Shiva represents the pure and Shivratri is the night when this pure form appeared to annihilate the sufferings of human beings. Why are we human beings suffering because we are not able to realize the Shiva in us? The formless, the all pervading one with no beginning and no end, took a form to pull us out from the never-ending suffering.
Most festivals associated with Hindu tradition are noted for
its mirth, fun and frolic but Shivratri is associated with contemplation,
prayers and meditation.
Shiva represents the truth and we humans are far removed
from the truth. Shiva in human form represents the true human and we have
become everything but human.
Shivratri provides us with an opportunity to clear the dust
that is covering the Shiva in us. The dusts of ignorance, attachments, ego,
jealousy, anger, insecurity, prejudice and false ideas have hidden the Shiva in
us.
Realize the Shiva in us and life becomes bliss – We travel
to a plane beyond birth and death.
Today is Shivratri - all prayers to Mahadev for self realization.
Om Namah Shivaya
The first image that comes to mind when one thinks about Shiva is the Shivling and the Snakes around the neck of Shiva. We tremble with fear on encountering a snake. So imagine using snake as a garland. To attain bliss we have to be fearless. We have to drop the fear of tomorrow, fear of losing social status, fear of losing wealth, fear of losing family members, fear of death, and fear of all that is fleeting… When all fear is dropped, we drop ignorance. This leads to bliss. The snake on Shiva extols this truth. The snake is the fear of the world and future. He who is to make the snake a garland attains bliss.
What is bliss? It is the realization of the Supreme Truth in
all animate and inanimate. That there is no second.
What is Shivling? It is a symbol of the fiery seed
responsible for all forms of creation in the world – which we know and
of which
we have no knowledge. We are here because of that primordial column of
fire.
And we return back to the only source. Shivling makes our path to self
realization easy. Constant meditation on it removes ignorance and a day
will come when we will not even need the Shivling. All forms will drop
and we will merge in the formless.
"Lord~~Ganesha"
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