(Picture courtesy: www.hinduyuva.org)
Mahaa ShivaRaatri falls on March 2/ March 3, 2011 this year.
It is to be observed by those living in the Far East Asian Countries like East of China and Japan,those living in Fiji, New Zealand/ Australia on March 3, 2011. All other people should observe this Holy Vratam on March 2, 2011. Pradosham also is to be observed on the same day - March 2, 2011.
This is a very glorious day for our Lord. This day is believed tobe the day in which the Divine Union of Shakti and Shiva took place. It is said that one who keeps awake on this night and worships the Lord will never find himself/ herself in hell. Lord Shiva is Ashutosh (one who is easily pleased)....offering even plain water with devotion will please Him and the bounties that He will offer back can never be counted.Those who can chant Rudram/ chamakam, Shiva Sahasranaamam, Rudrasooktham, or other shaiva upanishads like Kata Rudra Upanishad,Rudra Hrudayham, Dakshinamoorthi Upanishad, etc. may do so to please the Lord. Even if you are unable to do so, you may simply chant "shiva shiva" throughout the day whenever possible and become recipients of His Grace.
Those who have Sakata yoga or such other destabilizing yogas in their charts may benefit by offering either a Rudrabhisheka or performance of Pasupata homam (Paasupata homam is done using the rarely known Pashupataastra mantra with the help of advanced Shiva upaasakas - normal shastris may not be aware of this rare mantra - only those who have studied Dhanurveda portions as part of their upavedic instructions - especially those of Baudhaayana sutra and Aghoris/ Pashupata sects of Shiva upaasakas are usually adept at this Pasupataastra mantra which is very powerful and helps in reducing the impact of lot of doshas. Rudra Abhishekam can be done by any priest as it is widely known and anyone who has had vedic instructions will be definitely thorough with this performance)
Those who have Sakata yoga or such other destabilizing yogas in their charts may benefit by offering either a Rudrabhisheka or performance of Pasupata homam (Paasupata homam is done using the rarely known Pashupataastra mantra with the help of advanced Shiva upaasakas - normal shastris may not be aware of this rare mantra - only those who have studied Dhanurveda portions as part of their upavedic instructions - especially those of Baudhaayana sutra and Aghoris/ Pashupata sects of Shiva upaasakas are usually adept at this Pasupataastra mantra which is very powerful and helps in reducing the impact of lot of doshas. Rudra Abhishekam can be done by any priest as it is widely known and anyone who has had vedic instructions will be definitely thorough with this performance)
The Merit that will accrue out of a proper Shiva pooja done throughout the day and especially in all prahars of the night can never be described adequately. Puranas describe how even an unlettered and rough hunter got Salvation by unwitting observance of the Holy Shiva Rathri and by offering Bilva patra by accident to a Shiva Linga on that night. Do what simple pooja you can with heart-felt Love - to Him Who drank Poison so that the Universe will be saved from its effects and so that other demigods may consume Nectar.
He is the Medha Dakshinamoorthi who kindles our Intellect as JagatGuru....He is the Mrityunjaya who conqured Death.....He is the Neelakanta - with Poison in His Throat which He willingly consumed to save the Universe.......He is the Vaidyanaatha who can Heal all our ailments.....He is the Three-Eyed One - the third Eye of whom is of Agni tatwa that burns all the sins of his devotees......
If He had gifted a thousand heads with 1000 intelligent brains and 1000 proficient tongues....even then they will not be sufficient to describe even a miniscue portion of His Glory.May His Grace Guide us all and may His Blessings Fill our life.
Sarvam shivaarpanamasthu. Shiva shiva shiva.
Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.
Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in
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2 comments:
Thank you for a very nice article. :)
I have a doubt regarding Shiva panchakshari mantra. Some people say we can recite " Om namah shivaya/ namah shivaya" anytime and can remember God. (like what you have given for "shiva shiva").
Can you please share your opnion about this?
Dear Member (as you have not given your name, I am addressing you this way!):
Shiva Panchakshari mantra is one of the mahaa mantras and it is preferably recited with ritual purity; saints, those who are deeply attached to spirituality that they are not likely to harbour any lustful thoughts or mundane desires as a result, can recite this at all times; ascetics do this - they keep reciting the Holy Panchaakshari all the time - even while travelling, eating, etc.
But, for most common persons, sticking to the name form of the japa "shiva shiva" or "Hara Hara Mahaa Deva" is the best practice.
Unfortunately we can't judge ourselves as to whether we are of sufficient advanced levels in spirituality to quality to chant Panchakshari in its full form all the time. If we are not qualified mentally (by our attitudes) to recite it all the times like that, we may invoke minor dosha (that of having insulted the protocol of the mantra)- at the same time, as this act is still likely to have been done out of intense devotion, Lord Shiva won't forget to register this punya account also. So, if your devotion impels you to recite a mantra in a particular form all the time, you should do so.
But, if you have some goal, or desire that you wish to realize out of the power of such recitals, you MUST adhere to the protocol of reciting it only in a ritual clean place, after a clean bath, and after the preparatory rituals.
A devotee who chants only out of love for God and not for mundane goals (like promotion, or marriage)is like a child and might be excused minor transgressions of protocols! In emergencies, these protocols are no longer valid; for instance, if you are surrounded by danger and you want your mantra to help you, the protocol of not reciting it in any other place other than your regular upaasana place does not hold good at that point; you CAN recite it till the mantra rescues you from that danger!
Similarly, when trekking holy places (like climbing mountains like Parvathamalai, or Tiruvannamalai or Vellimalai or any other holy place), you CAN recite the Panchakshari mentally in its full form.
Those who have got deeksha from a Guru, must adhere to the protocols taught at that time; if such protocols allow constant recital it can be done or else - no! In such instances, the Guru's instructions take precedence over whatever has been discussed here (except the permission to recite it in holy kshetras without count).
Hope this helps.
Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.
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