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Subject: om nama sivaaya - maha shiva raathri
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 07:05:55 -0500
Organization: http://www.lskumar.com
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From: "L. Suresh Kumar-LSK"
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Namaskar.
|| jagathah pitharo vandhe paarvathi parameshwara ||
|| maathaacha paarvathi devi
pithaa devo maheshwaraha
bhaandhava shiva bakthaascha
swadeshu bhuvanathreyam ||
|| maatrubyo namaha
pithrubhyo namaha
gurubyo namaha
aachaarabhyo namaha ||
Today (11-march-2002) is maha shivraathri day.
This email is sent to you with prayers for peace, happiness, joy,
prosperity, well being and most importantly, the grace and blessings
of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi,
for you and your family and friends.
- Thank You & Regards
- Suresh + Anjali
- http://www.egroups.com/messages/lsk/
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http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/mahashivratri1.swf
http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/mahashivratri2.swf
http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/mahashivratri3.swf
http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/mahashivratri4.swf
http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/thumb-mahashivratri4.gif
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http://greetings.sify.com/content/Maha_Shivratri/thumb-mahashivratri1.gif
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R E L I G I O N F E A T U R E --- March 11, 2002
http://www.samachar.com/religion/
http://www.samachar.com/religion/mahashivratri.html
M A H A S H I V R A T R I L O R D S H I V A
Mahashivratri -- Lord Shiva
Shiva - the word meaning auspicious - is one of the Hindu
Trinity, comprising of Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the Preserver
and Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Time
is invisible and formless. Therefore Mahakal Shiva, as per the
Vedas, manifested himself as "LINGUM" to make mankind aware of
the presence of Eternal Time. That day when Shiva manifested
himself in the form of "Lingum" was the fourth day of the dark
night in the month of Magh i.e. February-March. This is confirmed
by Rishi Markendeya in the sloka :-
"That night, when the many-splendoured Shiv-Lingum dazzled the
world with its appearance, was the night of the Mahashivratri-
the night of the great Shiva". This Mahashivratri festival
continues to be celebrated for ever and ever. Maharshi Narad
advised mankind to fast on this day and pray to the All-Powerful
Shiva so that in all His kindness He pardons all the sins that
are committed in the past three lives.
Lord Shiva is portrayed as an ascetic, sitting on a tiger skin, a
bunch of poisonous snakes coiled round his blue neck, his hair
and his body. He received the waters of the sacred river Ganga
that rushed down from heaven with an unimaginable force and
ferocity in the coil of his hair on his head to save the world
from total annihilation and released the water slowly on the
plains to flow. Lord Shiva has a third eye in the centre of his
forehead along with a crescent moon. His most powerful weapon is
the Trishul, the trident. His favourite mount is the sacred bull,
Nandi who is also worshipped. His abode is on the high majestic
Kailash mountain where he resides with his celestial consort
goddess Parvati.
Lord Shiv is worshipped in the form of `Shiv-Lingum' which
symbolises the power behind the creation. As Nataraj, the master
of the art of dancing, he is depicted in sculptures in bronze and
images in metal. In fact, the entire world of art revolves round
Lord Shiv and goddess Parvati.
Mahashivratri -- Celebrations
On the day of Mahashivratri, celebrations take place in all the
Shiva temples across India. Devotees bathe at sunrise in any holy
water source (like the Ganga or Shiva Sagar tank at Khajuraho).
They offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The Shivlingam
is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called the
panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Thereafter
the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd,
honey and sugar - are placed before the Shivlingam. Dhatura and
Jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva
and thus offered at his temple. People also decorate the linga
with flowers and garlands and offer incense sticks and fruit.
Devotees celebrate the day by observing a fast during the day and
offer prayers throughout the night. All through the day, devotees
abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next
morning, after the nightlong worship. The day is considered
especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well
being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for
a husband like Shiva, who is considered the ideal husband.
Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva are sung with great fervor and
devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah
Shivaya. It is believed that one who utters the name of Shiva
during Shivratri with proper devotion is freed from all sins. He
reaches the abode of Shiva and lives happily there. He is
liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivratri worship must
incorporate six items: the ceremonial offer of cooling bael
leaves to the hot-blooded deity, representing purification of the
soul; the vermilion paste applied on the linga after bathing it,
representing virtue; food offering which is conducive to
longevity and gratification of desires; incense, yielding wealth;
the lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of
knowledge; and betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly
pleasures.
These six items, till today, form an indispensable part of
Mahashivratri, be it a simple ceremony at home or grand temple
worship. By offering water, hugging the linga, lighting the diya
and incense, and ringing the temple bells, devotees call into
focus all their senses, making them acutely aware of themselves
and the universe to which they belong.
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Shiva Panchakshara Stotra
Stotra 1:
Nagendra Haaraaya Thrilochanaaya
Bhasmaanga Raagaaya Maheshvaraaya
Nityaaya Suddhaaya Digambaraaya
Tasmai Nakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Meaning:
I offer my humble salutations to Lord Mahesvara - who has a
garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose
body is covered with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure;
who has the entire sky as His dress and who is embodies as the
first letter Na.
Stotra 2:
Mandaakini Salila Chandana Chaarthitaaya
Nandeesvara Pramatha Naatha Mahesvaraaya
Mandaara Pushpa Vahu Pushpa Supoojitaaya
Tasmai Makaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Meaning:
I bow to Lord Mahesvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma),
whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and
sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and
who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara.
Stotra 3:
Shivaaya Gauri Vadana Aravinda
Sooryaaya Dakshaadhvara Naashakaaya
Sree Neelakantaaya Vrisha Dhvajaaya
Tasmai Shikaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Meaning:
I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun
for mother Gauri`s lotus face, who is the destroyer of Daksha`s
sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord (due to the
Haalahala poison which He agreed to consume), whose banner bears
the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi.
Stotra 4:
Vasishta Kumbhodbhava Gautamaaya
Muneendra Devaarchita Sekharaaya
Chandraarka Vaishvaanara Lochanaaya
Tasmai Vakaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Meaning:
I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed
to by great sages such as Vashishta, Agastya and Gautama, whose
eyes are sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as Vakaara
(letter Va).
Stotra 5:
Yajna Swaroopaaya Jataadharaaya
Pinaaka Hasthaaya Sanaatanaaya
Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya
Tasmai Yakaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Meaning:
Prostrartions to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksa incarnate,
whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in
His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire and who is
embodied as the letter Ya.
Stotra 6:
Panchaaksharam Idam Punyam
Yah Pateh Shiva Sannidhau
Shivaloka Mavaapnothee
Shivena Saha Modate
Meaning:
Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters
before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys
the eternal Bliss.
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also visit
http://www.siddhashram.org/s20010172.shtml
http://www.eprarthana.com/offers/sivarathri/sivarathri.asp?refid=smk1001
http://www.godpromise.com/gmantra.html
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