Touch the Source on Maha Shivaratri

Namaste and wish you all an auspicious Maha Shivaratri!

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated annually in honour of the deity Shiva. The festival is observed on the fourteenth day (Chathurdashi) of the waning moon (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Phalguna/Magha, before the New Moon. This year, Mahashivratri will be celebrated on February 26. The celebration includes an all-night vigil called Jaagaran which is accompanied by prayers, chanting and/or meditative practices. Many perform an all-day fast along with worship.

Any spiritual practice done on this day has a manifold effect. It is said to be the day

that consciousness, the aura or the ethereal world that is always ten inches above the material ground touches the earth element.*

The festival commemorates the union of Shiva and Parvathi in marriage, and the occasion that Shiva performs his Tandava – the dance of creation, preservation and destruction. It is also believed that on this day, Shiva gulped the halahala (a poison) produced during the Samudra Manthana (churning of the Ocean of milk) and held it in his neck, which then turned blue, leading him to be called Nilakantha. Spiritual aspirants mark this day as one where Shiva became one with Mount Kailasa -became absolutely still.

Mural showing Samudra Manthan (Credits to P.L.Tandon)

The essence of Maha Shivaratri is to journey closer to the source or Shiva.

Literally, Shivaratri means taking refuge in Shiva - celebrating and understanding the Shiva Tattva within oneself. This is facilitated by going into a space of deep stillness. Through our practices, rituals and conduct on this day, if we are able to touch the source even for a brief moment, we are blessed to be part of the auspiciousness of this day.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Here is a guidance:

Preparation

This is a 30 minute practice.

Make sure you are in a quiet room where you will not be disturbed.

Let the lights be dim.

Keep your phone on silent mode.

If the weather is cold, wear warm clothes.

Keep a journal and pen handy.

If you would like some movement to facilitate a better meditation, do a gentle practice. A Yin or restorative grounding session would work well.

Receive the following guided meditation practice.

How do you know you have touched the source?

You will know :) Even without me saying anything. Look out for feeling of expansiveness, compassion and joy. There may be flashes of insights that are replete with wisdom and feel right in your body. When you connect with the source, there is a sense of absolute clarity. There will be no judgements/biases/blaming/questioning/doubts. Yor experience may be something different too :)

Sending you all good energies!

I wish you a night of wakefulness and awakening!

Love & gratitude

Sheetal

*Reference to this paragraph here.