MAHA-SIVA-RATRI THE DAY FOR LORD SIVA

(The above painting is drawn by me)

         

        According to the traditional term “GOD”, Lord Siva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity representing Godhead in Its aspect of Anihilator, in charge of ‘constructive-destruction’ in the continuous process of creation, preservation, destruction and re-creation or transformation.  Siva is the god of austerity. His consort is Goddess Parvati.  He is clad in a deer-skin (elephant-skin according to scripture-Krithivaasa) besmears his body with holy ashes, has matted hair, and is adorned with serpants round his neck and arms.  He is said to have drunk cup of poson which has made his neck blue in colour, giving him the appellation ‘Neela kanta’= the blue-necked god.

        He is said to be seated in deep meditation on the top most point of the world on Mount Kailas on the Himalayas facing the south.  In this aspect, he is known as DakshinaMurti the embodiment and dispenser of the supreme Knowledge.  He has a third eye in the centre of his forhead, the eye of wisdom as well as annihilation. 

        Tomorrow is the auspicious day called Mahasivaratri. (08.03.2024)

        We the devotees of Lord siva, will keep vigil during the night of Sivaratri and worship Him at midnight because the prime manifestation with a form of the formless Isvara is known as the Lingod-bhava Murti. Let us chant “Om Namas Sivaya”.  

        And chant the following also:-

 Śrī mārgabandhu stōtram

śambhō mahādēva dēva  śiva śambhō mahādēva dēvēśa śambhō
śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

phālāvanamratkirīṭaṁ phālanētrārciṣā dagdhapañcēṣukīṭam |
śūlāhatārātikūṭaṁ śuddhamardhēnducūḍaṁ bhajē mārgabandhum || 1 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

aṅgē virājadbhujaṅgaṁ abhragaṅgātaraṅgābhirāmōttamāṅgaṁ
ōṅkāravāṭīkuraṅgaṁ siddhasaṁsēvitāṅghriṁ bhajē mārgabandhum || 2 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

nityaṁ cidānandarūpaṁ nihnutāśēṣalōkēśavairipratāpaṁ
kārtasvarāgēndracāpaṁ kr̥ttivāsaṁ bhajē divyasanmārgabandhum || 3 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

kandarpadarpaghnamīśaṁ kālakaṇṭhaṁ mahēśaṁ mahāvyōmakēśaṁ
kundābhadantaṁ surēśaṁ kōṭisūryaprakāśaṁ bhajē mārgabandhum || 4 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

mandārabhūtērudāraṁ  mandarāgēndrasāraṁ mahāgauryadūraṁ
sindūradūrapracāraṁ  sindhurājātidhīraṁ bhajē mārgabandhum || 5 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

appayyayajjvēndra gītaṁ  stōtrarājaṁ paṭhēdyastu bhaktyā prayāṇē
tasyārthasiddhiṁ vidhattē mārgamadhyē:’bhayaṁ cāśutōṣō mahēśaḥ || 6 ||

śambhō mahādēva dēva  śiva śambhō mahādēva dēvēśa śambhō
śambhō mahādēva dēva ||

Ithi śrī mārgabandhu stōtram ||