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This year Maha Shiva Rathri wil be observed on March 5th. Shivarathri is like the High Holy day for most Hindus. It is the most auspicious time of the year when most devout Hindus wake all night long singing Shiva bhajans in praise of one of the expansions of the formless God Brahman as Shiva, and they hope for the Grace of Brahman/Shiva for final liberation at any split second during this night.
http://www.bnaiyer.com/studies/d-sivaratri.html
Scientific Meaning [significance] of Shiva Ratri :
"Maha Shiva Rathri is one of the most important festivals of India. Why this festival should be celebrated and what is the inner meaning of this festival ? What is the Philosophical Spiritual and Scientific meaning of this festival ? Is this festival is to be celebrated as it was told by our ancestors or does this have a contemporary relevance ? We will discuss this in detail. This festival is celebrated on Magha Bahula (krishna) Chathurdhasi or on the 14 day of the moon declension in the month of March. The festival should be celebrated as following: Early morning holy bath, Worshipping of Lord Shiva with the Bilva Leaves, doing the Abhisheka for the Shiva Linga, not eating the food all day, and then keeping awake all night - doing bhajans and prayers.
Festivals in India include the Scientific wisdom in four different fields of sciences. Climatology, Astronomy, Ayur Veda and Human Physiology. Human body is susceptible for the changes in the cyclical motions of the moon and sun. The impact of these changes are closely documented by the advanced researchers in the field of biofarming and organic farming.
The ascent and descent of the moon have the impact on the growth of the plants and all cellular structures, including on the germination of the plants. Ancient sages understood that these changes also affect at certain seasonal transitions and devised the methods for the natural adaptations for these changes. Festivals are celebrated for these adaption. Maha Shiva Rathri comes exactly at this seasonal transition from the Winter to Spring. All nature and cosmos covered by the space and time undergoes three phenomenon. Creation, Growth, and Dissolution.
The time span of these cycles change. Stars a and Galaxies may have a cycle of millions of light years and species may have few hours. These three aspects are called as the Brahma Tatva, Vishnu Tatva and Maheswara Tatva. During the rotation around the sun the earth, along with all associated creation on the earth, undergoes three faces of Time. These are called as "Kalas" in the Sasthraas. They are Spring Time (Usha Kala), Monsoon Time (Varsha Kala) and Winter Time (Sitha Kala). Every time has two seasons namely Vasantha and Grishma rithu (Spring Time and early summer), Sarath and Varsha rithu (Monsoon Time for farming), and Hemantha and Sisira rithu (early and late Winter Time followed by harvest), and after the Winter Time the Spring Time will start again.
All the flora and fauna will undergo hibernation during the Winter Time and will start new germination during the Spring Time. This transition time is the most important one for all species including humans. Festivals are celebrated to make them adapt for these transitions. Maheswara tatva belongs to the dissolution of this natural cycle so this Maha Shiva Rathri is celebrated at the last day of the first month in the Late Winter, before the starting of Spring Time.
Human body also undergoes very subtle cellular and molecular changes during this time. Most of the lung and respiratory infections are possible during this time. To avoid them, certain rules are prescribed in the form of celebration of the Maha Shiva Rathri. We have to always remember that in Sanathana Dharma, the science is interspersed with the way of human life. Now we apply the tanning lotions and other skin rash medicines for ultra violet sun rays during these months. But these have their limitations, as these are reactive and invasive procedures of prevention of disease. The non invasive prevention techniques are the gradual adjustment of the body's physiology through these festivals..........
I will be in Trinidad tomorrow and I will ask about the different dates. I know my niece who puts out the Kashi Ka Panchang calculates the date by Trinidad's position on the map vs that of India. Hence the 6th should be correct, a day after India's.
I heard March 5th on the radio this morning, now I confuse
I believe the Mahasabha uses the Indian dates according to the Indian Panchang
or Patra and those in Trinidad who use the Trinidad Panchang may sometimes have a diifference of a day later.
hmm...our mandir..not mahasaba....has on its board...5th....
oh well...another double celebration.... :P
sapodila
01-31-2008, 12:09 PM
The 5th it is............so says my Guruji who calulates the dates for The Canadian Hindu Divine Light Association. Devi Mandir is also reflecting the 5th on their calendar. By the way.... That would be from 12:00 noon on the 5th to 12:00 noon on the 6th.
