Shiva Is About to Emerge from His Eternal Meditation

There are many stories associated with Maha Shivaratri. This particular description from the Puranas reveals the benefits to mortals of observing this blessed day:

Shiva resides on Mount Kailash. There he sits in the rarefied air of the snow-clad and highest peak of the mountain range at the top of the world. Clothed only in a tiger skin, his gaze is cast inward and his eyes are closed. He is deeply absorbed in meditation. The silence and power of his meditation is generating the consciousness and intelligence that underlies and supports all of created existence.

Once a year, on Maha Shivaratri, he stirs a bit in his meditation. His eyes flutter open briefly. As he looks upon all of creation, wherever he sees devotees assembled in song, meditation and worship, he smiles and is pleased.

His blessings and boons immediately fall upon the devotees. Their sins are forgiven. Their spiritual aspirations are granted. They are gifted with expanded awareness and deeper understanding. They are blessed with Divine protection.

Then his eyes are cast downward again, the eyelids close, and he settles back into his eternal and all-sustaining meditation.