Sita and Ram and the Dharma of Shiva

As we embark on the beginning of a new age of Sanatan Dharma, we seek answers to unanswered questions. Sanatan Dharma is neither a dogma nor organized on the premise of an unfaltering book, but rather is a quest, a eternal journey to understand ourselves and reality. The never ending seeking is therefore very much a part of our Dharma. Hence the ancients left much answered for future generations to continue to seek and experience findings answers from within. 

And now, we come upon the subject at hand, that of Sita and Ram in the context of Shaivism. Although it is has been realized again and again, the deep connection between the Dharma of Sita-Ram and Uma-Maheshwar is worth again exploring. To understand the deep connection, the oneness of the two, we must explore the stories of both. 

Let us begin then with the story of Sati (feminization of Sat, truth/existence). In the beginning of the cycle of creation, Sati is born of Daksha Prajapati, one of the many sons of Brahma and progenitors of mankind. Daksha has many daughters, and Sati is one of them. Sati in intent on marrying none other than Shiva and eventually marries Him, much to her father's displeasure. Later on, Sati attends her father's yajna, uninvited, and when Shiva is insulted chooses to self-immolate. Shiva then descends there in a Bhairava form called Virabhadra to destroy the sacrifice of Daksha. The relics of Sati are later spread around the Indian subcontinent which later come to be known as Shakti Pithas (Centers of Energy). We now consider there to be 51 or 52 principal Shakti Pithas in existence (51 or 52 being the number of phenomes in Sanskrit, and Shakti being the primal divine energy that permeates and brings forth name and form of all things in existence). 

Now, from that very holy land dotted with Shakti Pithas emerges the Lady Sita (literally sita = furrow). She is discovered as a baby by the ruler of Videha, King Janak, in a field. Sita then is an embodiment of the very Shakti that was dispersed across the land. Sita is Shakti. On the other hand, Ram descends through the holy fire into which Sati has chosen to self-immolate. In the story, the Deity of Fire, Agni, emerges from sacrificial fire conducted by King Dasharath and delivers the pudding (payasa) to feed his queens so they may bear children. From this, Ram is born. Ram, then, is the essence of the holy fire, the Divine Being who is invoked through Agni, the fire of consciousness in all beings. Ram descends from above, while Sita emerges from below. 

The essence of Ram is Shiva, and the essence of Sita is Shakti. Ram is Shiva and Sita is Shakti. 

There is only a singular eternal existence, which indeed is all existence. We understand it as the Divine encompassing of pure unfettered existence and its inseparable pure energy. These two then are emblematically represented and personified as the Divine Couple, the bipoles of Absolute Reality. 

Today, as we begin the new Samvatsar, let us remember Sita-Ram and Uma-Maheshwar together. 

Om Namah Shivaya. 

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, Vikram Samvat 2081 (Pingala)/Shaka 1946 (Krodhi)

O Holy Month of Shravan

O holy month of Shravan!

The first month of Chaturmaas,

The most auspicious of months,

For Shiva is very close to us during.

O holy month of Shravan!

May your Mondays bring us peace,

May your full moon bring us strength,

For Shiva is very accessible to us during.

O holy month of Shravan!

The first month of heavy rains,

May you bring us prosperity,

For Shiva is always listening to us during.

Aum Namah Shivaya. 

Notes:
1. Shravan (Skt: shrAvaNa, श्रावण) is the first month of Chaturmaas.
2. Chaturmaas (Skt: caturmAsa, चतुर्मास) refers to the four month period of rains and consists of the purnimanta months of Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashvin and Kartik.
3. Mondays of Shravan are considered especially holy for Shiva worship.
4. The name Shravan is derived from Shravana (Skt: shravaNA, श्रवणा), the name of the asterism on which the full moon occurs during this month, and literally means hearing or listening. Hence the word listening has a double meaning here.

Shivaratri 2015

When is Shivaratri?

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the day when the chaturdashi (14th lunar day) of the krishna paksha (dark fortnight) in the amanta lunar month of magha (purnimanta lunar month of phalguna) overlaps a period called nishita kala (one of divisions of the night that overlaps midnight).

In 2015, the correct date for observing Maha Shivaratri is:

Tuesday February 17 - in all time zones in Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and Eastern and Central time zones in North America.

Monday February 16 - in Mountain time zone of North America and westward (Pacific time zone, Alaska, Hawaii).

Aum Namah Shivaya.