All temples in MD/DC area celebrating it on the 5th....Om Namah Shiva
I wonder if reference to the 5th is the night observance and the 6th is the folowing day when most of the pujas and offerings are done. All Hindu Mahasabha Schools in T&T have the 6th as a holiday. The holiday impresses upon the children the importance of observing the night of Shiva and the day following, this high holy day of the the Hindus.
http://www.vanamaliashram.org/TWELVEJYOTIRLINGAMS.html
http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/SaiJewelsJul02.pdf
http://www.shrifreedom.com/jyotishjyotirlingam.shtml
Here are three links, one about the twelve Jyotir Lingams in India representing Lord Shiva, the other explaining the symbolism and importance of idol/murti/form worship and the third explainig the worship of the Lingam as a light form of creation.
The Shiva Lingam was worshipped by the sect of the Essenes of which Jesus was a member.
http://www.atmajyoti.org/spirwrit-the_c ... _india.asp (http://www.atmajyoti.org/spirwrit-the_christ_of_india.asp)
The spiritual training of Jesus
In the Himalayan fastnesses Jesus was instructed in yoga and the highest spiritual life, receiving the spiritual name "Isha," which means Lord, Master, or Ruler, a descriptive title often applied to God, as in the Isha Upanishad. Isha is also a particular title of Shiva.19
The worship of Shiva centered in the form of the natural elliptical stone known as the Shiva Linga (Symbol of Shiva) was a part of the spiritual heritage of Jesus, for His ancestor Abraham, the father of the Hebrew nation, was a worshipper of that form. The Linga which he worshipped is today enshrined in Mecca within the Kaaba. The stone, which is black in color, is said to have been given to Abraham by the Archangel Gabriel, who instructed him in its worship.
Such worship did not end with Abraham, but was practiced by his grandson Jacob, as is shown in the twenty-eighth chapter of Genesis. Unwittingly, because of the dark, Jacob used a Shiva Linga for a pillow and consequently had a vision of Shiva standing above the Linga which was symbolically seen as a ladder to heaven by means of which devas (shining ones) were coming and going. Recalling the devotion of Abraham and Isaac, Shiva spoke to Jacob and blessed him to be an ancestor of the Messiah. Upon awakening, Jacob declared that God was in that place though he had not realized it. The light of dawn revealed to him that his pillow had been a Shiva Linga, so he set it upright and worshipped it with an oil bath, as is traditional in the worship of Shiva, naming it (not the place) Bethel: the Dwelling of God. (In another account in the thirty-fifth chapter, it is said that Jacob "poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon." This, too, is traditional, both milk and honey-which Shiva promised Moses would flow abundantly in Israel-being poured over the Linga as offerings.) From thenceforth that place became a place of pilgrimage and worship of Shiva in the form of the Linga stone. Later Jacob had another vision of Shiva, Who told him: "I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me."20 A perusal of the Old Testament will reveal that Bethel was the spiritual center for the descendants of Jacob, even above Jerusalem.
Although this tradition of Shiva [Linga] worship has faded from the memory of the Jews and Christians, in the nineteenth century it was evidenced in the life of the stigmatic Anna Catherine Emmerich, an Augustinian Roman Catholic nun. On several occasions when she was deathly ill, angelic beings brought her crystal Shiva Lingas which they had her worship by pouring water over them. When she drank that water she would be perfectly cured. Furthermore, on major Christian holy days she would have out-of-body experience in which she would be taken to Hardwar, a city sacred to Shiva in the foothills of the Himalayas, and from there to Mount Kailash, the traditional abode of Shiva, which she said was the spiritual heart of the world.
sapodila
03-04-2008, 10:42 PM
The calendars from India and most says it's the 6th. Most Indians are celebrating on the 6th. We must remember that India is 13 hours earlier than us in thw western hemisphere. In Our area some temples are celebrating the auspicious night on Thursday the 6th.
