Episode 60: What is Mahashivaratri?

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. 
 
Ratri is formed of the samskrit root – Raa, which means to give. That which provides happiness and bliss is one meaning of Ratri. 

Parvati is one who is born to Parvatraj Himalaya. She signifies Prakriti or Shakti. She is the source of all matter, energy and diversity.
In Samskrit, Shiva is masculine gender word. Ratri is feminine gender, is symbolic of Prakriti or Shakti. Maha-Shivaratri is the union of Shiva & Shakti(Parvati).  It is also the night which provides illumination and bliss when Jiva unites with Shiva.   May we do tapasya like Mother Parvati, with single-pointedness, subtlety, purity and persistence to discover our oneness with Bhagawan Shiva and truly celebrate Mahashivaratri.
 #shiva #shivaratri #shivarathri #hindu #hindufestival#parvati

[marriage, shiva, festival, celebration, fasting, penance, union, wedding]