Kartik and The Lord's Diwali

Calendrical History

A long time ago, before the emergence of the Gupta Empire in Northern India, the Hindu calendar used to begin the new year in autumn. This was an ancient Vedic tradition dating back millennia, wherein the term autumn was synonymous with year.

May we see for a hundred autumns!
And may we live for a hundred autumns,
May we hear for a hundred autumns,
May we speak for a hundred autumns,
And may we hold our heads high for a hundred autumns,
Yes, even more than a hundred autumns.

Shukla Yajurveda Samhita XXXVI:24

As the lunisolar calendar would shift with relation to the backdrop of the stars and seasons due to a phenomenon known as precession of the equinoxes, the new year would be periodically shifted backward to align with the seasons and keep with the beginning of autumn.

With the emergence of newer knowledge from Persia and the Middle-East during the Gupta Era,  astronomer-mathematicians based in the city of Ujjain decided to move the new year near the vernal equinox. It was resolved that Mesha Sankranti (point of transition of the Sun into sidereal Aries) was to be considered the solar new year, and the lunisolar month that contained the Mesha Sankranti, known as Chaitra, was to mark the lunisolar new year. And so the tradition has been since that time to celebrate the solar new year at Mesha Sankranti (currently around April 13/14), and the lunisolar new year at Chaitra Shukla Paksha (today falling somewhere between March 16 to April 13).

Before this shift of the lunisolar new year from the autumn to spring , the lunar month of Kartik marked the beginning of the year. However, curiously this shift of new year's day did not occur uniformly. While all other regions of India and all countries within the Indian sphere of influence shifted to the vernal new year in Chaitra, Gujarat (particularly Kathiawad) and the Newar region of Nepal refused to change. To this day, therefore, the ancient Vedic tradition of celebrating new year in autumn is carried out by Gujaratis where the Kartik Shukla Paksha marks the beginning of the Kartikadi Vikram Samvat, and by Newaris who mark the same as beginning of Nepal Sambat, both of which fall the day after Diwali (Bali Pratipada).

Commandment of Shiva

Now, there is more to this month Kartik than just the beginning of the ancient Vedic new year. Kartik is arguably the holiest of month in the Hindu calendar, as Ramadan is to the Islamic calendar. Per ancient legends, Kartik was given prominence by none other than Shiva Himself. Upon the commandment of Shiva, it is said, that Ganapati was given the honor of being the first Deity to be worshipped. To ensure that His other divine Son should not feel left out, Shiva dedicated the first month of the year to Kartikeya, the Lord of discernment. While Ganapati was the first to be worshipped, Kartikeya-Murugan was the first to be remembered and commemorated in the new year. In fact, in all traditions except the Tamil, the sixth lunar day in the bright half of Kartik (Kartik Shukla Shashti) is called Skanda Shashti,  a special day for worship of Lord Kartikeya.

It is, therefore, per the commandment of Shiva Himself that the month when the full moon occurs on the asterism Krittika (Pleiades) and aptly called Kartik, is considered the holiest, the best and the first of months. The month of Kartik is still to this day considered a month when one looks within and finds divinity; a month when every action is blessed, and every wish fulfilled. It is a month of fasts, prayers, holy river dips, and introspection. Holy traditions never forget history, even if people do. Praises be to the holy month of Kartik!

Kartik Purnima and the Lord’s Diwali

The height and glory of the holy month of Kartik is felt most prominently during its defining full moon festival. The full moon day of Kartik known as Kartik Purnima or Deva Diwali (the Lord’s Diwali) commemorates a welcoming of the Lord, both as Shiva and as Vishnu depending on tradition, into our lives by lighting oil lamps much in the same way as the main Diwali festival fifteen lunar days (tithis) prior commemorates the welcoming of the Divine Mother into our lives.

In Shaivite tradition, Kartik Purnima, the Lord’s Diwali, is celebrated as the victory of the Lord over Tripurasura (the demon of triad cities). The festival is aptly also termed Tripuri Purnima. If we skip over the myth, it is fairly simple to understand that the triad cities are nothing but anava, karma and maya, the triad impurities. Since the Lord lies beyond the triad impurities, He is considered the Victor over the triad. During the height and light of this festival, one is to have a full realization of the Lord, who exists deep within ourselves as the Atman, who has conquered the triad impurities, and who is ever liberated.

