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The Inner Significance of Maha Shivaratri

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The Inner Significance of Maha Shivaratri A Study Guide based on the teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba What is Shivaratri? e are spending nights daily ever since we are born, but not all those nights oday is the holy day of Shivaratri. Shiva W can be termed as Shivaratri. People meditate means auspiciousness. Where there is T upon, sing, and listen to the glory of the Shiva (auspiciousness) there cannot be shava divine name and experience the divinity of (inauspiciousness). This holy day of Shivaratri Lord Shiva. Since the whole night is spent in must be spent in the constant contemplation meditation and singing the glory of the of God chanting the holy name of Shiva right divine name of Lord Shiva, this night is called from early in the morning till you go to bed. Shivaratri. Not only this night, whenever you The Lord’s name must dance on your tongue. spend the entire night meditating upon the March 8, 2005 https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/you-are-all-amrutaputras-sons-immortality divine name, that night is also Shivaratri. Lord Shiva is not a separate Avatar. Shiva means auspiciousness. Since Shiva February 23, 2009 https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/love-god-and-meditate-him resides in us, does that imply that we too must be auspicious? How do we then feel auspicious at all times? The night is a blessed night and in all discourses during Shivaratri, Swami has How can we constantly remember to emphasized its importance. How can we chant the name of the Lord on better prepare ourselves for Shivaratri? undertaking some form of spiritual exercise for this special night? sathyasai.org The Inner Significance of Maha Shivaratri o one seems to have made an effort to oday we are celebrating Shivaratri. What Nrecognize the meaning and significance Tdoes it mean? Ratri (night) is associated of Shivaratri. In fact, the very word Shivaratri with darkness. The Vedas declare, reveals its meaning. “Shiva” means auspi- “Chandrama Manaso Jatha, Chaksho Suryo cious and “ratri” means night. Thus, Shivaratri Ajayatha (the moon was born out of the mind means auspicious night. Then the question and the sun out of the eyes of the Purusha).” arises: who is Shiva? The divine conscious- Moon is the presiding deity of the mind. So, ness pervading all the living beings is none mind should be pure and unsullied. other than Shiva. This Shivattwa (divine con- February 14, 1999 sciousness) permeates not only human https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/cultivate-love-your-heart beings but the birds, beasts, and animals as well. In fact, every moment in our life can be Why does Shivaratri place its taken to be Shivaratri. We need not wait for importance on the mind? Shivaratri on a particular day in a year. What relevance is the significance of March 9, 2005 https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/experience-all-pervading-divine-consciousness Shivaratri to our daily living? The night is only an orientation program ou will be observing Shivaratri in the true for us to imbibe the spirit of Shivaratri Yspirit of the term only when you give up and make this an integral lifestyle for the bad qualities and cultivate divine love. Merely rest of our lives. What transformational observing vigil on Shivaratri is not sufficient. changes do we want to see in ourselves? You have to contemplate on God incessantly. What new resolutions can we make on Many people claim that they have observed this night to bring a transformational jagarana (vigil) on Shivaratri night by playing change? cards. The fisherman goes on watching intently to trap the fish in the net. Can this be termed meditation? If one abstains from food on account of quarrel with one’s wife, can it be called fasting? No. Similarly, obser- vance of sacred vigil on Shivaratri night is not achieved by playing cards the whole night. You should spend this night chanting the name of God, using the time in doing good deeds. February 14, 1999 https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/cultivate-love-your-heart Here the emphasis Swami is making on the need to move away from mechanically carrying out rituals as opposed to appreciating the real purpose of these auspicious events. Contemplate and describe the various rituals involved during Shivaratri and find relevant significance behind each one of these acts. 2 The Inner Significance of Maha Shivaratri oday is the sacred day of Shivaratri. get full control over the mind by contemplat- TLegend has it that when Shiva, in order ing on God. Hence it is considered as an aus- to save the world, swallowed halahala (poi- picious night. Unfortunately, in this Kali Age, son), He lost consciousness and fell