तुम भटक गए हो मनमाने नियमों, भिन्न मतों के भ्रम के जाल और खुद के मानसिक द्वंद्व में, क्योंकि तुम्हें भटकाया गया है। शिव को छोड़कर तुम्हारा दिमाग कहीं ओर लगाया गया है तभी तो तुम्हें रास्ता समझ में नहीं आता। किसने लगाया तुम्हारा दिमाग कहीं ओर? तुम खुद हो इसके जिम्मेदार।
हिंदुओं के मात्र दो संप्रदाय हैं। पहला शैव और दूसरा वैष्णव। अन्य सारे संप्रदाय उक्त दो संप्रदायों के अंतर्गत ही माने जाते हैं। हालाँकि वैदिक दर्शक के कारण अनेकों अन्य संप्रदाय का जिक्र भी किया जा सकता है। यहाँ शैव संप्रदाय को सबसे प्राचीन संप्रदाय माना जाता है।
नाथपंथी, शाक्तपंथी या आदि गुरु शंकराचार्य के दशनामी संप्रदाय सभी शैव संप्रदाय के अंतर्गत ही माने जाते हैं। भारत में शैव संप्रदाय की सैकड़ों शाखाएँ हैं। यह विशाल वटवृक्ष की तरह संपूर्ण भारत में फैला हुआ है। कुंभ के मेले में इसकी विभिन्नता के दर्शन होते हैं, किंतु सभी एक मामले में एकमत है वह यह कि शिव ही परम सत्य और तत्व है।
ऐसा माना जाता है कि शैव पंथ में रात्रियों का महत्व अधिक है तो वैष्णव पंथ दिन के क्रिया-कर्म को ही शास्त्र सम्मत मानता है। शैव 'चंद्र' पर तो वैष्णव 'सूर्य' पर आधारित पंथ है। वर्षभर में बहुत सारी रात्रियाँ होती हैं उनमें से कुछ चुनिंदा रात्रियों का ही महत्व है। उन चुनिंदा रात्रियों में भी महाशिवरात्रि का महत्व और भी ज्यादा है।
इस महाशिवरात्रि से जुड़ी अनेकों मान्यता है। माना जाता है कि प्रलय काल और सृष्टि रचना काल के बीच जो महारात्रि थी उसे ही शिवरात्रि कहा जाता है। यह भी माना जाता है कि इसी रात्रि में भगवान शंकर का रुद्र के रूप में अवतार हुआ था। महाशिवरात्रि की रात्रि से संबंधित कई पौराणिक कथाएँ प्रचलित हैं।
महाशिवरात्रि का संदेश : उपवास का आमतौर पर अर्थ होता है ऊपर वाले का मन में वास। उपवास का अर्थ भूखा रहना या निराहार नहीं होता। शिव की भक्ति करना ही उपवास है तो इस दिन पवित्र रहकर भगवान शंकर को अपने मन में बसाएँ रखने का महत्व है। मान्यता है कि इस दिन भगवान शंकर जल्दी ही प्रसन्न हो सकते हैं।
कुछ लोग इस रात्रि को जागरण करते हैं, लेकिन कुछ संतों का मानना है कि जागरण का सही अर्थ है पाँचों इंद्रियों द्वारा आत्मा पर जो बेहोशी या विकार छा गया है उसके प्रति जाग्रत हो जाना ही जागरण है। यंत्रवत जीने को छोड़कर अर्थात तंद्रा को तोड़कर चेतना को शिव के एक तंत्र में लाना ही महाशिवरात्रि का संदेश है।
शिव तुम्हें बुलाते हैं : आकाश में शिव की अखंड ज्योत जल रही है। सारे साधु-संत और ज्ञानीजन उस अवधूत की ही शरण में रहकर सुखी और निरोगी है। उस परम योगी का ध्यान छोड़कर जो व्यक्ति कहीं ओर चला जाता है तो वह योगी जीवन के हर मोर्चे पर उस व्यक्ति का साथ देने के लिए उसे पुकारता है, लेकिन उसने अपने कान बंद कर रखें हैं इसीलिए दुख बार-बार उसका ही दरवाजा खटखटाता है।
रात का अंधेरा उसे डरावना लगता है। अंधेरा शाश्वत होता है इस अंधेरे को शिव भक्त ही चीर सकता है, इसलिए कहते हैं-
"अकाल मृत्यु वह मरे, जो कर्म करें चांडाल का, काल उसका क्या करे जो भक्त है महाकाल का"
Significance of Shivaratri in Hinduism -
Festival of Mahashivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most.
They observe day and night fast and perform Rudrabhishek to Shiva Linga with honey, milk, water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on a Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity absolves a devotee of past sins. The devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shanker and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death and attains moksha or salvation.
The significance of Shivaratri is closely associated with ‘amavasya.’ Amavasya represents Kaliyuga. Lord Shiva appeared just before the beginning of Kaliyuga to rid the world of evil and ignorance, which is symbolically represented through Amavasya. Therefore Mahashivratri is celebrated to get rid of evil and ignorance.
