Shivaraathri

Shivaraathri is a very auspicious day. It falls on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when the moon is waning and the sun lies in the sign of Aquarius. The festival relates to the moon, rather than the sun—hence the name Shivaraathri (the night of Shiva). Unlike other nights, this one is a time of consecration, dedication, and illumination.

The mind is intimately associated with the moon. Chandhra (the deity of the moon) is also the presiding deity of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of his brilliance each day following the full moon, continuing to wane until, on this night, he is left with only one-sixteenth of his power. The waned moon may be taken to stand for the mind, after its vagaries and waywardness have been conquered by sadhana (spiritual discipline). On the night of Shivaraathri, only a tiny portion of the mind remains to be conquered. That can be accomplished by keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God. The vigil prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe. The rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures they crave. The all-night bhajan (devotional singing) is significant of the life-long consciousness of the divine presence that every one should cultivate. Since the rites and vows laid down for Shivaraathri are absent on other nights of the year, their observance on this particular day serves as a reminder of their usefulness.

The Importance of Thought

There are three types of people: the multi-centered, the uni-centered and the non-centered. The first group—those who allow their senses, mind and intelligence to wander where they will – is quite populous. So, too, is the third group, which consists of people who flit from one object to another, hopping from one thing to another in listless flippancy. For those who strive to attain the concentration and single-centeredness characteristic of the second group, the festival of Shivaraathri is very propitious. The bhajan and the ceaseless flow of naamasmaran (repetition of God’s name) help one to reach single-centeredness.

You need to understand that bhajan, naamasmaran, and puja (ritualistic worship) are not for the purpose of pleasing or propitiating God. They are for our own spiritual progress. Frequently, people flatter the rich and the powerful – especially if they are in their employment or are beholden to them for something they need. They hope their behavior will induce the rich to shower them with gifts. But God does not shower grace on people because they sing His praises. (Nor does He come down upon them because they do not deify Him.) Rather, recitation of the divine attributes enables us to dwell on elevating ideas and to come closer and closer to the divinity that is our nature.

We become what we contemplate. Through constant thought, an idea becomes imprinted on our hearts. When we constantly focus our thoughts on the evil that others do, our mind becomes polluted by evil. On the other hand, if we fix our minds on the virtue and well being of others, our minds are cleansed of wrong and entertain only good thoughts.

Immerse your mind in good thoughts and world will be good; soak it in bad thoughts and the world will be bad for you. Therefore, remember only good; think, plan, and do only good; speak and act only good. Then you will approximate God, the source of all good. That is the message of Shivaraathri.

Source: “God The Source Of Good”
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. XIV

Mental Afflictions

The human body falls prey to many ills. People regard all of them as bodily ailments, but not all of them are related solely to the body. Pure bodily ailments can be treated with medicines. But in today’s world, most ailments have their origins in the mind. The aberrations of the mind set up reactions in the body and cause various diseases. Many human ailments are rooted in the mind. The mind and body are interrelated. The influence of the mind on the body is of a negative character. This negativity is antagonistic to the experience of bliss.

Bad thoughts and feelings arise in the mind and exist alongside good thoughts and feelings. Only when bad thoughts and feelings are weeded out can people attain good health. Many diseases have their origins in the thoughts that fill the mind. Bad thoughts cause indigestion, affect the heart, bring about variations in the blood pressure; worries are the cause of many mental diseases. Diabetes and pulmonary diseases are also traceable to mental causes.

Source: “The Power of the Lord’s Name”
Sanathana Sarathi, March 1998, pp. 58-59

Holiness of Festivals

Today we are celebrating Sivaraathri. Sivaraathri means auspicious darkness. On this day, one should chant Shiva’s name throughout the night. At least on one day of the year, chant the name of the Lord. Devotees are expected to stay awake this night by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Staying awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord’s name sanctifies one’s life. In the Gita, the Sthithaprajna is described as one who stays awake when others sleep, as one for whom the daytime serves as night. The inner meaning of this is that the Sthithaprajna (the realized person who is in a state of constant integrated awareness) contemplates on God when others are oblivious to Him.

Source: “The Power Of The Lord’s Name”
Sanathana Sarathi, March 1998, pp. 58-59

The Proper way to observe Shivarathri

Festivals like Shivaraathri are intended to make people cultivate auspicious and God-like qualities. To listen to a Divine discourse on Sivaraathri day and then to forget all about its message after leaving the hall is not the way to observe Shivaraathri. That could well be called “Shavaraathri” (night of death).

The difference between shiva (what is auspicious) and shava (a lifeless corpse) can be understood from the process of breathing and cessation of breathing. Inhaling and exhaling convey the message of union with God—So-Ham (He is I). Consciousness of this oneness is auspicious. When such consciousness is absent, inauspiciousness (or death) sets in.

Shivaraathri is a day devoted to the contemplation of God. The possibility of such devotion does not come just once a year. Every night can be a Shivaraathri. Even if you are not able to contemplate God all through the night, it is enough that you think of God before going to sleep and when you awake in the morning.

Source: “Power Of The Divine Name”
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. XXV

Dual attitude must be given up

Have high ideals. Strive to elevate yourselves. Make for the highest goal—God. Whatever the obstacle or opposition, do not be disheartened. Give up the animal part of yourself. Stabilize yourself in human virtues and proceed boldly toward the achievements of Divinity. Do not waver—by going today to bhakti (devotion), tomorrow to sensual gratification, and the day after back to bhakti. When things go well, you are all for devotion. But if anything goes wrong, you fill with despair. When discipline is enforced, you begin holding back. When love is showered upon you, you come forward. The dual attitude must be given up.

The very divine principle—which seekers strive to visualize through years of asceticism, renunciation, japa (recitation of holy names), and thapa (penance)—is before you here and now. Realize the good fortune you are endowed with. Today, on the holy day of Shivaraathri, I have granted pardon for all the errors you have fallen into, knowingly or unknowingly, up to this time. Have auspicious thoughts, speak auspicious words, and do auspicious deeds. As a result, attain the embodiment of Shiva Himself.

Source: “God The Source Of God”
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. XIV