Meaning of Shivaratri:
Shivaratri is made up of two words – Shiva & Ratri. The word Shiva means – “Shete tishthati sarvam jagat Yasmin sah shivah shambhuh vikararahitah” Shiva is the One in whom the entire universe rests, who is changeless and brings auspiciousness to everyone. Shiva is Pure Consciousness or the very life-spark in our heart. Consciousness is Sat-Chit-Ananda or Satyam Shivam and Sundaram.
Shiva means auspicious, beautiful. Consciousness alone is truly beautiful because true beauty never fades, is eternal and changeless. Our Body, Mind & Intellect are inert. They appear to be sentient and beautiful only because of reflection of Consciousness.
Bhagwan Shiva is the destroyer of the world. Without destruction, construction is not possible. His destruction is constructive-destruction. Actually He is the destroyer of our attachments, our impurities, our wanderings and our ignorance. He is the Adi Guru who destroys the ignorance of the Self and its effects of the devotees by blessing them with Self-Knowledge.
Ratri is formed of the samskrit root – Raa, which means to give. That which provides happiness and bliss is one meaning of Ratri. Day is symbolic of creation, activity, dynamism. From the cause, we move to the effects. The mind goes out through the senses, takes up many roles and responsibilities. In a way, from one it becomes many. From singularity it moves towards plurality. There are situations & challenges, success & failure, praise & criticism, problems & solutions etc. that we experience through the day. Night is the opposite. Everyone experiences bliss in sleep and looks forward to it. We withdraw in sleep and get rest. From the effects we come back to the cause. BMI become dormant and rejuvenate in sleep. From plurality we come back to singularity. We are closest to the Self in this state. Hence we experience great happiness even when no objects or people are present in it.
In Samskrit, Shiva is masculine gender word. Ratri is feminine gender, is symbolic of Prakriti or Shakti. Shivaratri is the union of Shiva & Shakti. It is also the night which provides illumination and bliss when Jiva unites with Shiva.
As per the amavasyanta calender, Krishnapaksha-chaturdashi(14th of the dark fortnight) of Magha is celebrated as Mahashivaratri. On this day, Bhagwan Shiva manifested as a Shiva-Linga. Our 5 senses of knowledge, 5 senses of action, Mind, Intellect, Memory & Ego are 14 aspects which must become Shivamaya to realise Shiva as the Self. Chaturdashi is followed by Amavasya(New moon). On Amavasya- the moon is invisible due to the shadow of the earth caused by the sun. Similarly, after the Shiva-sadhana of Chaturdashi, the Jiva loses himself into Shiva & becomes ‘invisible’.
Sadhana on Shivaratri:
Shiva-Pooja, Offering abhisheka & bilva leaves to Shiva-Linga, Upavasa(fasting), Jagaran(keeping awake) in remembrance of Shiva & Shiva-Pooja during the 4 quarters of the night from 6pm to 6am, are the main rituals of Shivaratri.
Shivam tu pujayitva yo jagarti ca chaturdashim |
Matuh payodharasam na pibet sa kadacana || - Skanda Purana
It is said that one who keeps awake & worships Shiva on this Chaturdashi(Mahashivaratri), does not have to drink mother’s milk ever again. Meaning, one does not have to be born again, having attained fulfilment.
Fasting and keeping awake are the main rituals to be done for Shivaratri.
What is Upavasa?
Upavasa is defined as ‘aahaara nivrittihi.’Not eating any food is Upavasa.
That which is consumed, collected by us through the senses, mind and intellect is called Food or Ahara. “aahriyate manasaa budhyaa indriyairvaa iti aahaarah.” Not to indulge with these is Upavasa. It is not merely absistence from eating food through the toungue. It is through all the senses. Then what is to be done? It is mentioned in Varahopanishad:
Upa-sameepe yo vaasaha jeevaatma-paramaatmanoh
Upavaasah sa vijneyaha na tu kaayasya shoshanam.
Upa means near & Vasa is to stay. Jeevatma stays close to Paramatma and unites with Paramatma. This is called Upavasa. Its not to torcher the body.
