Essence of Shivrati! by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The Eternal being, Lord of the universe, Supreme ascetic, the non-dual being, the Cosmic dancer, the Destroyer and the Protector , Lord Shiva.

Who is Shiva? What is Shiva?

A supreme ascetic of passive and composed disposition, Shiva is considered to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe.

Guruji explains: “Shiva means your very Self, your innermost core, the purest Self. The festival most sacred to Shiva falls on the fourteenth night of the new moon, during the dark half February and March. This is Mahashivaratri or the great night of Shiva.”

Guruji also says that, “on Shivratri, it is total energy coming into the whole universe ? Shiv Shakti coming from all the lingas, joining, merging. If you chant – Om Namah Shivaye! and think of Lord Shiva throughout the day, you will get rid of all sins. Any meditation done on this day has manifold effects.

It is all astrologically linked. When the sun and moon are in a particular position, it helps to elevate the mind. Ancient people said the Shivratri days aren’t congenial for spiritual practices. On this day, people usually meditate and their desires get fulfilled. Desires either get dropped through knowledge or they get fulfilled.

That is the day when the spirit touches the earth. In some schools of thought, it is said that usually the spirit is ten inches above matter but on Shivratri day, it touches the earth. So, Shivratri gives comfort.”