Fwd: SSSGC-USA Maha Shivarathri Celebrations
"Today we are celebrating Shivarathri. 'Shivarathri' means "Auspicious night". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life". - Divine Discourse: February 25, 1998
Sai Ram Dear Sai Family members,
As our Sai Centers start preparing for the Maha Shivarathi celebrations, around the country, let's contemplate on the the inner significance of the festival to the devotees and observe the festival through some common devotional activities.
What is Maha Shivarathi?
The festival of Maha Shivarathri is one of the most important festivals in India. It falls on the 14th day of the (Krishna Paksha) dark fortnight of the Magha month of the Hindu calendar. The very word 'Shivarathri' means auspicious night. Devotees throng to Shiva temples and spend the night in worship and contemplation of the Divine. According to the Hindu belief, the moon is the presiding deity of the mind and the 16 phases of the moon represent the 16 aspects of the mind. On Shivarathri, which falls a day prior to the new moon, only a streak of the moon is visible. This is symbolic of the waning influence of the mind, when 15 aspects have already merged in the Self and only one aspect remains. Hence on this day, it is easier to control the mind and direct it towards God. Therefore, the night is spent in contemplation and adoration of God, so that the vagaries of the mind can be totally subdued and transcended to attain realization of the Atman.
Why is Maha Shivarathri special for Sri Sathya Sai Devotees?
Every festival in Prasanthi Nilayam is extraordinary but Maha Shivarathri each year has been a spectacle! Especially the occasions when Bhagawan performed the divine act of Lingodbhavam – the emergence of the linga (a symbol of the cosmos) from His mouth! Thousands thronged to Puttaparthi to witness this glorious manifestation of Divine love. They spent the holy night ruminating on His form and His glories. Swami, out of His infinite love for humanity, materialized the linga (an oval shaped object which is the fittest symbol of divinity) on the Shivarathri evening from within His being. Swami once mentioned that He performed these out-of-the-world miracles to help instill faith in the minds of the people so that they learn to love god and fear sin. All the scriptures of the major religions of the world declare that God is Omnipresent, that is to say that He is present everywhere at all times. Thus God cannot be limited to one particular form and it is in this context that Baba says, "All forms are Mine and all Names are Mine". From this one may conclude that the Essence that is manifest in all these forms is itself without a form. This Essence of the formless God is symbolized by the Lingam.
Is this a festival for only one religion?
"The very word Shivarathri reveals its meaning. "Shiva" means auspicious and "rathri" means night. Thus, Shivarathri means auspicious night. Then the question arises: who is Shiva? The divine consciousness pervading all the living beings is none other than Siva. This Sivattwa (divine consciousness) permeates not only human beings but the birds, beasts, and animals as well. In fact, every moment in our life can be taken to be Shivarathri. The Siva-consciousness is all-pervading. How can we limit it to a particular time and place? - Divine Discourse by Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba on March 8, 2005, on Maha Shivarathri, at Prashanthi Nilayam
If we carefully analyze this aspect once, it will be obvious that all that we witness around is Siva consciousness, and nothing else. Siva does not mean a particular form with matted hair and tiger skin. Wherever we look and whichever form we come across --whether a child or an elderly person, whether a woman or a man-- in every form, the Siva consciousness is resplendent. How can we describe that all-pervading Siva-consciousness or limit it to a particular time, people and place?
Therefore, Maha Shivarathri certainly has a universal connotation. Let's join together in Unity to pray on this auspicious occasion for the world peace especially under the current circumstances.
For devotees that wanted to know about special events for Mahashivarathri, please see the attached document:
Regional Presidents/Center Presidents/ Group leaders, Please share this email and attachment with centers/members.
In Sai's Service,
Balu Karanam