We are celebrating today/tonight...
http://www.liveindia.com/jyotirlinga/index.html
A map location of all the twelve holy Jyotir Lingams in India.
http://www.liveindia.com/shiva/index.html
What does Shivlinga means?
The word Ling in shiv ling has come from two words that is Leen and Gati.
Leen means dissolve and Gati means grow. It means man should dissolve(Leen)
in shiva then he should grow(Gati). (leen+ga)= ling.
Most people around the globe think that meaning
of ling in concerned with gent's sex point but this is
totally wrong theory. These are my views. Rajesh Chopra
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RZndsPGsg ... re=related (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RZndsPGsg1I&feature=related)
Sathya Sai Baba showers abhishakam at Badrinath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb4DAS3j ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb4DAS3j45w&feature=related)
May all have the blessed padnamaskar (kiss of the feet) and holy Darshan (epiphany) of Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba on this most holy day of all Hindus. Just click on the link above for Bhagawan's Darshan.
May all have a blessed and loving day, no matter who you are, wherever you may be and whatever you may believe or not believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrX1K9md ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrX1K9mdN84&feature=related)
Baba chants the Gayatri Mantra which he says is the correct way to chant it.
It is sad to hear Swami speak about departing from his physical body. Only on Wednesday in the Vedas thread I pointed out how Swami is speaking more about Advaitha, which is the highest treachings in Hinduism, and it may signify that his mission on earth is coming to an end.
Excerpts from Bhagawan's Wonderful Shivarathri Discourse Yesterday :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26101
"Iam seeing two people a lot nowadays, Mother Easwaramma and Father Pedda Venkama Raju. Before I cam here I saw them, they are in Vaikunta wearing Yellow as it is worn in Vaikunta. My Bodily parents want me to comeback as they have not seen Me for a long time.
" Yellow is a very very Auspicious and Sacred colour, and I thought of manifesting Yellow Lingam today, but the Children and many many Devotees have prayed that they do not want me to see me Suffer Bodily because of the Lingodhbhavam "
"SHIRDI SAI, PARTHI SAI, Soon PREMA SAI will come and the greatness and the Power of Love will spread everywhere. Everyone's Home will be Bharat. Prasanthi Nilayam will be become the Home for all - Viswa Nilayam. There will be peace and harmony everywhere. There will be no three C's - Caste, ****ry, Colour anymore.
" The Great Unity of this Most Sacred Land of Bharat is important. No one should try to divide this sacred country. Russia was the 2nd largest Super Power, See where it is no after it got divided into many small states. Say Bharat is my Country, When I went to Africa, people asked me " From which State in India you come from ?", I said " I come from India".
" Money is becoming more and more important. It is the cause of more and more Desires. Parents are equal to God - ShivaParvathi, Do not forget your parents, It is the Greatest Sin.
Om Sai Ram
Vibuthi flows from a Murthi of Lord Shiva on Shivarathri. It was sent to me via email. (sorry the picture is not showing here.)
"Dear All,
Sai Maa's Mandir has a stature of Bhagwan Shiv installed. Every year something new happens and somethig special on every Shivratri. This year 2008 it was the abhyastha (do not fear) hand that started showering Vibuthi in a continous flow and in the heap of vibuthi there were some 45 rudrakshas, some statuettes and some lingams.
I am attaching the pictures below for your reference. Please do not delete this and also do no send this to sceptics who have no appreciation for such wonders happening in this kalyuga."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26106
Sai Ram ~ Be Happy
JP
THE TOP MOST IS THE STATUE AND THE MIRACLE IN CLOSE UP ARE THE OTHER TWO PICTURES.
SAI RAM ~ BE HAPPY
JP
GRATITUDE TO COL CHOPRA FOR SHARING THESE WITH ME.
According to Hindu astrological readings, from the 23rd March to April 2nd is not a good time to enter into any major new undertaking.
I heard Kalmaas(sp) is from 3/22/08 to 04/05/08
no purchasing of vehicle
no purchasing of land
no new business ventures
no Initiation
no wedding ceremony
no pujas
no new roof covering
however we can continue
daily worship
satsang
temple service
I wrote from memory and as you can see I got the dates all mixed up. Thanks for the correction.
