Shivaratri

    The nation is celebrating the festival of Shiva today, 21st February. It is significant that the entire ciuntry- 'aa setu Himachala', from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is the tradition of Shaivism and the devotees throng to Shiva temples to worship Shiva. Incidentally, Kashmir is the Center of three faiths- Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti! Shree Nagar, Sharda, Vaishno Devi, Anant Nag, Awantipora, etc.  are all the sacred centers of Hindu shrines. The Village Sharda is at the confluence of Rivers of Kishen Ganga and Sharda. The Histroy of Kashmir is replete with Great Kings, Palaces and Temples.

   Now, as to the etymology and the esoteric aspects of all these Deities are very interesting as revealed in 'Shreevidya', an ancient text traced to Shree Nagar, Kashmir! It contains 'Sri Chakra' the Cosmic Plan. It starts with a point, 'bindu' (Shiva) and then the same expanded into three points, 'tri- bindu', forming a triangle!  The Bindu is Shiva, potential 'Energy' and the 'Triangle' is the Shakti of Shiva, the Kinetic power. 'Shree' is the Goddess, who, initially stands for the three 'Shakti'. The three 'Powers' are: Knowledge (jnayan), Action/Resources  (kriya/aishvarya), and Will (ichha/ 'chit'). Thus started the system of Shakti as a religious sect, Shaktas, the worshipers of Shakti devata like Adhya Shakti, Gayatri, Savitri, Kali, Durga, Chamundeshwari, Saraswati, Sharada, Parvati, Brahmi, Lakshmi, Vaishnavi, Shambhavi, Rajarajeshvari, etc.. The same is true of Shree Lakshmi Narayana where the potential Energ of Narayana is vested in Mahalakshmi as the Shakti, Ichha, Aishvarya, Bala, Virya, and Tejas.

   Now, coming to the Shiva Ratri, its the day of 'Enlightenment'. The posture of Shiva is one of deep meditation, Samadhi, The term 'Ratri' is often mistaken for night, darkness. The Pancharatra Agama shastra makes it clear. 'Ratri' stands for 'Enlightenment', dawn of knowledge. The auspices day of 'Shiva- ratri' is the day when the devotee is enlightened, taken from tamas (darkness) to jyoti  (Light)! The devotee is taken from ignorance to knowledge, from death to immortality. The entire night of Shivaratri is devoted to praise of Shiva in the Vedic tradition, chanting namaka and chamaka. The devotees chant the praise of Shiva offering their prayers in 'namah' and pray for activation of the powers within (us) in 'chamaka'. Thus the Lord manifests within as Shiva.

  Shiva is actually the sounds of one'sown breathing! The sounds of shvasa (breath), such as, 'sa' of in-breath (puraka/uch-shvas), and the sound 'ha' of out-breath (rechaka/nih-shvas) are the powers of creation and dissolution. The silence between the two is 'kumbhaka' where the Lord Shiva rests! The devotee in deep meditation rests in kumbhaka in Shiva-shakti combine and attains eternality, immortality, moksha. Thus, the auspicious day of Shivaratri is the day of enlightenment and liberation. Initially, Shiva became jiva and created jagat. Now, Jiva withdraws from jagat and turns to Shiva and merges in Him.