In this context, it means staying near Lord Shiva by worship, meditation, japa of Lord Shiva.
Best Upavasa is done without drinking water. If that is not possible, one takes some fruits only. This will do cellular level detoxification and autophagy sets in for the body. If that is also not possible, one can take cooked food(avoiding cereals), once. Please remember that Upavas or fasting is not possible for everyone. Each one must decide based on their body-temperament.
Jagaran(Keeping Awake)
Keeping awake is symbolic of ‘being awake to the Self’ and asleep to the world of sense-pleasures, like the (Wo)man of steady wisdom(sthitaprajna) as described in Chapter 2 of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta. On Shivaratri, one must perform Shiva-Pooja with the desire to unite with Lord Shiva – Ones’ Own Self. One must meditate in the night and awaken from the beginningless sleep of ignorance of the Self. One must withdraw the identification from the world, from the body, the 10 senses, the mind, the intellect, the memory, the ego, the vasanas and just Be Shiva.
The glory of fasting, shiva-pooja and keeping awake is explained with a beautiful story.
Shiva-Purana Story about Shivaratri Rahasya
In the chapter 40 in Section 4 of Kotirudra-saṃhita of Shiva Purana is mentioned an inspiring story that brings out the glory of Shivaratri Vrata, which if done unconsciously also brings great results.
Formerly there was a hunter in a forest, Gurudruha by name. He had a large family. He was strong, ruthless and engaged in cruel activities. Everyday he used to go to the forest incessantly and kill deer. There in the forest he committed thefts also in various ways.
Once it was a Shivaratri day. But the wicked hunter, staying in the great forest did not know that. On this occasion he was requested by his parents and wife who were oppressed by starvation, “O forest-roamer give us food.” Thus, requested he took up his bow and started immediately for hunting deer. He roamed here and there in the forest. Due to adverse fate no game was secured by him. The sun too had set and he was greatly distressed. The hunter went near a pond. He stood near the path leading to water thinking that some animal is sure to come here; I shall kill it and go home with pleasure. Thinking thus the hunter climbed up a Bilva tree, taking some water with him. He sat on its branch.
During the first part of the night a thirsty hind came there springing and jumping timidly. On seeing it he was much delighted. He fixed an arrow to his bow immediately in order to kill it. When he did this, some water (that he had with him) got spilt and a few leaves of the Bilva tree fell down. There was a Shivalinga beneath the tree. Hence this became his worship for the first part of the night(6pm to 9pm). As a result of this some of his sins were dissolved. On hearing the noise, the hind became frightened. It was much distressed on seeing the hunter.
The hind said: — “O hunter, what is it that you propose to do? Please speak truth before me.” On hearing the words of the hind, the hunter said: — “My family is starving today. I shall satisfy their hunger by killing you.” On hearing these terrible words and seeing that ruthless knave, the hind thought “What shall I do? Where shall I go? thinking thus the hind spoke. The hind said: --
“There is no doubt that I am blessed. You will be happy with my flesh. What greater merit can I have through this body which is in every respect harmful? One who does good, earns enormous merit in return, which cannot be described in hundreds of years. But all my infant fawns are in the hermitage. I shall entrust them to the care of my sister and return. O forest-roamer, do not take my words to be lies. Undoubtedly, I will come again to you. The earth stays steady through truth. The ocean is steady through truth. The water flows steadily through truth. Everything is founded on truth.”
When the hunter did not accept its proposal even after being implored thus, the bewildered and frightened hind spoke again: --
“O hunter, listen. I shall explain. I take this vow. After going home if I do not return to you let me be smeared with the sin that these people have viz—A brahmin who sells the Vedas, one who does not offer Sandhya prayers, women who transgress the commands of their husbands, an ungrateful person, a person who is averse to Shiva or the sin earned by becoming inimical to the Guru or the sin earned by someone by moving against dharma or who violates Virtue, a person committing broach of trust, and a person who deceives others.”
When the hind made these promises the hunter believed it and said “Go home”.
