MAHA SHIVRATRI
The Divine Night to celebrate Shiva Tattva
Maha Shivratri falls on the 13th (or 14th) day of every lunar month. Shivratri means ‘The Night of Shiva’ and is observed in honour to Lord Shiva (The substratum of the existence). Shivratri is taking refuge in the divine consciousness, which brings peace and solace to all layers of consciousness. So resting in the Shiva Tattva is Shivratri.
“Every Mahashivratri is meant to wake up every particle of your body. The festival is a wake-up call to move away from conflicts and move towards truth, beauty, peace, and benevolence - the ethereal qualities of Shiva.”
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
It is believed that Mahashivratri is a time of deep rest for the body, mind, and ego; a deep rest that awakens a devotee to the highest knowledge of the Shiva Tattva. It is considered as an auspicious day for spiritual growth and material attainment.
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CELEBRATING THE SHIVA TATTVA IN ONESELF IS CALLED SHIVRATRI.
‘RATRI’ MEANS NIGHT, THE TIME FOR REST, WHEN EVERYTHING BECOMES QUIET AND PEACEFUL.
SHIVRATRI IS NOT ONLY REST FOR BODY, BUT FOR MIND AND ‘EGO’.
– GURUDEV SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
UNDERSTANDING SHIVA TATVA
Shiva Principle
Shiva pervades the entire Universe, a great principle by which everything is made of, the Bramhan. And when that Bramhan becomes personal, it is called Shiva Tattva – the innocent Divinity; that is in everything. He is in every atom of the Universe. Shiva is the one energy that manifests itself in endless forms. Shiva doesn’t have a body; he is not a person. To symbolize the unfathomable, the infinite divinity and to make it comprehensible they made a form. In fact, there is no form of Shiva. This principle, called the Shiva Tattva.
Albert Einstein once said, “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be changed from one form to another.” That energy, which changes from one form to another, is called Shiva.
Three Types of Peace
Celebrating the peace within is Shivratri. There are three types of peace that you require; first is the peace in the environment, if there is disturbance around you, you cannot sit and stay peaceful. The second is the peace in the body and mind. Third is peace in the soul.
Attaining Absolute Peace
Though there might be peace in the atmosphere, you might be enjoying good health, to an extent peace of the mind might be also present but if the soul is restless, you will still not experience absolute peace. Only when all the three types of peace are experienced, there will be complete peace. Even if one type of peace is missing then absolute peace is not possible. Shivratri is taking refuge in the divine consciousness which brings peace and solace to all layers of consciousness. So resting in the Shiva Tattva is Shivratri.