Mahashivaratri - Significance of the Great Night of Lord Shiva

Mahashivaratri, known as the great night of Shiva, holds profound spiritual significance for devotees around the world. Lord Shiva, the epitome of auspiciousness and the life source of all existence, is revered in various forms, each resonating uniquely with the spiritual growth of the Upasaka, or devotee. From the benevolent Shri Dakshinamurthy, the fountainhead of all knowledge, to the fierce Bhairava, and the all-encompassing Jagadeeshwara, Shiva manifests in myriad forms to guide and protect. Pashupatinath, the lord of all sentient beings, illustrates his compassionate oversight of all life.

Mahashivaratri is a night of great spiritual potential. Lord Shiva is the source of auspiciousness and all existence. He is the life source that flows through us, keeping us alive and lively. An Upasaka can worship the form of Shiva most suitable for his spiritual growth, as decided by his Guru.

Lord Shiva is also Shri Dakshinamurthy, the source of all forms of knowledge and He is also Bhairava, the fierce one who is dearest to the Upasaka's heart. And He is Jagadeeshwara, the Lord of the entire manifest universe. He is Pashupatinath, the Lord of all sentient beings.

Without Shiva, we become Shava - a corpse. However, without any form of spiritual growth or purpose, we remain a Shava from within. To awaken those vital yet subtle life energies, Lord Shiva is worshipped and meditated upon on this night of Mahashivaratri, also known as the great night of Shiva! Every month has a Shivaratri.

Then what makes this day special? According to astrological positions, there is a natural upsurge of spiritual energy on this day. It is of utmost importance to keep the spine erect and engage oneself in meditation upon the sacred Panchakshari Mantra - Om Namah Shivaya.

According to the prescriptions of the Shiva Purana, devotees observe a day-long fast to be broken at next daybreak with the prasada offered to Lord Shiva. They stay awake for the entire night, performing abhisheka for the Shivalinga, making offerings of bilva patram and chanting the Panchakshari as the rituals go on. At various places, Rudra Homam is performed to propitiate Bhagavan Mahadeva.  

There are various legends associated with Mahashivaratri. It is believed that invoking Shiva enhances marital bliss because Shiva and Shakti were married with divine splendor on this day. Shiva also consumed the deadly Halahala poison which emerged from the Samudramanthana by the Devas and Asuras. This signifies a victory over enemies for the ambitious.

Lubdhaka, a devout tribal who unknowingly worshipped the Shivalinga with a thousand bilva leaves becomes the recipient of Shiva's grace. It is this grace that bestows the asetic with the stillness he seeks and the Yogi with the experience of the unbounded, of the oneness of all existence.

It is this grace that a devotee's heart yearns for. It is said that there are four ways of experiencing the divine which can be applied to the context of the worship of Lord Shiva during Mahashivaratri.

1. Saamipyam - You engage in the rituals and meditation with the faith that you are close to Shiva, dear to His heart.

2. Saanidhyam - As your contemplation deepens, you experience the sanctifying presence of Lord Shiva in your heart center.

3. Saarupyam - With His grace and prolonged upasana, you see His presence throbbed within you and in all life forms around.

4. Saayujyam - There is no "You" left anymore. It is a complete dissolution. Only Shiva remains.

Mahashivaratri is therefore a magnificent night that offers an opportunity for profound spiritual transformation. Through fasting, staying awake, and engaging in rituals like abhisheka and the chanting of Panchakshari, devotees seek to draw closer to the divine presence of Lord Shiva.

We are all seekers of the Truth. We seek that vastness, that unlimitedness from where everything emerges and dissolves back into. This vast emptiness, the very source of creation is Shiva. The seed of potential within every human being is Shiva. He is Bholenath, the most compassionate one. On this great night of Mahashivaratri, let us contemplate upon Mahadeva and become recipients of divine bliss.

As seekers of truth and divine bliss, Mahashivaratri invites us to meditate upon Mahadeva, embracing the vast emptiness from which all creation emerges and dissolves. By connecting with Bholenath, the most compassionate one, we open ourselves to receive his boundless grace and spiritual fulfillment, making Mahashivaratri a night of unparalleled divine communion and inner awakening.

Authored by Lakshmi Sivaraman. Published by Brhat.