No prob! dais what this forum is for to learn from each other
I heard two pundits discussing kalmaas on the raido via the internet
April 6th is the begining of the Hindu new year, the start of the first Navrat
Listening to Holi/pagwah songs does put one in a nice jovial mood
How true, how true. I am listening to them now.
Debe Hindu school won the children chowtal sameelan 2008!
serenity
03-14-2008, 03:37 PM
Listening to Holi/pagwah songs does put one in a nice jovial mood
Love chowtal! Listened to it all morning last weekend.
i miss the days of being in the chowtal group...goin all over and singing .. but i still love to listen to the songs!
Listening to Holi/pagwah songs does put one in a nice jovial mood
Love chowtal! Listened to it all morning last weekend.
The excerpt below was sent to me by Email and there is no link to it. I received it as one of the daily messages I receive from devotees of Swami. I am sharing it as another understanding of the Shiva Lingam as explained by Swami. Many have said that the Siva Lingam is a symbol of the first form that emerged from fire, one of the five elements that emerged from God starting in its most subtle forms to the gross that make up the universe in its mayic form. The Shiva Lingam also represents the universe in its elliptical form that has no beginning nor end. We offer all our sacrifices in the sacred fire of the Yajna and the fire consumes them and returns them back to the five elements that we know as God.
Sai Baba - Trip to Rishikesh
On the twenty-second of July, (year 1957) when he was just 31 years old, Baba left New Delhi by car for Rishikesh. When he reached Sivanandanagar at 6:30 that evening, Swami Sivananda called a special gathering of the disciples of the Ashram and offered Baba a hearty welcome.
Swami Sadananda (one of the senior disciples) was, prior to his entering the monastery, a professor of history at the Presidency College, Madras. Shiva aspect of Godhead was his favorite subject of study, and Baba had prodded him to explain the significance of the Lingam. Baba explained that it represented the emergence of the Cosmos from the formless as well as the mergence of the Cosmos into the formless!!!
"This is a revelation to me" the Sanyasin said.
Swami Sivananda (founder of the Ashram) was the very embodiment of equanimity. In the midst of vociferous pleadings and protestations from visitors and inmates, he was being pushed around by his disciples in a wheeled chair.
Speaking of the things that he is accustomed to make and give, Sai Baba discounted all spurious explanations and said that his will is immediately fulfilled. He materializes things to give joy to his devotees, just as a father gives sweets to his little ones, not to advertise his generosity or parenthood.
He then materialized by the mere wave of his hand a magnificent Rudraksha garland of 108 beads, a rosary made from a berry. It was of exquisite workmanship, each bead encased in gold, and all were strung in gold with a five faced king-bead in the center. He presented it to Swami Sivananda. He also manifested a large quantity of sacred ash and applied it to the sage's forehead. That evening when the Swami entered the Satsang Hall wearing the unique garland, everyone was awed by its luster and workmanship and the miracle that brought it forth.
Baba's speeches and conversation were so full of rare and deep wisdom that the next day a number of senior monks and neophytes came to see Baba and plied him with questions designed to clarify their doubts.
Swami Sadananda told that Baba can roam at will through the regions of the soul, the supersoul, and the oversoul, and can reveal whatever happens anywhere at any time. He also said he is all-powerful and had seen Baba converting a grain of rice into a grain of ivory and transforming that grain of ivory into a hundred and eight elephant figurines, each one carved and clearly recognizable by means of a magnifying glass!
Swami Sivananda also had hour-long discussions with Baba every evening and was given fruits and holy ash materialized specially for improving his health. Day by day the Swami became better and better. One day Baba took Ganges water in his hand, and lo, it became sweet and fragrant nectar. He gave it to the Swami to be taken as a cure. It came as a pleasant surprise to many in the Ashram when they saw, on the day Baba departed, Swami Sivananda enthusiastically taking Baba around his hermitage, for on the day Baba reached the Ashram, and for a number of days thereafter, the Swami had been pushed around in a wheel chair!
"Every Avatar is an amazing phenomenon - but it is also amazing not to recognize Him!!! : SATHYA SAI BABA"
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