How to Connect to Shiva

Maha Mrityunjaya Yantra, 

found: http://www.anugrahashakti.info/yantras.html#

Connecting to Shiva can bring one to Moksha, liberation. To know Shiva is to know one's innermost self as the Shiva Consciousness that resides deep inside, within the silence at one's core and/or at one's heart. This innermost consciousness is formless and pervasive by nature and requires some work to become that. Finding one's innermost self, Shiva Consciousness, is well worth the effort (and can be as simple as chanting, "Om Namah Shivaya" or paying attention to the breath and the heart). 

Below follow some points that we will fill in as time goes and revisit, as well (some of these ideas have been mentioned in earlier posts): 

--Release your blocks, especially anxiety, doubt, and impatience. 

--Cultivate inner silence through daily meditation, speak less, spend regular time in nature and spend time in the silence. 

--Open Shiva energy channels by using specific mantras, yantras, and practices

--Cultivate subtle awareness and attentiveness. 

Maha Shiva Ratri Celebration, March 9-10 at Shiva Mandir

What Does Connection with Shiva Give Our Souls?

Depicted here: Lord Siva merging into the the devotee. Image found on the cover of
the book Merging with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Metaphysics by Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami. Artist for the image: S. Rajam of Chennai.

Being in relationship with Shiva, knowing his energy and having his darshan gives us the following:

-Equanimity in all circumstances, sthitapregnatata. 

- Peaceful surrender to whatever is happening which is vairagya. 

-Freedom from confusion and illusion. 

-Connection to angelic presence and power. 

-Ability to connect to and communicate with any soul in creation. 

-Complete protection.

Centering and Expanding from the Heart: A Simple Meditation

The heart can be the center of your practices. This meditation can be done frequently, as it is gentle and simple. All that needs be done is focusing on the breath and on the heart. 

image found at exoticindia.com, item #HV05, artist not listed

Just be present. Be still. Pay attention to the heart center and watch the breath as it passes by, polishing the rust of separation. Think of the in-breath as a giving of personality and all your learning and conditioning back to God. Connect from the heart center on that in-breath and out through the crown, feeding back into an evolving Universe. The out-breath is the breath of God coming in through the crown and expanding throughout the physical body and field - purifying and charging the body and field with unconditional love and peace. 

Be present right here in the heart center. Put your hand to the heart center if it is easier to draw the attention there via touch. It is not necessary to know anything more. It seems that God will become known just by focusing on the heart - it is where that Presence lives in us.

A Devotional Poem to Shiva, Lord of the Dance of the Universe

Depiction of Nataraja by South India Artist Arumugam Manivelu, ca. 1999

We just found this poem about Shiva and wanted to send it out right away. Enjoy!

Shiva - The Lord of the Dance of the Universe
  --Anonymous, from crystalrivers.com

I am Shiva, the voice of destruction,
and the voice of the mountain
I appear in earthquakes, as matter crashes and separates,
and I come forth out the abyss.

I am bright and dark
Male and female
The spirit which cracks through matter
As I rise through destruction, I am the burning sky.

I can save whomever I choose,
and they are brought back to their roots in Truth
I create layer upon layer, form upon form,
And my three eyes mark the points of the sacred triangle
The yantra through which the devotee may travel.

The flames of destruction are the fires of creation,
and I make and remake worlds
My devotees travel the roads of blue lightning through the storm clouds,
praying to Shiva
Lord of the Dance of the Universe.

The myths make me old, lame, drunk, lustful, and uncaring
I am not old but ancient beyond days
Not lame but holding back from action, for my power can destroy
Not drunk but full of the soma of universal vision.
Not lustful but passionate in the grasping of changing forms,
and the creation of new ones
Uncaring that all things must change eternally.

In fire, my dark side is the smoke,
and my bright side is the flame
My brilliance is the blue at the wick
My devotees must beware, for they come to identify with my power,
and they believe they have my spirit
Instead they have insight into my actions
And the tiny grain of my power that they grasp swells their egos
into identification with me
This is dangerous, and in future lives they will fall
Devotees seek the bliss of merging into the fullness of my power
But none on earth have gained identification
The world is a place of Maya with many false claimants
Who use me as a flag to conquer land and people.

Meditate on the bursting open of sky and earth,
and on fiery rain and blue-white lightning
Beyond these are Kailash
Whose icy caves are the crystal yantras of light which create worlds
Enter the yantras of light,
and their centers will melt away into great tunnels of light
In my form as brilliance, I am infinite Truth
And all things return to me.

An Introduction to The Siva Puranas and Merging with Siva Consciousness

Detail of  Shiva Linga Located at Shiva Mandir

The Siva Purana is one of a set of 18 surviving Maha Puranas. The Puranas are stories with certain revelations in them that have been handed down through the ages via oral tradition and by way of the rishis. Traditionally, the Puranas deal with five subjects, or panchalakshana. 

The Siva Purana tells how Siva created the Universe and came to form during different times in order to do his work. This is all told in story form and is meant to inspire devotees and seekers to practice yoga in an ongoing way in order to obtain oneness with Siva Consciousness. Some of these yoga practices are very simple. For example, one of the processes to merging with the Divine Siva Consciousness lies in chanting the mantra, "Om Namah Sivayah."

Siva is not one who makes us reach outward but instead draws us inwards into the silence and calm within our own selves. He brings us to the sweet inner bliss, wherein he is always living. According to the texts, Siva is always in bliss because he knows that turning in towards the inner silence is the pathway to pure potentiality and creation.

