Shivaratri 2010 is on February 12, Friday
Mahashivaratri falls on the 13th or the 14th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun. The Sanskrit term, Krishna Paksha means the period of waning moon or the dark fortnight and Phalguna corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Shivaratri Festival is celebrated on a moonless night.
According to Hindu mythology, Shivaratri or 'Shiva's Great Night' symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Many however, believe, Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya - the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Celebrating the festival in a customary manner, devotees give a ritual bath to the Lingam with the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Celebrations of Shivaratri Festival mainly take place at night. Devotees of Lord Shiva throng Shiva temples across the country and spend ‘the Night of Lord Shiva’ by chanting verses and hymns in praise of the Lord. The festival holds special meaning for the ladies. They pray to Goddess Parvati also called 'Gauri', the giver of 'suhag' for good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life.
"Ye hi sa sparshaja bhoga dukh yonaya yeva te"
Pleasure born out of contact are only source of pain.
Shivaratri gives us the message to be in spiritual contact with the Universal creatures for a blissful enlightened living in a perfect harmonious relation with one and all. It is day to begin journey from I-ness to Divine Self.
"Aham meva sarvam"
I myself am all.
Shivratri teaches us to understand the supreme principle of Shiva that Iam the Cosmic Power which cretaed everything. Understand the identity of self with Shiva.
Iam the "Bham", Iam Om Bham, Iam OM.
OM.
Maa.
Try to see Maa in Shiva and offer her milk so that all mothers feeds their creation. Shivratri is to see Matra Shakti in Shiv and worship HER as HE. It is Sambhav to see Shiva on this day.
Happy Birth Day "Shiv Sambhav"
Om.
