Mahashivaratri, or 'The Great Night of Shiva' is an important Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva and symbolizes spiritual awakening and overcoming obstacles. It takes place on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of Phalguna, which usually falls in February or March. The annual holy shivaratri celebration will take place on February 26 from 6:00 PM.
Remove all darkness and allow the light to shine
The spiritual focus of Mahashivaratri is to conquer the mind and achieve spiritual enlightenment. This holy night is a time of deep reflection, inner peace and spiritual awakening and has a transformative power. It invites us to overcome ignorance, let go of negativity and rediscover inner strength and wisdom. We come together in devotion and prayer to honor God Shiva, the supreme consciousness.
Story of Shiva and the Poison during the Samudra Manthan
Long ago, the gods (devas) and the demons (asuras) were involved in a great collaborative project: the churning of the sea of milk to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrita). During this immense process, all kinds of valuables appeared, but also a terrifying poison, Halahala, so deadly that it could have destroyed the entire creation.
As this poison began to accumulate, the world saw the threat of total destruction. At this critical time, Shiva, the savior of the cosmos, appeared. Without hesitation, he decided to ingest the poison to prevent its spread throughout the world. In this brave and self-sacrificing act, he swallowed the poison in one go. As the poison lodged in his throat, it turned a striking blue color. Hence the name Neelkanth, which means "blue-colored throat."
The Moral
This story reminds us of some spiritual truths:
Self-sacrifice and compassion
Shiva personally took upon himself the suffering and threat of the poison, so that the world was spared from destruction.
Overcoming negativity
By absorbing the poison, Shiva demonstrated that one can absorb and neutralize even the most devastating negativity if one does so from a place of love and devotion.
The power of the divine
Mahashivaratri celebrates Shiva's role as the protector and transformer who absorbs evil to serve the greater good.
Mahashivaratri also celebrates the day Shiva married Parvati and Shiva’s cosmic dance (Tandava), which symbolizes the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction. The story of the poison invites introspection and reminds us that true power and wisdom often come with the ability to make personal sacrifices for the greater good.
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