Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

SHIVARATHRI

Worship of Lord Shiva is prevailing in Hindu religion and philosophy from

time immemorial perhaps since Vedic times on par with the worship of Lord
Vishnu. There are many historical and pouranic references to the worship of
Lord Shiva. We find even Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Sri Parashurama the
incarnations of Lord Vishnu having worshipped Lord Shiva and installed
Shiva Lingas during their periods. Places like Rameswaram, Srisailam
Dwarka, Somnath (Prabhas Kshetra) are some of the examples to name a
few. Lord Shiva is worshipped by all including Deities and Sages. Among
his greatest devotees Markandeya and Ravanasura are in the forefront.
Markandeya attained long life after worshipping Lord Shiva. The most
popular Panchakshari manthra Om! Namah! Shivaaya! is dedicated to Lord
Shiva.

On the contrary we find Lord Shiva is depicted as the greatest devotee of

Lord Vishnu. He is the one who has eulogized the significance of Sri Rama
Nama by preaching the same to his consort Goddess Parvathi. Lord Sri
Krishna in his Bhagavathgeetha says that He is the Shankara among the
Ekadasa Rudras. Lord Shiva known as Hara (destroyer) forms a part of the
24 Kesava Namas (Haraye Namah!). Lord Shiva is also known by several
other names like Rudra, Hara, Maheshwara, Shankara, Viswanatha,
Eeshwara, Gangadhara, Mahadeva, Layakaraka, Mruthyunjaya, and
Neelakanta to name a few.

Lord Shiva is one of the Trinity Lords, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.
Shiva is considered as the third element of the Trinity Gods. Brahma the
Generator (Creator), Vishnu the Organizer and Shiva the Destroyer are
collectively symbolized as the GOD. Sacred Scripts like Shiva Purana, Linga
Purana, and Skhanda Purana which forms part of the Ashtadasa Puranas
scripted by Lord Vedavyasa have exclusively covered the Glory of Lord
Shiva. Shiva means the mangalakara the auspicious one.

Goddess Parvathi Devi is His consort and they are popularly known as
Parvathi – Parameshwara the first couple who are quoted as a role model of
a wife and husband. Lord Ganesha (Ganapathi) and Lord Subramanya are
depicted as the sons of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Nandeeswara the
Sacred Bull is his vehicle. Generally we find Lord Shiva worshipped in the
form of a Linga unlike other Gods in human form. Unlike Lord Vishnu we
don’t find avatharas for Lord Shiva except the form of Dakshinamoorthy who
is considered as the Shiva in Guru form. The followers of Lord Shiva are
called as Shaivaites.

Shiva – An Astro Remedy

Worship of Lord Shiva has also attained lot of significance as an astro

remedy for various mundane problems. Lord Shiva is considered as the
presiding Deity of Ardra constellation whose star Lord is Rahu falling in the
zodiac sign of Gemini (Mithuna Raasi). While Shiva worship is prescribed for
Navagraha Dosha in general, in particular, it is prescribed as a remedy for
malefactors of Sun, Moon, Saturn and Rahu and also as a remedy for Sarpa
Dosha. Maha Mruthyunjaya Homam, Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam are some of
the time tested divine remedies dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Sacred Places of Lord Shiva

While there are hundreds of places and temples dedicated to Lord Shiva
spread across the Indian sub continent, twelve holy places known as
Jyothirlinga Kshetras, and five holy places known as Pancha Bhootha Linga
Kshetras are exclusively considered as the most revered places for the
worship of Lord Shiva. These places are

Jyothirlinga Kshetras

Somnath near Veeraval in Gujarat (Sourashtra)

Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh
Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh
Vaidyanath at Deogarh in Bihar
(According to some versions Vaidyanath is in Parli in Maharastra)
 Bheemashankar in Maharastra near Pune
Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu
Nageshwar near Dwarka in Gujarat
Viswanath at Kasi in Uttar Pradesh
Tryambakeshwar at Nasik in Maharastra
Kedarnath in Himalayas
Ghrushneswhar in Maharastra

Pancha Bhootha Linga Kshetras:

Lord Shiva considered as an embodiment of Pancha Bhoothas, the five basic

elements of nature, Aakasa (sky/space), Vayu (air), Prithvi (earth), Jala
(water) and Agni (fire). He had manifested at the following places which are
regarded as the Pancha Bhootha Shiva Kshetras, most revered places for the
worship of Lord Shiva.

Chidambaram (Aakasa Linga), in Tamil Nadu

Kanchi (Prithvi Linga), in Tamil Nadu
Sri Kalahasthi (Vayu Linga) in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh
Thiruvannaikkaval (Jala Linga) near Trichy in Tamil Nadu
Tiruvannamalai (Agni Linga) in Tamil Nadu

Apart from the above, other notable holy places connected to Lord Shiva are
Gokarna considered as the Atma Linga Kshetra of Lord Shiva, Murudeshwar,
Dharmasthala in Karnataka state, Alampur known as Dakshina Kasi near
Kurnool, Mahanandi, Vemulavada, Kaleswaram, in Andhra Pradesh, to name
a few.

Significance of Maha Shivarathri

Maha Shivarathri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva that is celebrated with

great religious significance and fervor across the country by all Hindus. As
per the Hindu Lunar Calendar every 14th day (Chaturdasi) of the dark
fortnight is known as Masa Shivarathri. Sometimes it may fall on the 13th
day (Trayodasi) itself. It is decided based on the presence of Chaturdasi
thithi extending beyond midnight on that particular day. At the same time
every 13th or 14th day of the dark fortnight is not considered as Maha
Shivarathri. It is only the 13th /14th day of dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha)
falling in the month of Magha Masam coinciding with Chaturdasi thithi is
celebrated as Maha Shivarathri. It generally occurs in the month of
February - March as per the English calendar.

Maha Shivarathri means the great night belonging to Lord Shiva, his most
favourite day. As per the pouranic scripts, it is believed and said that, it was
on this day Lord Shiva got manifested in the form of a Jyothirlinga. There is
also a tradition and belief that it was on this day Lord Shiva got married with
his consort Goddess Parvathi Devi. Hence, there is also a custom and
tradition of performing Kalyanostavam of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi
on the day of Maha Shivarathri. It is also believed and said that, it was on
this day Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance known as Pralaya Thandava.

Worshipping Lord Shiva on this day of Maha Shivarathri is considered as

highly meritorious and sin remover. There is a tradition and custom of
observing fasting, awaking whole night known as Jagaranam, and
worshipping Lord Shiva with Abhishekam on the day of Maha Shivarathri.
Shiva is known as Abhisheka Priya the one who is fond of Abhishekam. Lot
of significance is given to the Bilva Leaf (Bilva Pathra) in the worship of Lord
Shiva as it is very dear to Him like Thulasi in the worship of Lord Vishnu.
Apart from Maha Shivarathri, Lord Shiva is exclusively worshipped during
Kartheeka Masam and during Pradosha times while Shiva worship is
prescribed every day.

Special celebrations are held on the eve of Maha Shivarathri at all the holy
Shiva Kshetras where lakhs of people gather to offer their obeisance and
salutations to Lord Shiva the great destroyer of sins and the most
benevolent God.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma

Today is Maha Shivarathri

12.02.2010