Hindu Pujas in Melbourne- Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri

 Feb 20th 2012

ॐ त्रयम्बकं यजामहे, सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं 

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मोक्षिय मामृतात्

Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February – March as per English calendar.

Legends of Mahashivratri
There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva. 

Traditions and Customs of Shivaratri
Various traditions and customs related to Shivaratri Festival are followed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe strict fast in honour of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death.

To mark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in river Ganga. After wearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the nearest Shiva temple to give ritual bath to the Shiva Lingam with milk, honey, water etc. 

On Shivaratri, worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the day and night. Every three hours devotees perform ritual pooja of Shivalingam amidst the chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya’ and ringing of temple bells. Night-long vigil or jaagran is also observed in Shiva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva.

 It is only on the following morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.

Simple ways to perform Shivaratri Puja at home

Depending on time available (i.e. in morning or evening), sit with family in the Puja Room (place of worship)

Light a Deepak and Aggarbatti.

\  Worship Lord Ganesh: Om Ganeshaya Namah

(12 times)

\  Worship  Shri Narayana : Om Namo Naraynaye (5 times)

\  Worship Devi :

·         Om Durga Devyai Namah   (3 times)

·         Om Maha Lakshmyai Namah  (3 times)

·         Om Maha Saraswatyai Namah ( 3 times)

\  Worship Shri Shankar Bhagwan: Om Namah Shivaya (12 times)

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam with Pure water

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey and Sugar

·         Do abhishekam of Shivalingam with Gangajal

·         Offer  Vastra & Flowers, Apply Tilak, Offer Naivedya & fruit , Offer Dhoopam/Deepam

·         Apply Bhasma (Vibhuti) to the Shivalingam or moorti

·         May offer Bilva Patra (Bel Patra)

·         Chant 108 names of Lord Shiva  or  Om Namah Shivaya -108 times

·         Maha Mritunjaya Mantra – 5 times

·          Perform  Shri Shiva Arti

   शिव पंचाक्षर स्तोत्रं

 नागेन्द्रहाराय  त्रिलोचनाय भस्मांग रागाय महेश्वराय

 नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकराय नमः शिवाय

मन्दाकिनी सलिल चन्दन चर्चिताय नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथ महेश्वराय

मन्दार पुष्प बहुपुष्प सुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय

शिवाय गौरी वदानाब्जवृन्द सूर्याय दक्षाध्वर नाशकाय

श्री नीलकंठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय

वशिष्ठ कुम्बोद्भव गौतमार्य मुनीन्द्र देवार्चिता शेखराय

चंद्रारका वैश्वानर लोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय

यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधाराय पिनाक हस्ताय सनातनाय

दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय

पंचाक्षर इदं स्तोत्रं यः पठेःशिव संनिधौ

शिवम लोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते 

 I offer my humble salutations to Lord Maheshvara - who has a garland of serpents around the neck; who has three eyes; whose body is covered with ash (vibhuti); who is eternal; who is pure; who has the entire sky as His dress and who is embodies as the first letter Na.  II1II

I bow to Lord Maheshvara, who is embodied as Makaara (letter Ma), whose body is anointed with holy waters from the river Ganges and sandal paste, who is the sovereign king of the Pramatha Ganas and who is adorned with innumerable divine flowers such as Mandaara. II2II

I offer my salutations to Lord Shiva, who is the resplendent sun for mother Gauri`s lotus face, who is the destroyer of Daksha`s sacrificial ritual, who is the blue necked Lord (due to the Haalahala poison which He agreed to consume), whose banner bears the emblem of a bull and who is embodied as the letter Shi. II3II

I prostrate before the God of Gods, who is worshipped and prayed to by great sages such as Vashishtha, Agastya and Gautama, whose eyes are sun, moon and the fire and who is embodied as Vakaara, the letter Va.  II4II

Prostrations to the sacred Lord who is the Yaksha incarnate, whose hairs are long and matted, who holds Pinaaka (trident) in His hand, who has the entire sky as His attire and who is embodied as the letter Ya. II5II

Whoever repeats this prayer composed with the five holy letters before Lord Shiva, attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys the eternal Bliss. II6II 

Shri Shiva Aarti

OM  JAI  SHIV  OMKARA, PRABHU  JAI  SHIV   OMKARA
BRAHMA  VISHNU   SADA SHIV,     ARDHANGII   DHARA
OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV...

EKANANA   CHATURANAN,      PANCHANAN   RAJE
HANSANAN,   GARURAASAN,    VRISHVAHAN   SAJE
OM  HAR   HAR  HAR  MAHAD EV...

DO BHUJA, CHAAR  CHATURBHUJA, DASHABHUJA  ATI  SOHE
TEENO ROOP NIRAKHATE,       TRIBHUVAN   JAN   MOHE
OM  HAR HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

AKSAMALA   VANAMALA, RUNDAMALA    DHARI
TRIPURARI   KANSARI  ,  KARMALA    DHARI
OM  HAR  HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

SHVETAMBARA   PITAMBARA, BAAGHAMBARA   ANGE
BRAHMADIK    SANAKAADIK,    BHUTAADIK    SANGE
OM   HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

KARA   MADHYE   SUKAMANDALU   ,

CHAKRA  TRISHUL DHARI SUKH-KARI   DUKH-HARI ,    

JAG- PALAN - KARI

OM  HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

BRAHMA   VISHNU   SADASHIVA,   JANATA   AVIVEKA
PRANAVAKSAR   ME   SHOBHIT,   YE    TEENO EKA
OM  HAR   HAR   HAR  MAHADEV...

TRIGUN SWAMI  JI  KI   AARTI , JO KOI  NAR GAVE
KAHATA  SHIVANANDA   SWAMI ,   MANA VANCHITA PHALA PAVE
OM  HAR   HAR   HAR   MAHADEV...

OM  JAI  SHIV  OMKARA, PRABHU JAI  SHIV   OMKARA
BRAHMA  VISHNU   SADA   SHIV,     ARDHANGII   DHARA
OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV...

OM  HAR  HAR  HAR  MAHADEV.........x (3)

§     Involve children in Pujas for passing on our religion, culture and traditions to them

§     What we are today is because of our parents.

§     We should be aware of our culture and religion and it’s a matter of pride to be Hindus which  doesn’t come in the way of respecting other faiths, beliefs and culture.

§     A true Hindu believes in   Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The whole world is my family).

With Best Wishes

-on behalf of Hindu Samaj Australia Inc

Pandit Akashdeep

Phone: 03 833 88937

Mobile: 040 2659 605

panditakashdeep@hotmail.com

www.gyanbhakti.com