Lord Siva, essence of pure consciousness

by Nagalingam KUMARAKURUPARAN

Maha Sivarathri! The day most sacred to Shiva falls on Phalguna - Krishna Chaturdashi on the fourteenth day of the Phalguna month’s dark half.

That is on Amavashi, the night of the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Maasi.

According to the English calender, this day falls between February 15 to March 15 and this is the night of Maha Sivarathri, The Great Night of Siva.

Mythologically, it was on this sacred day, Lord Siva manifested himself as a pillar of light whose beginning or end could not be ascertained even by Brahma or Vishnu, meaning thereby that the Lord is beyond limits and the manifestation as Sivalingam is only a convenient, concrete form of the all pervading Lord for the devotees to offer worship.

Blessings

It is mentioned in the scriptures that both Brahma and Vishnu worshipped Siva on Maha Sivarathri Day, setting an example to others. The day is particularly auspicious for invoking the blessings of Siva.

Those who fast day and night on Maha Sivarathri and worship Siva with Vilva leaves will attain the closeness of Lord Siva - so declares the ‘Siv Purana’.

The word ‘Siva’ means auspicious, benevolent, gracious. Siva Lingam is the symbol of worship on Maha Siva Rathri and all, rituals, pujas are connected to it.

Sivalingam is the form Lord Siva who revealed Himself on Maha Sivarathri to His devotees.

God in reality is formless but yet all forms are His forms.

Absolute reality

Lord Siva the ultimate absolute reality is formless and invisible.

But he reveals Himself as Sivalingam. This is symbolic of both His formlessness and form and His transcendental nature.

Siva in essence is pure consciousness.

He can only be realised in the heart through devotion and prayers.

It appears that idol worship can bring a devotee nearer to God, because he accepts the visible idol itself, and communicates with him through the idol in his own way for better communion or communication.

By constant worship and behaviour with the symbol of God in the form of an image, His soul becomes pure and perfect; and it inspires Him for self realisation.

“The Lingam is ‘A Sign’, an image of the rhythmic creation and destruction of the universe”.

According to Eliade “All existents get absorbed in it at the time of destruction and all the existents evolve from it at the time of creation.”

Grand night

On this grand night devoted to Lord Sivas worship, all His temples are specially decorated.

The devotees keep fasts or partake of only the frugal diet of fruit and products and throng the Siv Temple for special puja or worship.

During the four parts of Maha Sivarathri night one has to keep vigil and worship Siva. Constant vigilance is imposed on the mind. Singing hymns is of special significance on this day.

This year Maha Sivarathri falls tomorrow.If Maha Sivarathri falls on a Monday the day becomes even more auspicious.

To celebrate this holy day The World Siva Council has taken steps to hoist Nandi flags at various temples in the island.

In Colombo it will be hoisted at the New Kathiresan Temple by the Council’s president S. Dhanabalaa.