Mahasivaratri

Mahasivaratri is one of the most important festivals for a Hindu. Everything done on this day has a multiplier effect.

Many are of the opinion that this auspicious day marks the birth of Lord Siva. In fact, the Supreme Reality has no start or end date. However  the Nirguna often becomes Saguna for the benefit of the world to express the Tatttva (nature). The Puranas extol that in the beginning of the Creation, Lord Siva materialised himself as a column of fire - to Brahman and Vishnu. This was in the month of Margashira (when aardra nakshatram was on the ascent). Failing to find the source/start or this manifestation, they starting praying to Lord Siva to manifest himself in the form we know now. The gods joined them in the prayers too - that day was Krishna Chaturdashi in the month of Maaga -  - Mahasivaratri!
This divine play is expressed in the famous sloka -
'Brahma Murari Surarchita Lingam'

Every month has Krishna Chaturdashi (the day before Amavaasya) - also refered to as Maasa-sivaratri. On this holy day, there are certain guidelines to follow in order to elevate your consciousness, cleanse of your sins and gain the blessings of Mahadeva.

What to do: 
1. Wake up prior to sunrise (pra-bhaat kaalam). After praying to ones IShta Daiva (chosen god), Lord Ganapati, the eight directions, Brahmna, Vishnu and Rudra
2. Take a vow to fast and spend the day and night in Jaagaran (explained below)
3. Spend the day in Homa/Japa/Tapa/Archana/Puja. Wear white for the day
4. Visit a Siva temple
5. Donate food, books or money to the needy/deserving

Upvaas: Many misunderstandings and doubts crept into the holy concept of Fasting. The word literally means 'to be near'. Food is one of the means to avoid distractions and hence the regulations around it. The objective is to withdraw the mind from distractions around food & surroundings. Fruits and milk is advised as diet. Cooked food is not banned for those who are bodily incapable of surviving only on fruits - the idea is to eat enough to sustain energy levels to focus on the Divine. There are those who do not take anything but water on this day - again subject to bodily conditions. By regulating the tongue and desire, enormous amounts of sins get washed away.

Jaagaran: This should complement Upvaas. The Gita says 'When the world sleeps, the Yogi is awake'. though this is used in the light of knowledge; it applies to the concept of staying awake at night on this auspicious occasion.Sleep is a state on not knowing your conscious self while staying awake is. With the intention of spending the night in the contemplation of the Divine, this vow should be undertaken. Jaagaran draws spiritual energy sooner than other practices. 

Pradosha (sunset time) is the best time to worship Lord Siva. At an astral level, this is the time of the day when Lord Nataraj performs the Tandav Dance. All the other gods watch in total absorption and  hence it is said that by worshipping Hara during this time, the same fruits are obtained as worshipping all the gods. In a house where Lord Siva, Narayana or Durga Devi is worshipped - Goddess Lakshmi stays for eternity.

Ratha Saptami

Surya Aradhana

Of the 6 schools of worship Sun worship is one of the most prominent and in fact found as a common link in all the other schools. The entire Vedantic philosophy / Atma Tattva can be readily explained by using Sun as the reference.

At a materialistic level, it is well known that our system of time and direction is based on the Sun. Life on the planet is possible solely due to His rays and all their concomitant powers. Light, heat, humidity, seasons, crops and in fact everything that we depend on nature comes directly from his Grace.

At a cosmic level, all the planets in the Solar System revolve and in fact evolved from him. Aditya Hrudayam attributes the Lordship of planets and stars to Surya.  This is precisely the reason for Astrology declaring Lord Surya as the Adhidevata (ruler of planets). By performing Suya Homa, Yagya, Vrata and Archana one can neutralize  any astrological anamolies.

At a spiritual level, he is the sustainer of Prana Shakti (life, consciousness). Mental, physical and spiritual health are directly linked to the worship of Bhaskara (another name for the Lord). He controls the strength of the eyes and brilliance of the intellect. Just as one harnesses the Sun’s power of heat by Solar Panels and convert it into electricity, plants absorb the light for photosynthesis, the method of harnessing the Lord’s cosmic energy for material and spiritual welfare is called – Surya aaradhana.

Ratha Saptami

The 7^th day of the first half of Maagha maasam is referred to as Ratha Saptami. A year in Hindu calendar is divided into two Ayanas – uttara-ayanam and Dakshina-ayanam – of roughly 6 months each. Each month is divided into two pakshas – sukhla paksham and krishna paksham. Just as Kaarthik Maasam is for Deepam, Vaisakha for daanam (donation), Maagha maasam is for snanam. It is advised to have a holy dip in one of this country’s sacred rivers.This holy day falls on the first saptami in suhkla paksham after Vaikuntha Ekadasi and is the most important day of the year for worshipping Lord Surya.

The Puranas revealed that on this day there is a change in Surya Ratha. The word Ratha in Sanskrit means ‘ that which travels’ – ‘Rammana Silatvaat Rathaha’. Hence, from this day onwards, there is a change in the way the Sun’s rays reach the Earth.

What to do on this day

This is the day when mankind has the best opportunity to pay respects to the sustainer of life and repository of knowledge. The Rishis revealed to mankind various ways to earn the grace of the Lord on this auspicious day.

1. Wake up during Brahma Muhurtam (it is roughly an hour prior to sunrise)

   
2. Use Arka Patra (Calotropis Procera leaves - refer to the image) for having a holy bath along with the 12 names of Surya used in the Surya Namaskara. One of the many benefits is the increase in your luster. These plants absorb the healing rays of the sun in greater measure than others and hence pass on the power to us when we use them

   
3. Wear clothes that have Red as primary color – better still to wear blood red

   
4. Those who are invested with the sacred thread need to perform the SandhyaVandan and everyone should chant Surya Stotras (preferably Aditya Hrudayam) by facing the Lord. Aditya Hrudayam should be chanted 3 times along with achamanam for best results just as Lord Sri Ram did in the Ramayana

     5. Arghyam (worship by offering water with mantras). This should be done by taking water in a copper vessel and mixing it with red sandalwood paste, leaves from Bilva tree (Aegle marmelos), red Hibiscus flowers and yellow rice grains. Facing the Lord in the morning, noon and /or evening one should chant any mantra which is instructed by ones guru. In other cases the following can mantra can be reverently chanted as suggested by Siva Maha Purana –

        Namah Sivaya Saambaya Saganaya Aadihetave
       Rudraya Vishnave Tubhyam Brahmane Surya Murthaye

     6. Abstain from honey, meat, oil and sex every Sunday and especially on this day. Quoting the Puranas – ‘Stree Madhu Mamsa Taila Ravivare Visarjayet’

     

     7. Offer rice cooked in Cow milk as prasadam for the Lord and distribute it

Surya is also called as pratyaksha Daivam (Visible god) as his presence and blessings are received by everyone all the time. This entire month is permeated with his divinity. Aditya Hrudayam states that He is ‘Sarva Devatmako Hyeshaha’ – ‘embodiment of all gods’. This is clearly seconded by the fact that Mahasivaratri for Siva, Sri Panchami for Saraswati, two Chaturthis for Ganesha and Shasthi for Subramanya fall in this month. 

Surya stands for light of wisdom, strength and righteousness. He is the destroyer of evil forces. The current state of affairs in our country require the worship of Surya for the destruction of evil and re-establishing the Sanatan Dharma undiluted by misguided zealots.