Om Namo Bhagavade Sivanandaya

Established in 1949 by Sri Swami Sivananda

Mahasivaratri Report

Published in News & Reports
Read 2933 times
Rate this item
(0 votes)

Mahasivaratri was observed at all Divine Life Society branches on Monday, 7 March. Satsangs continued until 5am the next morning. The programme included a delightful variety of items such as chanting of the Om Namah Sivaya Mantra, offerings at the Siva Linga, Bhajans and Kirtans, classical dancing, video screenings, audio recorded plays and inspiring readings, plays and messages interspersed throughout the night. Guest artists added richness to the programme by offering beautifully choreographed dances and melodious Bhajans and Kirtans.At Reservoir Hills, our Divine Master's voice and Pujya Swamiji's pre-recorded Bhajans in praise of Lord Siva inspired the congregation. The informative presentation by our Spiritual Darlings explaining the symbols that typically appear in pictures of Lord Siva was well received.

Devotees were enthralled not only by the captivating offerings to the Lord from our talented guest artists but also by the devotional outpourings that were prevalent from the beginning until the conclusion of Mahasivaratri. At Sivanandashram Reservoir Hills over 150 people kept vigil throughout the night. At the last quarter, the noticeable enthusiasm and devotion as devotees walked around Ganga Rani and vibrantly chanted the Om Nama Sivaya Mantra even at that early part of the morning, was indeed heart-warming.

r12814499 10207637327823929 5914029783428779420 nMahasivaratri at Sivanandashram Reservoir Hills

About Mahasivaratri our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda wrote, "The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality of passionate activity), and Tamas (that of inertia). The Sivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas, are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant control is exercised over the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Siva Lingam is conducted. Sivaratri is a perfect Vrata. Lord Siva assured Parvati as follows: 'There is no ritual, O Parvati, which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity.'"

Another inspiring message was taken from the Akshara Mana Malai, dedicated to Lord Siva and which is an inspired poetical composition by Sri Ramana Maharishi. One of its most evocative verses celebrates the death of the ego:

"Arunachala! I came to you with the intention of making you mine. But instead it
was you who consumed me. You swallowed my ego. You consumed my individuality
and absorbed me into yourself. "Now there is peace. He who came to feast on you became
a feast for you. "The eater and the eaten have merged into one. "There is no duality
any longer. "I have lost my individuality, my ego, and my body consciousness and have
attained inseparable eternal union with the Self. I have no further desires"

Our Master wrote the following about the inner significance of Mahasivaratri, "Offer this inner worship to Lord Siva daily. 'I worship the jewel of my Self, the Siva residing in the lotus of my heart. I bathe Him with the water of my pure mind, brought from the river of devotion and faith. I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of Samadhi—all this in order that I may not be born again in this world.'"

 

Last modified on Tuesday, 15 March 2016 08:05
Super User

Hi my name is Marcubie and I have been the Creative Director on Medunten Technology. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. he thought. It wasn't a dream. His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls pronunciation 

Website: themesoul.com

Left Home Image

Gurudev Centenary 2024

Sri Swami Sivananda

(1887 - 1963)

Forthcoming Functions

Publications

"Sure Ways for Success in Life and God Realisation"

"Sure Ways for Success in…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.8cm x 20cm Soft Cover: Pages: 320 Pages Donation (SA): R50 Foreign: $15 Sure Ways for Success In ...

"Path of Divine Grace, Volume 2"

"Path of Divine Grace, Vo…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.5cm x 20.5cm Soft Cover: Pages: 244 Pages Donation (SA): R25 Foreign: $10 The eagerly awaited s...

"Path of Divine Grace, Volume 1"

"Path of Divine Grace, Vo…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.5cm x 20.5cm Soft Cover: Pages: 244 Pages Donation (SA): R25 Foreign: $10 The first of 4 Volume...

"Practice of Karma Yoga"

"Practice of Karma Yoga…

April 30, 2015

Size: 14.8cm x 21.2cm Soft Cover: 233 pages Donation (SA): R30 Foreign: $12 The nectar-like teachings of...