Mahashivaratri

In 2018, Mahashivaratri was celebrated on the night of February 13-14 ^[1] .

In 2019, the celebration took place on the night of March 4-5. Usually the holiday begins with the sunset at local time.

The Mahashivaratri festival in India is a day of devotion and worship to Shiva and Parvati, celebrated by all faithful Hindus on the night before the new moon in the spring month phalgun (the date "floats" from late February to mid-March according to the Gregorian calendar).

The holiday begins with sunrise on the day of Shivaratri and lasts all night long in temples and at home altars, this day is held in prayers, mantras , singing hymns and worshiping Shiva. Shivaites on this day fast, do not eat or drink, and even prasad Mahashivaratri. It can only be eaten the next day. Many Indians participate in Jagran, the all-night vigil, in various Shiva temples throughout the country. The Shivaites believe that sincere observance of the rituals and the performance of the Shivaratri pooja all night free them from all their sins and give Shiva's mercy in the form of liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

After ritual bathing, preferably in the sacred waters of the Ganges or another holy river, Shivaites put on new clothes and should visit the nearest Shiva temple to offer him traditional milk, water, bilva leaves, fruits, incense, oil lamps, etc. as an offering. And towards the end of Sivaratri, milk rivers flow from different temples in different directions.

On this day, temples are full of people, people come in families, sit around the temple or line up in anticipation of the opportunity to perform puja. People sing bhajans and the mantra " Om namah Shivaya ", ring the bells to make the atmosphere religious and pious. In the shivmandirs (temples of Shiva) and on their territory many lamps and garlands are lit, in large temples live orchestras from wind and percussion are played.

There are various legends associated with the Mahashivaratri festival. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the night of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati . There is a version that on this night, Shiva performed the Tandava , the dance of creation, preservation and destruction. Another legend about Shivaratri from Linga Purana says that it was on such a night that Shiva appeared before Brahma and Vishnu in the form of a beginningless and endless lingam . In any case, this is an unusual night and it is considered extremely favorable.

But Mahashivaratri is of particular importance for women and the sadhu . On this day, Indian women come to ask Parvati (after all, the husband of Parvati Shiva is considered an ideal husband) to give them a successful marriage and beautiful children, as well as family well-being and prosperity in the new year. Sadhus also consider Mahashivaratri their holiday, because Shiva patronizes ascetics , so sadhus are drunk to the glory of Shiva thandai ( thandai ) - a bhang cocktail made of milk , cannabis and almonds .

On this holy night, Shiva is worshiped, performing a large, full puja (worship) every three hours. The service will begin with the opening ceremony - a brief prayer and worship of Ganesha (the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati); a deity that removes obstacles, the god of wisdom and mind, the bearer of success and good luck in any endeavor. Following this, the 1st - Vaidika puja (Vedic pooja) of Shiva will begin. In the Vedic worship of the ancient Aryans, the main thing was worship not of idols, not of murti (holy images), not of icons, but of sacred fire, precisely from the kindling of the sacred fire, from the brief agnihotra (fire sacrifice, pouring sacrifice of oil into the fire) and this puja will begin, in during such sacrifices, ghee is poured into the fire, twigs of a certain tree are planted. In Vaidika puja, mantras from the Vedas are repeated and exclusively sattvic (possessing the quality of goodness) offerings are offered. Prayers in this period of time (from approximately 19: 00-22: 00) should also be pronounced only with good intentions, no black magic, no selfish desires and petty material requests. “Lord! Grant me faith, grant me saving knowledge and a true guru! ”- such prayers are laudable to this first guard (the first three hours). It is useful at this time to pray for others: “God! Heal all the sick, feed all the hungry, establish peace, prosperity and prosperity in our city, village, country, everywhere ... ”, etc.

