Mahashivratri - Forum for Hindu Awakening

Mahashivratri
A Spiritual Perspective
Agenda
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Aim of the organization
Significance and unique facts behind Mahashivratri
Some unique attributes of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva's Mission
Spiritual science behind worship of Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri
Subtle experiment of chanting Lord Shiva’s Name
Correct way of worshipping Lord Shiva
Subtle Experiment of pictures of Lord Shiva
Some denigrations of Lord Shiva by various artists and authors
About Forum for Hindu Awakening
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FHA is a charitable organization devoted to awaken society to the unique
spiritual science behind Hindu Dharma
Aims:
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Primary Aim: To facilitate the spiritual progress of humanity on the path to
God realization (Moksha)
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To educate in the spiritual science underlying Hinduism
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To preserve the practice of Hinduism by dispelling misconceptions about
the concepts and practices held holy/sacred in Hinduism
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To expound upon problems faced by the world and promote remedies from
the viewpoint of Hinduism
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To unite all persons and organizations interested in the practice of Hinduism
Our website: http://forumforhinduawakening.org/
Founder of FHA
His Holiness Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale
Who is a Hindu?
Hinani gunani dushayati iti Hindu
Meaning:
To be a Hindu is to follow a way of life that enhances the spiritually
pure sattva component and sattva predominant qualities like love,
humility, courage, expansiveness, etc. and overcomes the spiritually
impure raja-tama predominant attitudes like anger, attachment,
jealousy, greed, lust, pride etc.
- Holy text Meru Tantra
Significance of Mahashivratri
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Mahashivratri falls on the 14th day of the Hindu calendar month of Magh
(12th Feb this year).
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On this day the Shiva principle is active a thousand times more than
usual.
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The observance of Mahashivaratri aims to gain control over one’s
spiritual components of raja (action & passion) and tama (ignorance &
darkness)
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To obtain the full benefit of Lord Shiva’s principle, one should chant ‘Om
Namah Shivaya’ as much as possible on this day.
Significance of Mahashivratri (contd.)
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Mahashivaratri implies the spiritual union of the seeker or the
embodied soul doing spiritual practice (Jivatma) with the God principle
(Shiva or Paramatma)
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It is a reminder to every seeker to attain the high state of Godrealization or lasting Bliss
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The observance of Mahashivaratri should be performed with the
understanding that though symbolic or ritualistic, it is an endeavor to
progress to The Real or The Truth (God)
Subtle vision of Shiva in Meditative state
on the day of Mahashivratri
What does the word “Shiva” mean?
a. The word Shiva has been derived by reversing the letters of the word
vash. Vash means to enlighten; thus the one who enlightens is Shiva. He
remains radiant and also illuminates the universe.
b. He is the auspicious and prosperity-bestowing principle.
c. Lord Shiva is also called Mahadev or Supreme God, since He
possesses all the three principles – Absolute Purity, Absolute Knowledge
and Absolute Spiritual Practice (sadhana) – underlying the Creation of
the universe.
Some unique attributes of Lord Shiva
Physical attributes
a.
Ganga
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Descent of the Ganga from Shiva's head
b.
Moon
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Shiva adorns the chandra (moon) on His forehead
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The point where the three frequencies - affection (mamata),
mercifulness (kshamashilata) and motherly love (vatsalya) originate is
referred to as the chandra (moon).
c.
Third eye
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He can perceive events of the past, present and future
d.
Serpent
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One of the Names of Lord Shankar is Bhujanga-patihari (i.e. the One
who nurtures pure particles and wears them like a garland)
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Lord Shankar adorns serpents at nine points on His body
Science in the idol
1.
Damaru
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This represents the Brahman in the form of the word (shabda Brahman).
Alphabets consisting of the sounds of 52 basic letters and the forms of 14 Maheshvar
verses (sutras) have generated from it.
2. Trident
Represents the following:
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The three components - sattva, raja and tama
The root of creation, sustenance and dissolution
Volition, knowledge and action
3. Noose (pash):
The noose represents the noose of time (kalpash) (The rope in Lord Ganapati's hand too is
the same).
Lord Shiva’s Mission
1. Jagadguru (Master of the Universe)
Meaning : One should worship Shiva for spiritual knowledge and Janardan (Vishnu) for the
Final Liberation (Moksha)
2. One leading to a state beyond the three components
Shankar destroys all the three components of Prakruti - sattva, raja and tama, in a Jiva
(Embodied soul) simultaneously.
Science in the
Mahashivratri
worship
of
Lord
Shiva
on
Function of the “Shivpindi”
1. Emitting waves of knowledge,
devotion and renunciation:
• During Mahashivratri, the emission
increases by 30%
2. Emission of subtle vibrations of
chaitanya, bliss and peace:
• During Mahashivratri, the emission
increases by 25%
3. Receiving the “tarak or marak tatva”
as required:
• Tarak = Saviour aspect of God
• Marak = Destroyer aspect of God
Science in the worship of Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri
(contd.)
Bilvapatra (Bel leaves)
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Bilvapatra contains 2% Shiva
tatva
Bilvapatra attracts 20% of the
Shiva tatva present in the
Shivpindi towards itself
Bilvarchan
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Offering bilvapatra to the Shivpindi
and chanting the mantra 'Om
Namah Shivaya' with each offering
is known as bilvarchan.
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Offer the bilvapatra from the lower
part of the pindi
Chant this Name to get maximum benefit of Lord Shiva
principle
Subtle experiment of chanting Lord Shiva’s Name
Subtle experiment:
• Subtle dimension or subtle world is the world which is beyond the
understanding of the five senses, mind and intellect.
