23-02-09 The Great Night of Shiva, Maha Shivaratri, Is a festival during which devotees give up Food and sleep, to engage in prayer and Worship of Shiva for spiritual purification. It is a rare occasion for individual soul to Be aware of the Supreme Consciousness. It is a festival of auspiciousness. We sing Shiva’s praise to acquire spiritual power. We worship Shivalinga with bilva leaves. Symbolically it is the union of individual Soul with the supreme Soul. Ignorance and ego are removed by this worship.
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A large number of people thronged Shiva temples in the morning. Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the famous Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple and Kadri Manjunatheshwara Temple. Managers had tough time in handling the large crowds and ensuring that none broke the queue. The two temples attract tourists and visitors even on regular days. The annual fair of the Kadri Manjunatheshwara coincides with Mahashivaratri and there will be car festivals for another two days. Besides bhajans, cultural programmes such as music and plays were organised at the temples. Special pandals had been erected in front of the Shiva temples all over the city and surrounding areas. Of particular attraction at Kudroli temple was the new fountain that sends four gutsy streams to as high as 25 ft, emerging as they did from the rear of the heads of as many statues of Lord Shiva. The streams symbolise Ganga Maate (the Ganges). In this material world, the glamour and glitter attract us and our desires prevent us from having a feel of the Divine. On this night let’s seek vision of the divine.
Whether we perform the worship at home or in temples, or visit places of pilgrimage, This is an opportunity, we cannot neglect, to pray and sing the glories of Lord Shiva. Om Nama Shivaya is a very potent mantra, the chanting of which confers great benefits. This year let’s fervently pray for lasting world peace and speedy global economic recovery. To chant this mantra, one need not belong to a particular religion or denomination. Any one can chant this mantra with devotion and total dedication and attain peace and happiness.