|
 Maha Sivarathri falls
on Magha Bahula (krishna) Chathurdhasi i.e., on the fourthteenth day of the moon declension in the month of Magha.
Maha Shiva Rathri is the one of the most important festivals
of India. Why this festival should be
celebrated and what is the inner meaning of this festival
? What is the Philosophical Spiritual and Scientific meaning of this
festival ? Is this festival is to be celebrated as it
was told by our ancestors or does this
have a contemporary relevance ? We will discuss this in
detail.
This festival is celebrated on Magha Bahula
(krishna) Chathurdhasi or on the 14 day of the moon declension
in the month of March. The festival should be celebrated as
following. Early morning bath, Worshiping of Lord Shiva with
the Bilva Leaves, Doing the Abhisheka for the Shiva Linga, Not
eating the food, and then waking up whole
night.
SCIENTIFIC
MEANING OF SHIVA RATRI : Festivals in India include the Scientific wisdom in
four different fields of sciences. Climatology, Astronomy, and
Ayur Veda and Human Physiology. Human body is susceptible for
the changes in the cyclical motions of the moon and sun. The
impact of these changes are closely documented by the advanced
researchers in the field of bio farming and organic farming.
The ascent and descent of the moon have the impact on the
growth of the plants and all cellular structures, including on
the germination of the plants.
Ancient sages understood that these changes also affect
at certain seasonal transitions and devised the methods for
the natural adaptations for these changes. Festivals are
celebrated for these adaption. Maha Shiva Rathri comes exactly
at this seasonal transition from the Winter to Spring. All
nature and cosmos covered by the space and time undergoes
three phenomenon. Creation, Growth, and Dissolution.The time
span of these cycles change. Stars a and Galaxies may have a
cycle of millions of light years and species may have few
hours.These three aspects are Called as the Brahma Tatva
Vishnu Tatva and Maheswara Tatva. During the rotation around
the sun the earth and all associated creation on the earth
undergoes three faces. These are called as Kalas in the
Sasthraas. They are Autumn Time(Grishma Kala), Monsoon Time
(Varsha Kala) and Winter Time (SithaKala). Every time has two
seasons namely Spring and Summer (Autumn Time), Rainy Season
and Pre Winter Season (Winter Time), and WinterSeason and Deep
Winter Season), and after the Winter Time the Summer time will
begin. All the flora and fauna will undergohibernation during
the winter time and will start new germination during the
autumn time.
This
transition time is the most important one for all species
including humans and to make them adapt for these transitions
festivals are celebrated. Shiva Rathri is celebrated at this
time. Maheswara tatva belongs to the dissolution of this
natural cycle so this Maha Shiva Rathri is celebrated at the
last day of the first month in the deep winter season.
Humanbody also undergoes very subtle cellular and molecular
changes during this time. Most of the lung and respiratory
infections are possible during this time. To avoid them
certain rules are prescribed in the form of celebration of the
Maha Shiva Rathri. Wehave to always remember that in Sanathana
Dharma the science is interspersed with the human way of life.
Now we apply the tanning lotions, vaseline for ultra violet
sun rays during this transition months and other skin rash
medicines during these months. But these have their
limitations as these are reactive and invasive procedures of
prevention of disease. The non invasive preventions techniques
are the gradual adjustment of the body's physiology and this
is exactly is the utility of celebrating the festival.
According to Ayur Veda the Bilwa Leaves have a power
full preventive medicine for all the Respiratory Diseases
including the Cardiac Problems. The worshiping Shiva with
these leaves meansusing them with hand and smelling the smell
of these leaves. This involves the aroma therapy. According to
the advanced research when moon goes to an angle between 840
to 1800 in it's rotation around the earth there will be
profound influence on the Brain, Digestive Organs, Kidneys,
Reproductory Organs, and Spleen. Especially in the months when
the sun heat is less in the peak of winter time (which results
due to the increased distance between the earth and the sun
due to its longitudinal axis). This influences reaches peak on
the 14 day of the moon's descent in the peat of deep winter
season which is Maha Shiva Rathri day. So on this the Fasting
is prescribed according to Ayur Veda. This is intended to keep
the body systems intact.
The
shiva lingas are made with the special granite and other
different precious metals which have a specific crystalline
structure. This structure is found to have a specific property
of resonating the cosmic vibrations. Water has a peculiar
property of called colloidal property. This enhances the water
molecules to change their bond angles when came in to contact
with the cosmic resonances and to increase their energy which
then becomes powerful medicine. The abhisheka of the Shiva
Lingas is to do this complicated exercises for the benefit of
the mankind. All Temples build on the principles of agamas are
the Accumulators of the Cosmic energy and Geo Magnetic
Energies for the disseminating them for the individuals who go
to temples. (These Scientific facts are discussed in the next
issue).
Going
to temples and staying in the night of Maha Shiva Rathri
involves the taking and assimilating the energy for the whole
night so that the energy imbalances that occur during the
transitional changes are corrected.The mantras used in the
abhisheka or in the worship are definite energy states which
produce a specified quantum of energy if recited. This energy
is absorbed by the molecules of he body and they in turn
radiate heightened infrared band of energies. Theseenergies
radiated are picked up by the Acu Points or Adharas which
distribute the energy for all the systems of the body for the
energy correction. That is the reason why the Rudra Namakam,
Chamakam and Mahanyasam and other powerful Vedic Mantras are
recited on this Maha Shiva Rathri Day.
PHILOSOPHICAL MEANING OF SHIVA RATRI
: The bilva leaves represent the heart and gross manifestation.
Ling are presents the Supreme Brahman (Consciousness). So the worship
of the linga with the bilva leaves represent the
merging of the individual heart with the Supreme consciousness. Water represents
the Consciousness and the Linga represents the Universal Energy
(prakruthi and paramatma). The abhishek are presents the merging the individual
consciousness in to the universal consciousness. Temple represents the
human body and the deity represents the
Paramatma.
Staying temple represents the merging the
jivatma with the paramatma. Night represents the prakrithi,
which is gross. Sleep represents the merging within the
dynamics of the prakrithi. Waking in the night represents the
process of separation from the prakrithi. Night also
represents he ignorance. Waking represents for the 4fold path
of wisdom. Knowing, understanding, realizing and living. So
the celebration of Shiva Rathri will indicate the objective of
the individuals Moksha and how it can be achieved. It also
represent the fulfillment of the Dharma Artha and Kama by
having the sound and healthy body. Both are needed for the
progress of the man kind.
The scientific aspects and the prevention are
needed for every one. Those who understand the significance of
the spiritual aspects also has to practice them as they need
the body to achieve the spiritual aspects. Lastly the
community involvement and group celebration are the key for
the harmony of the society. So the individuals will
participate in the temple activities to transmit this advanced
wisdom for the development of the human
race. | 
