Hindus
across India celebrate Shivaratri
The
different phases of prayers and offerings to Lord Shiva New
Delhi: Hindus across India on March 6 celebrated the festival of Maha Shivaratri
with religious fervour. The festival marks the marriage of Lord Shiva, the God
of destruction in the Hindu Trinity, with goddess Parvati.
At some places like
Varanasi, the devotees start the celebrations a day early by taking out processions
with men dressed as Lord Shiva himself. They played traditional musical instruments
and distributed sweets. The processions, complete with wedding bands, colourful
illuminated floats carrying a huge statue of Lord Shiva and dancing devotees,
traversed the length and breadth of the town before culminating at temples. "Hindus
believe that Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati, were married on this day and
the Lord blessed his devotees," said Vishnu Dayal, a devotee.
Over
seven lakh devotees from all over the world arrived at the world famous Kashi-Vishwanath
temple in Varanasi for the festival. Hundreds of Shiv temples situated in various
parts of the city have been tastefully decorated.
In
New Delhi, devotees queued up at Shiva temples since the break of dawn to offer
prayers and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense. Shubhda, a devotee, who
reached a temple to offer prayers early in the morning, said: "We pray to the
God, offer fruits and flowers. We also fast on this day."
In
Jammu and Kashmir, Maha Shivaratri popularly known as "Herath", is being celebrated
throughout Kashmir valley and in some parts of Jammu region. While people in Kashmir
believe 'Herath' as the wedding day of Lord Shiva with Parvati, others consider
it as the day when Lord Shiva manifested in his human form on the earth to bless
his devotees and redeem them.
In
Kerala, thousands of devotees took holy dip in Periyar river near Aluva and performed
religious rites named ' pithru tharpan' for the salvation of their ancestors.
The rituals began with the Shivaratri vilakku (Lamp) procession at the Aluva Mahadev
temple on the banks of the river.
Lord
Shiva forms part of the trinity of Gods, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu,
in the Hindu mythology.
There
is a legend behind Shiva's phallic form. It is believed that once Brahma and Vishnu
were having an argument as to who was supreme. Brahma declared himself to be the
Creator of all and thus more revered. Vishnu claimed that since he was the Protector,
he commanded more respect. At that moment a huge lingam ablaze with flames appeared
from nowhere. Both the Gods were so overwhelmed by its constantly increasing size,
that they forgot their quarrel and decided to determine its size. Vishnu took
the form of a boar and went to the netherworld while Brahma in the form of a swan
ascended to the skies. Neither could ascertain the size. Just then, Shiva appeared
out of the lingam and proclaimed that he was the progenitor of both of them. He
was the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. He demanded that thereafter he be
worshipped in his phallic form, the lingam.
On
the day of Shivaratri, the lingam is bathed with sacred offerings like milk, clarified
butter, curd, honey, rose water etc, chanting "Om Namah Shivaya". Dhatura and
jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered
at His temples. Eleven is considered to be the sacred number of the Lord.
The
devotees observe fast on this day. They also keep vigil all night as the prayers
continue overnight.
-March 6, 2008