down. people observe the vigil of Shivaratri by see- The resultant heat affected the world. In ing cinema shows or playing cards all through order to cool down the world, Shiva created the night. This cannot be called Shivaratri. the Himalayas. Then He placed the Himalayas Every moment of the night should be devoted on His stomach. As a result, the Himalayas to the thoughts of God and chanting of His absorbed all the heat from His body and He name wholeheartedly. The chanting should got up. People celebrate this event as come from within. This is what is called the Shivaratri. But, this is only a worldly inter- reflection of the inner being. pretation. Truly speaking, the Himalayas are March 4, 2000 within you. In fact, the whole world is within https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/sheaths-self you. The Divinity within you has neither birth nor death. The body may undergo The most important night of all nights is change, but the Divine Principle remains the Shivaratri. It appears that this is the same. Love never undergoes any change. It night, with appropriate vigilance and steadfast devotion we might get a leap remains love always. The quality of sugar is of consciousness. What intensity and sweetness. It does not change whether it is intention should we possess in order to added to coffee, tea, water or rice pudding. gain this opportunity? February 15, 1999 https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/manifesting-divinity-lingodbhava How much more dedication must we pour to make the event a memorable Swallowing Halahala (poison) by Shiva is one? What extra vigilance and a very important event. How can we steadfastness that we need this time to relate this to daily life events? be sharper and more devoted to the Lord of our hearts? Shiva created the Himalayas and placed in his stomach and thereby absorbed oday is the very auspicious day of the heat. Again these can be left as stories but there is a deeper inner TShivaratri. Shiva stands for auspicious- significance of these two events. ness. What is so special and auspicious about Contemplate on the inner significance of Shivaratri? Mind has 16 aspects, of which 15 these two events and assess how these are merged on this night and only one is can be relatable in daily living. remaining. Make proper use of this holy night by undertaking Sadhana with devotion he nights you experience on other days and steadfastness. What sort of Sadhana you Tare ordinary nights. But Shivaratri is an must undertake? Cleanse your heart of all auspicious night. How is it auspicious? It is evil qualities. Evil qualities arise in you auspicious when you spend your time in an because of the misuse of the senses. It is the auspicious way singing the glories of the root cause of all sins. Sadhana does not mean Lord. The mind has sixteen aspects. The doing Japa and meditation. You should moon is the presiding deity of the mind. Of develop pure and divine feelings in you. the sixteen aspects of the moon, fifteen are Consider everyone as divine. Respect them. absent today. If you sing His glory through- “All are Mine and I belong to everybody.” out the night wholeheartedly, even the Once you have such firm conviction, you can remaining one aspect can also be merged enjoy immense happiness in life. There will with the Divine. On this day, it is possible to 3 The Inner Significance of Maha Shivaratri be no trace of worry in your life Have Firm n order to rise to the level of divine, satsang Faith In God. Iis very essential. “One thought, one vision, February 21, 2001 and one action.” These three must be unified. https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/vision-atma Shivaratri is celebrated to recognise the one- ness of Divinity. When you do bhajans Contemplate on the negative qualities tonight, you will have only one thought. You that we have and can we be better will experience the bliss of bhajans. It is the prepared to surrender this negative nondual bliss. Why is it prescribed that you traits to Lord Shiva on that night. should do bhajans all through the night? Imagine a life without these negative Bhajan is done to control the mind and focus qualities in our lives. Imagine the it on Divinity. Some people keep discussing envisaged peace and love we would worldly matters even while they are doing experience in the future, leading a life bhajan. Do not go anywhere near such without these negative qualities. Anchor people. on the possible envisaged future and March 1, 2003 readily and willingly surrender these https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/experience-unity-real-satsang qualities. Alignment of thought word and deed. herefore it is said, Truth is the life of the Take a vow not to engage in any other Ttongue. Righteousness is the life of activities but remain silent and vigilant hands.
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