes as well as the sins of Bhagirath’s ancestors. A modified version of the legend says,

Available at https://achalam.org, Contributor: Sri K Sriram, 2015 what reached the earth were just sprinkles from Lord Shiva’s hair. The Ganga, thus, became an attribute of Shiva. This manifestation of Shiva is known as Gangadhara.

The legend is re-enacted by devotees of Lord Shiva as they give a bath to the linga during worship. And for this reason, many devotees prefer to take a dip in the holy water of river Ganga on Mahashivaratri Day.

Lord Shiva′s Assurance

The legend of Lord Shiva’s assurance explains the popularity of Mahashivaratri festival amongst the devotees. Besides, it also tells us why we observe fast in the name of the Lord and perform ceremonial baths on that day.

The Legend

After creation was complete, Lord Shiva began to live on top of Mount Kailas with his consort Parvati. One day, Goddess Parvati asked the Lord that his devotees perform many rituals to please the Lord, but which one pleases him most. To this, Lord Shiva replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Phalgun is his favorite day i.e. Mahashivaratri Day. On this day, devotees observe strict spiritual discipline and worship Shiva in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. Lord further said that the devotees offer him bael leaves on the day and that those leaves were precious to him than the precious jewels and flowers. Explaining the right way of worshipping to Shiva, the

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Lord said, devotees should bathe me in the milk during the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter in the third and in honey in the fourth and the last period. Lord Shiva further added that next morning devotees must feed the first and only after following the prescribed ritual must break the fast. Lord further told Parvati that rituals of Mahashivarathri could not be compared with any other. Goddess Parvati became deeply impressed with Lord Shiva’s speech and she narrated it to her friends. Through them, the word spread all over the creation. Hence, Shiva devotees began to celebrate Mahashivaratri by and by performing the ceremonial baths and making an offering of bael leaves.

Immediately after Mahashivaratri, almost like a miracle, the trees are full of flowers as if to announce that after winter, the fertility of the earth has been rejuvenated. And this perhaps is the reason why the Linga is worshipped throughout India as a symbol of fertility.

Mahashivaratri is thus not only a ritual but also a cosmic definition of the Hindu universe. It dispels ignorance, emanates the light of knowledge, makes one aware of the universe, ushers in the spring after the cold and dry winter, and invokes the supreme power to take cognizance of the beings that were created by him

Let us all pray Lord Shiva on Mahashivarathri Day, The Day on which He is most pleased by our worship And get our ignorance dispelled.

Anaayasena Maranam Vina dainyena Jeevanam I Dehime Krupaya Shambo Thvai Bhakthi Asanchalam II

Death devoid of suffering & strain, Life devoid of poverty, Devotion devoid of oscillation; These I beseech; O! Lord! Please grant me these humble prayers!

Om Sri Shivarpanamastu

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