When Brahma and Vishnu fought between themselves as "who is the greatest", Lord Shiva appeared before them as a pillar of fire. They were not able to find the starting and end of that pillar.It is a lingam in the form of fire which has neither a beginning nor an end.
Devotees pray the God throughout the night of Shiva rathri by performing Abisheka, chanting and other holy deeds.
Every month in Krishna paksha chathurdhasi (fourteenth moonday) is called masa Shiva rathri. The one that comes in the month of "Masi" (mid February to mid March) is called Maha Shiva rathri. This is considered as the most important vrata by the devotees.
On the Shivratri day.
Apart from this there are numerous legends and myths associated with Shivratri. An important myth is that Shivaratri is the birthday of Lord Shiva – this is mainly because the formless Lord Shiva appeared for the first time in the form of ‘Lingodabhavamurti’ before Lord Vishnu and Brahma.
Other important myths include that of Taandava, the consummation of poison during the churning of ocean, hunter accidentally dropping the leaves of bilva, the loss of importance of ketki flower, which is now only offered during shivaratri.
Shivaratri falls not just once a year, but once every month. Then why is this Mahashivaratri so important? Night is dominated by the moon. The moon has 16 kalas [fractions of divine glory], and each night, during the dark fortnight, one fraction is reduced, until the entire moon is annihilated on new moon night. From then on, each night, a fraction is added, until the moon is full circle on Full Moon Night. The Chandra (moon) is the presiding deity of the mind and hence the mind waxes and wanes like the moon. Chandramaa-manaso jaathah—out of the manas of the Purusha [Supreme Being], the moon was born.
Once when everything in all the worlds got reduced into Lord shiva, in that darkness of nothing present, the mother Parvati worshipped Lord shiva in the Agamic way with great devotion. The parameshwar pleased by Her prayer blessed Her. She asked for the benefit of all the creatures that in future whoever worships the Lord on the Shiva Ratri day with devotion, they should be blessed and should be given the ultimate liberation. The pashupati granted that showing way for all of us to get blessed easily.
Significance of Shivaratri for Women-
Mahashivratri Festival is also considered to be an extremely significant festival by women. Married and unmarried women observe fast and perform Shiva Puja with sincerity to appease Goddess Parvati who is also regarded as ‘Gaura’ - one who bestows marital bliss and long and prosperous married life. Unmarried women also pray for a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal husband.
Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of Brahman. That portion of Brahman that is enveloped by Tamo-Guna-Pradhana-Maya is Lord Siva who is the all-pervading Isvara and who also dwells in Mount Kailas. He is the Bhandar or storehouse of Wisdom. Siva minus Parvati, Kali or Durga is pure Nirguna Brahman. With Maya (Parvati) He becomes the Saguna Brahman for the purpose of pious devotion of His devotees. Devotees of Rama must worship Lord Siva also. Rama Himself worshipped Lord Siva at the famous Ramesvaram. Lord Siva is the Lord of Ascetics and Lord of Yogins robed in space (Digambara).
His Trisul (trident) that is held in His right hand represents the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of sovereignty. He rules the world through these three Gunas. The Damaru in His left hand represents the Sabda Brahman, It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is He who formed the Sanskrit language out of the Damaru sound.
The wearing of the crescent moon on His head indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly. The flow of the Ganga represents the nectar of immortality. Elephant represents symbolically the Vritti, pride. Wearing the skin of the elephant denotes that He has controlled pride. Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger’s skin indicates that He has conquered lust. His holding deer on one hand indicates that He has removed the Chanchalata (tossing) of the mind. Deer jumps from one place to another swiftly. The mind also jumps from one object to another. His wearing of serpents around the neck denotes wisdom and eternity. Serpents live for a large number of years. He is Trilochana, the three-eyed One, in the centre of whose forehead is the third eye, the eye of wisdom. Nandi, the bull that sits in front of Sivalinga, represents Pranava (Omkara). The Linga represents Advaita. It points out “I am one without a second—Ekameva Advitiyam.” Just as a man raises his right hand above his head, pointing out his right index-finger only.
O friends! Take refuge in the Name of Siva. Sing His hymns. Nami and Name are inseparable. Sing Lord Siva’s hymns incessantly. Remember the Name of the Lord with every incoming and outgoing breath. In this Iron Age, Nama-Smarana or singing the hymns is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to reach God and attain Immortality and perennial joy. Glory to Lord Siva! Glory to His Name!!
Ravana propitiated Lord Siva by his hymns. Pushpadanta pleased Lord Siva by his celebrated Stotra—Siva Mahimna Stotra, which is even now sung by all devotees of Siva throughout India, and obtained all Aisvarya or Siddhis and Mukti. The glory of the Stotras of Siva is indescribable. You must all sing the hymns of Lord Siva and obtain His grace and salvation, not in the unknown future, but right now in this very second. You can please Lord Siva easily. Fast on the Sivaratri day. If you cannot do this, take milk and fruits. Keep perfect vigil the whole night and sing His Stotras, and repeat ‘Om Namah Sivaya’. May the blessings of Lord Siva be upon you all!
Har Har Mahadev....Jay MahaKaal....!!!
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