• Our sixth sense is our ability to perceive the subtle dimension or subtle
world.
• A subtle experiment is a means of testing and training ourselves to use
our sixth sense.
Steps to perform subtle experiment:
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Assume comfortable posture
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Close your eyes
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Chant “Om Namaha Shivaya” for 5 minutes
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What did you feel after chanting?
Worship of Lord Shiva
a.
Application
(Bhasma)
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Tripundra refers to the three
horizontal stripes of holy ash
applied to the forehead
These stripes symbolise spiritual
knowledge, purity and penance
(spiritual practice of Yoga)
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of
holy
ash
b.
Wearing a rudraksha
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The rudraksha converts light
frequencies of deities from the
universe into sound frequencies in
the body of humans and vice versa
A
real
rudraksha
can
be
recognised by the vibrations felt by
holding it in the hand
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Worship of Lord Shiva (contd.)
c.
Ritualistic worship of the pindi
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Only cold water and bel is offered to Lord Shankar's pindi
Since Lord Shiva is the deity of dissolution, substances such as milk, vermilion and
turmeric are not used in His worship.
d.
Circumambulation (pradakshina)
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When circum-ambulating, one should begin from the left side and continue till the
channel of the shalunka from where the water offered during the ritualistic bathing
(abhishek) flows
The flow of a shalunka is not crossed
e.
Chanting the Name of Lord Shiva
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Obeisance (namaskar) to the five syllables “Namaha Shivaya”
Each of the five syllables has a spiritual meaning
Worship of Lord Shiva (contd.)
f.
Worship of the shalunka
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Shalunka is the extension of the Shivalinga or pindi at its base
Three horizontal stripes of holy ash are drawn on the Shalunka and a circle is
drawn on them
White rice and white flowers are offered
Bel leaves are offered by keeping the stalk pointing towards oneself
g.
Abhishek
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Abhishek is sprinkling of holy water and keeps the Shivalinga wet
continuously
Abhishek is offered to Lord Shiva while chanting the rudra (sacred hymns).
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Where to sit while worshipping Shivalinga?
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One can sit at any of the points
from 1 to 7.
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One should not sit at point 8
shown in the figure
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From this point, the frequencies
of divine energy are emitted and
the Jiva performing the ritual may
not be able to bear the
frequencies of energy
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Also, the frequencies can have
adverse effect on the jiva.
Subtle Experiment of
Sattvik picture of Lord Shiva
Steps to perform subtle experiment:
• Close you eyes, pray and chant for 2 minutes
• Open your eyes and see the first picture
• Note down your reading; whether you are feeling pleasant, unpleasant or neutral
• Repeat the above steps for the second picture
• Now compare your reading
Picture 1 – Lord Shiva
Picture 2 – Lord Shiva
Which picture did you feel better looking at?
Blatant Denigration of Lord Shiva
• Sara MacDonald, an Australian author of a book titled
‘Holy Cow – an Indian Adventure’ has made mockery of
Hindu deities and hurt religious sentiments of thousands
of Hindus.
• The book has been published in the year 2003 by an
American Company called ‘Broadway Books’.
• Lord Shiva has been shown on front page of the book
wearing sun glasses
• Lord Shiva has been misrepresented in the book
• There is scornful criticism on Indians, Hindu deities and
Dharma, Buddhists and Sikh Dharma
Blatant Denigration of Lord Shiva (contd.)
• Teresa Bergen, an artist from the
United States, has depicted Hindu
Gods as animals.
• A series of such paintings are
available on her website
• She has painted Lord Shiva, Lord
Brahma, Narad Muni and Lord
Nataraja either as a cat or a dog.
• She claims that she has visualised
them in these forms, during
meditation.
Blatant Denigration of Lord Shiva (contd.)
• M.F.Hussain has painted Headless Lord
Shiva and depicted Goddess Parvati and
Lord Ganesh in a scornful manner
• M.F. Hussain has depicted several other
Hindu Gods and Goddesses in a
contemptuous manner
• He is booked under different Sections of
the Indian Penal Code at different police
stations all over India and in some cases
has obtained bail and in some cases he is
declared as absconding
• His paintings related to Muslim and other
religions do not depict any nudity in
respect of the respective persons, Gods
and Goddesses
Some more examples of denigration of Lord Shiva
So how can one take it as ones sadhana (spiritual
practice)?
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We err in thinking that we, by ourselves, cannot do anything or cannot
change the situation.
What can I do?
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Follow Righteousness
Do daily spiritual practice
Ask others to follow righteousness (This is the need of the current times)
Why is it important to stop these denigrations?
“Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha”
God protects those who protect Dharma
Holy Text on Lord Shiva
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Compilers: H.H. Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale
& Dr. [Mrs.] Kunda Jayant Athavale
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Explains in detail about Lord Shiva, His
various forms and science behind His
worship
Prayer & Gratitude
By performing every activity by understanding the science of
Spirituality, one attains God Realisation (Moksha). It is through the
blessing and intense desire of H.H. Dr. Athavale that this knowledge
is being made available through FHA.
We pray to Lord Shiva and Sree Guru that all should benefit from this
imparted knowledge and progress both individually (vyashti) and
collectively (samashti) and realize the true glory of Hindu Dharma.
If you get any spiritual experiences by following the view points
mentioned in this Satsang or if you have any queries about the
topic presented here, please let us know.
Our email: info@forumforhinduawakening.org
© 2009 Forum for Hindu Awakening Inc.