Lord Shiva’s Assurance
When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live on the
top of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, “O venerable Lord! which of the many
rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?”
The Lord replied, “The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight
during the month of Phalgun, is my most favourite day. It is known as Shivaratri.
My devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths
and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense.
“The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships
Me in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods
of the night. The offering of a few bael leaves is more precious to Me
than the precious jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the
first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in
honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins first
and, after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his fast. O
Parvati! there is no ritual which can compare with this simple routine in
sanctity.”
Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Loid Shiva. She repeated it to
Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus
was the sanctity of Shivaratri broadcast all over the world.
The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality of
passionate activity) and Tamas (that of inertia). The Shivaratri Vrata aims at
the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the Feet of the
Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee’s constant
presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger,
and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil
throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed
on the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Shiva Lingam is
conducted. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.
The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is considered to
be the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam represents). He is burning with the
fire of austerity. He is therefore best propitiated with cool bathing. While
bathing the Lingam the devotee prays: “O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water,
milk, etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom. Do Thou kindly wash
me of all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which is scorching me may be
put out once for all, so that I may be one with Thee—the One alone without a
second.”
Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily: “I worship the jewel of my
Self, the Shiva residing in the Lotus of my heart. I bathe Him with the water of
my pure mind brought from the river of faith and devotion. I worship Him with
the fragrant flowers of Samadhi—all this so that I may not be born again in
this world.”
Here is another formula for the supreme worship of the Lord: “O Shiva! you
are my Self. My mind is Parvati. My Pranas are your servants. My body is your
house. My actions in this world are your worship. My sleep is Samadhi. My walk
is circumambulation of you. My speech is your prayer. Thus do I offer all that I
am to you.
Reproduced from "Hindu Fast and Festivals"
by Swami Sivananda
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