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.

Be Present. Be Still. Don't Worry. Be Happy.

Don't let today be the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Be present. Be still.
We can save so much energy that way and have more to give in the present and more energy generally. As Bobby McFerrin says in his song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," "in every life we have some trouble but when you worry, you make it double."



We often get so caught up. Our daily lives can swing and pull and push us and then we often add worry on top of that. We forget stillness and presence. We let our worries overtake us, even into our meditation. We might worry that we are not where we are supposed to be, that we should be doing something more or better. Or, maybe it's the bills, the challenges of our lives. We might get stuck in worrying, letting our minds mull and mull, making it a thing that debilitates or hinders us from moving forward when really all we need is to come back to ourselves, come center to our core, and place one foot in front of the other.

Now is not a time to beat up on ourselves. We worry. It's human. So let's practice the other thing now, letting go of the worries about worrying or the tendency for it. "Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness (James Thurber)" and let us remember that we have the tools to anchor ourselves, ground, clear the messiness in our heads that can use up all of our energies and zap or debilitate us.
Here's something: What if we could simply place the burden of worry someplace else? It would be a heck of a relief, wouldn't it? What if even imagining that lifts the burden and frees us enough to do our work, fulfill our desires, be more connected and alive in our world right now?

"Place your burden
at the feet of the Lord of the Universe
who accomplishes everything.
Remain all the time steadfast in the heart,
in the Transcendental Absolute.
God knows the past, present and future.
He will determine the future for you
and accomplish the work.
What is to be done will be done
at the proper time. Don’t worry.
Abide in the heart and surrender your acts
to the divine."

- Ramana Maharshi

And in all this smile. Smiling brings much relief and opens us up to the world in front of us.
-Tameca L Coleman.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION -- Friday, Dec. 21, 7-9 pm.

APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day: December 22, 2007

Is there a moment quite as keen

Or memory as bright

As light and fire and music sweet

To warm the winter night?

- Author unknown

You are invited to a light Supper, Solar puja, and Kirtan to celebrate this Solstice Day! 

RSVP appreciated to Shiva Mandir, 303-722-3658, shivamandir@gmail.com.

… This shortest day, 

As promise awakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, fest, give thanks.

And dearly love their friends, and hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now, 

This year and every year.

Welcome Yule!

--From The Shortest Day 

by Susan Cooper

UNIVERSAL WORSHIP SERVICE -- Thursday, Dec. 20, 7-9 pm.

The Universal Worship Service was given in a Divine transmission to the spiritual luminary Hazrat Inayat Khan as a glorious way to bring together all the streams of religious devotion; to honor and amplify the power of each. 

Chai, sweets and savories will be served.

You, the Ultimate Reality, are All in All.Atheism confesses the ineffability of Your Essence.Polytheism personifies Your manifold Attributes.Monotheism witnesses the unity of Your Being.In every God-Ideal an emanation of You shines forth.The heart receives of You as much as it can contain.When the heart is supple it is capable of every form.Then Your manifestations surpass the limitations of belief.
— Pir Zia Inayat-Khan

The 33 Million Gods

We just found a very good explanation for the western mind about the pantheon of Hindu deities via Huffington Post and wanted to pass it on:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gadadhara-pandit-dasa/the-33-million-demigods-o_b_1737207.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

I’m Rich, Rich, Rich!

As we celebrate Divali today, remember it’s a traditional time to acknowledge our abundance and wealth with a spirit of gratitude. As we send our thanksgiving to Lakshmi, a magnificent Mother of good fortune, beauty and luck, let us not forget all the wealth we truly possess. While we tabulate our monetary and material treasures, let’s also remember our other riches:  

The wealth of friendships

The wealth of opportunity

The wealth of adventure
The wealth of knowledge
The wealth of freedom
The wealth of success
The wealth of happiness
The wealth of love

May your Divali be filled with joy, illumination and generosity.

Namaste,

From Shiva Mandir

Diwali Celebration at Shiva Mandir, Tuesday November the 13th

On the November New Moon, Tuesday, November 13th, from 6 to 9 pm, we will celebrate Divali at Shiva Mandir. 

This is the most festive celebration of the year. Divali is the culmination of the harvest season, a time of thanksgiving for all of our bounty and an opportunity to thank the Divine Mother for all of her gracious gifts. Shiva Mandir’s celebration will include a puja to Lakshmi (the embodiment of abundance and good fortune), a light supper, dessert (the sharing of Prasad), music and gift-giving. Please bring flowers (roses for Lakshmi are preferred) or fruits (pomegranates are especially appreciated) and a dakshina (monetary offering).  

Shiva Mandir is located at 1391 S. Pennsylvania (at Arkansas), Denver, CO 80210, 303-722-3658,shivamandir@gmail.com.

The Story of Divali

Divali (or Diwali), is also known as the festival of lights because the celebration includes lighting the entrances, walls and windows of buildings with candles and decorative lights. In fact, the word “Divali” comes from the Sanskrit “Deepavali,” meaning row of lights. Divali is an ancient celebration observed all around the world including countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. Divali signifies many different things according to the culture and country celebrating it. Divali time comes at the approach of winter, the time of sowing the winter grains; it signifies the renewal of life.

The lights of Divali dispel the increasing darkness of the season.

It is said that Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth, beauty and good fortune, alights on Earth in all Her celestial glory amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns at this time. The lights of Divali illuminate Lakshmi’s way as She walks through the villages, towns and remote places, blessing homes and businesses with prosperity. Traditions of celebration include:

* Forgiving all enmity and creating harmony in relationships.

* Bathing with special oils and fragrances.

* Wearing new clothes and beautiful jewelry.

* Decorating with lights and flowers.

* Exchanging gifts and sweets.

* House cleaning and renovating buildings.

* Re-thatching roofs and adorning cattle.

* Holding festivals that celebrate illumination, beauty, devotion and artistic expression.

The famous poet Rabindranath Tagore describes the significance of Divali in these beautiful lines:

“The night is black. Kindle the lamp of love with thy life and thy devotion.”