The delighted hind drank water and went to its hermitage. By that time the first part of the night came to a close and the hunter did not have a wink of sleep.
Meanwhile, the sister of the hind, not able to see it and so distressed, came there in search of that hind. It too was thirsty. On seeing the hind, the Bhilla(hunter) drew the bow and was about to shoot the arrow. As before, water and Bilva leaves fell on the Shivalinga below. Incidentally it became the worship of the second part(9pm to 12midnight) of the night.
The hind asked “O forest-roamer what are you doing?” After seeing him, the hunter replied as before. On hearing it, the hind said again. “O hunter, listen. I am blessed. My life is fruitful. A service can be rendered through this evanescent body. But my fawns, young ones, are in the house. I shall entrust them to the care of my husband and come again.”
The hunter said: — “I do not agree to what you say. Undoubtedly, I am going to kill you.” On hearing that the hind said on the oath of Shiva. The hind said: --
“O hunter, listen. I shall explain. If a person breaks his words, he forfeits his merits. If I do not return let me be smeared with the sin that accrues to such people who forsake their legally wedded wife and cohabit with another, who transgress the Vedic virtue and follow an imaginary and fictitious cult; who profess to be devoted to Vishnu and censure Shiva, who does not feed the Brahmanas on the day of the parents’ death and who after repenting commits the same sin.
Implored by the hind, the hunter said to the hind, “go.” It drank water and delightedly went away to its hermitage. By that time the second part of the night too came to a close without a wink of sleep to the hunter.
When the third part(12midnight to 3am) arrived, the stag who was bewildered by the delay caused by the hind came there in search of it. The hunter saw it standing on the path leading to water. On seeing the stout stag, the hunter was delighted. He fixed the arrow to the bow and was about to kill it. While he attempted to do this, some water and a few Bilva leaves fell on the Shivalinga by chance. In view of this, the worship of the third part of that night became realised due to his good fortune. Shiva’s merciful nature was evident in this.
On hearing the noise, the stag asked, “what are you doing?” The hunter replied “I am going to kill you for the sake of my family.” On hearing this, the stag was delighted in his mind. Immediately he spoke to the hunter. The stag said: --
“I am blessed that I am well-nourished and enough to satisfy your needs. Of a person everything is useless if his body is of no avail. If a person does not help others though he is capable of it, all his efficiency is vain. He will fall into hell after death. But I must entrust my young ones to the care of their mother. I shall console them and return again.”
Thus requested the hunter was much surprised in his mind. With his heap of sins destroyed and with a purified mind he spoke these words. The hunter said: --
“O stag, every animal that came here has gone after promising in the manner that you have done now. They have not yet come. You too are in distress now and want to go under a false pretext. How, then, will I have my livelihood?”
The stag said: --
“O hunter, listen, I shall explain. I do not utter lies. The entire universe including the mobile and immobile beings is steady, thanks to truth. The merit of a liar melts away in a trice. Still O, hunter, listen to my truthful promise. If I do not come again, let me have the sin of these activities viz: —in having sexual intercourse at dusk, in taking food on Shivaratri day, in perjury, in misappropriation of Trust funds, in neglecting Sandhya prayers, in not uttering Shiva’s name with the mouth, in not helping despite the ability, in plucking of the wood apple fruit on the day sacred to Shiva or eating of the forbidden food, or in adoring Shiva without applying ashes on the body or in taking food without adoring Shiva.”
On hearing these words, the hunter said “Go and return quickly.” Thus, permitted by the hunter, the stag drank water and went away. All these animals who had promised in good faith, met at the hermitage. Hearing the news of one another in its entirety they decided that they should go because they were bound by the promise. They consoled the fawns and became eager to go back.
The senior hind spoke to its mate “O stag, without you, how can the young fawns stay here? O lord, it was I who promised at the outset. So, I shall go. Both of you stay here.”
On hearing those words, the junior hind spoke “I am your servant. Hence, I go. You shall stay here.”
On hearing it, the stag said— “I am going there. Both of you stay here. Infants are guarded and looked after by their mothers.”