Linga Puja

In the process of Linga puja abhisheka will be performed (continuous, prolonged liberation of water on the Shivalingam). At the same time, everyone can approach the altar, make dhena mudra over Shivalingam (the position of the hands, reminiscent of the udder of a cow) and focus on those desires, aspirations that they need. Meanwhile, the priest (priest) will pour through the fingers of those who approached the Shivalingam with a continuous stream of water. In this case, you need to bring your thoughts into the appropriate form. We must realize: “What do you sacrifice to Him from yourself? What do you want to share with Him and what do you want to gain from Him in return? ”

Rajasika Puja

Closer to midnight, the 2nd - rajasika puja will begin. Rajasic means "passionate, active, dynamic." This puja will be accompanied by mantras from the Puran and Tantras of the “right hand”. This is the most magnificent service with an abundance of all kinds of offerings and gifts, accompanied by ecstatic singing, joy and fun. And the prayers here are for prosperity, for wealth, fame, career, with personal (selfish) motivations in the mode of rajas (passion). But this does not mean at all that it is imperative to ask Shiva for something. You can simply praise him, enjoy the very process of worshiping him.

Tamasic pooja

The third stage (3rd puja) is tamasic . Here, the veneration of Shiva in His formidable aspects is performed together with His wife Mahakali . And it will begin with the animal sacrifice, after which, sacrificial blood will be poured on the Shivalingam. The offerings to this puja are the same tamasic, heavy: strong drinks, wine, meat, fish, heavy types of food, etc. Prayers and mantras. Tantras of the “left hand” are pronounced in this service. All black magic, spells (who knows), prayers for Shiva to punish demons, evil spirits, enemies, envious and ill-wishers are already allowed here. During this stage, it is necessary to meditate so that with all who create problems (for you) in this life, the Shivagans (devoted soldiers of Shiva) understand: “Beat my enemy, beat! Devour, devour! Kill, kill! Exile, exile! ” But in this situation, the enemy can be not so much a specific person, but also internal enemies, vices and shortcomings. Thus, the sacrifice of a coconut (splitting it in front of the altar) symbolizes the breaking of one's ego ( ahamkara ) and meditation is aimed at what qualities in oneself a person would like to smash into smithereens. Just like a coconut, the ego has a strong, thick shell, but an empty space inside. Pride, a sense of self-worth, are just as false as coconut: solid on the outside, but empty and liquid inside. When the sacrifice of the sacrificial animal is done, they meditate: it is the pashu-bhava (bestial nature) that is killed in us, and not the goat, the rabbit, the rooster - they are only symbols, but our delusion, our ignorance. The animal’s soul, having received a blessing, is reborn in its best forms, and the sacrificial meat will be cooked and distributed in the morning as a communion.

There is no reliable data regarding the description of the tamasic puja. This rite is carried out by some closed groups to the fullest extent in the modern world; more humane groups are omitted / replaced with more humane imitations. Animal sacrifices were carried out in the past more actively. For example, ashvamedha , described in detail in the ancient epic of the Ramayana , translated by King Dasaratha in order for his children to be born.

Fourth Pooja

The last - the 4th puja is associated with the veneration of Shiva as Parashiva (the Absolute), which is beyond all qualities, names and forms. What matters here is not so much external veneration as deep meditation and the discovery of inner unity with Shiva. The time of the Brahma-muhurta (muhurta is a time equal to 1/30 of the day, from about 3 to 5 in the morning) is the predawn time, when amazing peace and quiet reign in nature, just contributes to such meditation. This is the gap between sleep and wakefulness. It is believed that this time allows you to enter a higher state of consciousness ( turiya ) and turiatyta (a state above turiya), one that is above thought, above the mind, one in which the immanent (manifested) consciousness is associated with transcendental (Absolute, Divine). The fourth, final puja, makes it possible to experience Shiva as the Soul of his soul, as his Higher Self. Homa ( agnihotra , fire sacrifice) will be performed here. Written prayers will be burned in the fire. They can be written in advance or directly during the service. It is written only in polite form: “Oh, my dear and beloved Lord Shiva! I - such and such or such or such and such and such, help me in such and such. " Or simply: “Please, notice me among all and show me some sign of Your mercy, show that I am somehow significant for You.”

Conclusion

So, continuously, all night, worship, veneration and meditation are performed. It is necessary, at least for this time, to free your mind from worldly thoughts. Leave only the name of Shiva, and repeat: “Om namah sivaya” - “Om worship the Good!”. We must try to completely immerse ourselves in awareness, in spiritual experience. Forget about the need for sleep, food, drink. Forget about the bodily. This Night gives unique opportunities.

• Shiva-ratri // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.