There is another mantra, even more simple than, "Om Namah Sivayah," that takes us directly into the silence. We know it well. It is the Pranava OM (!):

Pranava OM

Siva said, "to know the meaning of Pranava [OM] is to know me. Pranava is the seed of all lore. It is small like the banyan seed, but bears within itself a mighty eternal tree. It is the original mantra and the essence of the Vedas. I am Siva, who pervades everything, yet, I dwell only in the mantra of one syllable. In the beginning, I create the universe by saying AUM. Siva is Pranava and Pranava is Siva. Pranava is the vital breath of all living beings, from Brahma, down. 

 --from Siva: The Siva Purana Retold by Ramesh Menon (intro to Chapter 20)

Resources used in this article: 

Siva: The Siva Purana Retold by Ramesh Menon
http://userwebs.theriver.com/innerguide/sivaPurana/introduction.html

What Role Does Shiva Play in Creation?

Shiva is the father of all. He is the only one who can subdue the wildness of Mother Nature. He is the only one who can handle all the negativity of this creation. He is at the beginning and the end of everything. He takes all the souls when their body dies. His soul is connected to all souls.

Below follows the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra from the Rig Veda, which is one of the most well known mantras around. It is said to bring about wellness on all kinds of fronts such as in living (for a long life and health), prosperity, happiness, and peace. 

The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is said to help the chanter to connect to the Divine, to Consciousness, to deep and utter bliss. 

Here are the words:

"Om Trayambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat"

What are Shiva's Qualities?

The Puranas describe Shiva as open-hearted, loving, forgiving, easy to win over, and boon-granting. Shiva sees no negativity in any soul and is the ultimate Guru and Divine Lover, the eternal partner of Mother Divine.

The Puranas give 1008 names of Shiva. Below follow 108 of those names which describe many of his qualities.

Where do we find Shiva?

Shiva's energy is in miracle power. Shiva can be located in the deep silence and power of the grandeur of nature. We find Shiva in the depths of our own peaceful inner silence.

Shiva, Rishikesh, India. Pic: Mariellen Ward, found: http://www.travelwireasia.com/2012/03/how-to-get-ready-for-your-ashram-adventure-in-india/

Who is Shiva?

Shiva's energy is silence, knowledge, and transformation. The presence of Shiva is found in rarified silence. The experience of Shiva's energy is a high vibration that is magnetizing and draws souls and spirits, angels, and Mother Divine.

Developing Deep Inner Silence and Peace: The Abode of Shiva

Now we begin to build the energy of Maha Shivaratri. We turn inwards and focus there, into the silence by way of the waves of breath that can lead us to deep inner peace. Here is where joy and happiness can be found.

The following chant speaks to this happiness and joy which can be found within us all!

This is a Day to Honor Saraswati (Feb. 15th)

Friday, Feb. 15th, is Vasant Panchami. This is a day to honor Saraswati. Saraswati is the Divine Embodiment of learning, language, music and all forms of creative expression. On this yearly day of observance we honor her by dedicating our endeavors in these areas and celebrating her attributes. 

 

Here’s more information on the tradition of Vasant Panchami.

http://hinduism.about.com/b/2013/02/12/vasant-panchami-saraswati-puja.htm?nl=1

Happy Day of Saraswati, may her blessings be upon you.

You are invited to a puja at Shiva Mandir, 1391 S. Pennsylvania Street, Denver 80210, Friday, Feb. 15th from 7 to 9 pm.

The Big Night is Coming!

Image Credit: AlicePopkorn (http://www.flickr.com/people/alicepopkorn/)

The Big Night is coming! Maha Shivaratri is the yearly celebration of Shiva which is also known as the Great Night of Shiva. Like other Vedic holidays, Maha Shivaratri is set by the lunar calendar. 

The Puranas (ancient Vedic texts) describe one of the origins of Maha Shivaratri in the following way: 

After the completion of Creation, Shiva and his beloved Parvati went to live on the top of Mount Kailash. Parvati asked her husband, "O Venerable Lord, which of the many rituals observed in your honor pleases you most?"

Shiva replied, "The fourteenth night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight, during the month of Phalgun, is my favorite day. It shall be known as Maha Shiva Ratri. The devotees shall observe spiritual discipline in the day and worship me during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. My devotees shall bathe me in milk in the first period, curds in the second, ghee in the third, and honey in the last. O Parvati, there is no ritual that pleases me as much as this simple routine performed in sanctity."

Parvati was deeply moved by this speech of Lord Shiva. She told the story of it to the Devas, who gave it to the Rishis. The Rishis gave it to the rulers of the world, and in this way did it become known throughout the lands.

This spiritual event is celebrated worldwide wherever the transcendental aspect of life is appreciated. This night is considered a blessed occasion. Maha Shivaratri is a time when the laws of Nature fully support Divine Communion.

We are now in the lunar cycle of Maha Shivaratri. We have just completed the three days of the New Moon energy. Just before the next New Moon, we will celebrate Maha Shivaratri.

This is the time to start building the energy of Maha Shivaratri, the eternal silent power that directs the omnipresent intelligence of creation within ourselves.  

So where do we go from here? We will be posting blogs that celebrate and describe the energy, divine nature, and personality of Shiva. We will also post meditations, mantras, and contemplations that will bring the consciousness of Shiva into our awareness as preparation for Maha Shivaratri.

Let us draw near to him.