On hearing the words of their husband, the two hinds did not consider it righteous. They lovingly told their husband, “Fie upon that life in widowhood.”
Then all of them consoled their fawns and entrusted them to the care of their neighbours. They went to the place where the hunter was waiting. The fawns too seeing all these followed them thinking. “Let what befalls them happen to us as well.”
On seeing them, the delighted hunter fitted the arrow to bis bow. Water and leaves of the Bilva tree fell on the Shivalinga again. Thanks to that, the worship of the fourth part(3am to 6am) of the night too became auspiciously performed. Thereafter his sins were reduced to ashes in a trice. The senior hind, the junior hind and the stag said— “O excellent hunter, make our body purposeful. Be merciful to us.”
On hearing their words, the hunter was surprised. Thanks to the power of the worship of Shiva, he acquired perfect knowledge inaccessible to others. The hunter thought, “The deer are blessed. Though devoid of knowledge they are ready to help others by offering their own bodies. What have I achieved despite being born as a human being? I have nourished my body by torturing others. I reared my family by committing many sins every day. Alas! what will be my fate after committing all these sins? Sins have been committed by me ever since my birth. What goal shall I attain? Fie, Fie upon my life!”
Acquiring perfect knowledge thus, he withdrew the arrow and explained— “O excellent deer! You are all blessed. You can safely go back.”
When he said this, Shiva became delighted. He revealed his form that is worshipped and honoured by the good. Touching him mercifully Shiva spoke lovingly to the hunter, “O hunter, I am delighted at this Vrata. Ask for the boon you wish to have.”
On seeing Shiva’s form, the hunter became liberated in a trice. He fell at Shiva’s feet saying, “Everything has been attained by me now.” Shiva, delighted in his mind, gave him the name Guha. Glancing at him mercifully he gave him a divine boon. Shiva said: — “O hunter, listen! Have your capital at Shṛngaverapura and enjoy divine pleasures at your will. Your race will flourish without any calamity. O hunter, certainly Lord Rama praised even by the gods will come to your house. He will make alliance with you. Co-operating with my devotee, your mind indulged in rendering service to me, you will attain salvation rare to others.”
In the meantime, having viewed Shiva, the deer bowed to him and attained liberation from their birth as deer. They attained divine bodies, ascended the aerial chariot and went away. Released from curse at the very sight of Shiva they attained heaven.
Since that day, Shiva came to be known as Vyaghreshvara over the Arbudaachala mountain. By adoring and looking at him, one achieves the devotion and salvation at the same time.
The hunter also enjoying all the worldly pleasures since that date, by the grace of Rama, achieved the Sayujya state of Shiva. He performed the Shivaratri vrata unknowingly but still he achieved the Sayujya state. Those who worship Shiva whole heartedly, they attain complete absorption in the Lord.
Symbolism of the story:
Symbolically, the hunter represents the Jiva whose preoccupation is to hunt pleasures in the forest of samsaara. With the arrows of sense-organs, he ‘shoots’ the animals, the sense objects. When a Jiva does not get any game(permanent happiness) in spite of trying hard and is tired(of such a life), the Jiva comes across satsang in the form of the deer & stag. They give him the knowledge of Dharma and the sins that one accrues by not following it. They also demonstrate the power of Truth, temporary nature of the body and compassion. Simultaneously, the water and the bilva leaves were getting offered on the Shivalinga, creating punya and destroying paapa of the Jiva. The body is the Bilva Tree and each bilva leaf represents the three gunas which influence the Jiva’s life. The Jiva offers these Guna-coloured-actions to the Gunatita – The Lord in the form of Shiva-Linga. Thus, he becomes free of attachment and at the death of the body-identification, unites with Shiva – Pure Consciousness.
If the unconscious acts of the hunter could gain the grace of Lord Shiva, how much more grace and blessings will be experienced by us if we fast, keep vigil and worship Lord Shiva, with devotion!
Let us invoke His Mighty Grace and realize that we are not the jiva, but Shiva – Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
!! Om Namah Shivaya !!
