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.