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.

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