In Vaishnavite tradition, Kartik Purnima, the Lord’s Diwali, is celebrated as the reemergence of the Lord from the allegorical chaturmasa (four-month) slumber. Per tradition, the Deities of Vishnu are considered to be in slumber from Shayani Ekadashi in Ashadh until Prabodhini Ekadashi in Kartik, four lunar days before Kartik Purnima. When Vishnu has awaken from His slumber, His icons once again exit the temple solitude and grace the world on Kartik Purnima. Again, if we skip over the myths, it is fairly simple to understand the slumber represents deep meditation, and emergence from the slumber represents realization. During the height and light of this festival, one is to realize the Lord, who exists deep within ourselves as the Atman, who has been realized through meditation, resulting in liberation.

Now, one may wonder why Kartik Purnima, the second festival of lights of Hinduism, is called the Lord’s Diwali. This is simply for us to realize that the major Diwali festival which occurs 15 lunar days (tithis) prior during the new moon is Devi Diwali, the Goddess’ Diwali. Only by passing through the Goddess’ Diwali, can one reach the Lord’s Diwali. During the main Diwali, Mahalakshmi is worshipped; during the Deva Diwali, Mahavishnu is worshipped. During the main Diwali, Mahakali is worshipped, during Deva Diwali Maheshvara is worshipped. The main Diwali is dedicated to Shakti, the Deva Diwali to Shiva. The main Diwali is dedicated to realization, the Deva Diwali to liberation. During the main Diwali, the Tirthankara Mahavira reached realization; during the Deva Diwali, Mahavira attained liberation. The main Diwali is dedicated to freeing oneself from fetters (Bandi Chhod), the Dev Diwali is dedicated to becoming a liberated being (Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti). It is only by realizing Shakti (main Diwali), can one become liberated into Shiva (Deva Diwali); the holy lamps during both festivals are but a capture of the resplendence of realization and liberation into Paramashiva, the Divine Ultimate.

Rejoice child mine for the Lord of all things is about to rise,

From the slumber of chaturmasa, the four months of rain;

Yet again He shall leave the solitude of the holy temples;

And come out to grace the world and its inhabitants!

O autumnal month of Kartik, blessed art thou indeed!

For thou hath been given prominence by Shiva Himself;

Named after Lord Kartikeya, and considered ever so holy;

May we cherish every passing moment within thy expanse!

Aum Namah Shivaya.
Agnideva (c) 2011. All rights reserved.

In the Union of Shiva and Shakti

On this holy night of Diwali, O Divine Mother
On this dark moonless night, O Kali
When the longitude of the Moon is one with that of the Sun
On this night before the beginning of the auspicious month of Kartik
Marks the union of Thee with Thy Beloved!
May Thou appear to us as Shiva Himself, who is but Thyself!
May Thou appear to us as Ramachandra Dasharathi, as He returns triumphant to Ayodhya
May Thou appear to us as Krishna Vasudeva, as He returns triumphant to Dwaraka
May Thou appear to us as the dwarf Vamana, the Subdoer of King Mahabali
May Thou appear to us as resplendent Lakshmi emerging from the ocean of nectar
May Thou appear to us Dhanvantari, the Healer of all ailments
May Thou appear to us Bhadrakali, the Destroyer of all things evil
O Shakti, the embodiment of Shiva, Thou are all the forms of Divine indeed
O Universal Mother, whose praises know no beginning nor end
Guide us always, always on the path of truth and of realization
For in the union of Shiva and Shakti is reality so pure and bliss eternal.

Aum Namah Shivaya.
Agnideva © 2011. All rights reserved. 

Happy Shivaratri

To all my readers and friends, a Happy and Blessed Shivaratri! May Shiva guide us all unto the path of knowledge, service to mankind, and to eventual moksha.

Aum Namah Shivaya.
Mahashivaratri 5112 (2011 CE).

Date of Maha Shivaratri

As most may be already aware, the festival of Maha Shivaratri (the great night of Shiva) is rapidly approaching. In the year 2009, Maha Shivaratri will fall on February 22 (North and South America, Pacific) or February 23 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia).

Without doubt, Maha Shivaratri is one of the greatest festivals in the Hindu calendar, and the holiest day for all Shaivites. In a given solar year, there are actually twelve (or thirteen) Shivaratris, one per lunar month. Shivaratri occurs whenever the fourteenth lunar day of the waning moon (krsna paksha chaturdashi) is in effect at midnight local time.

Of the twelve (or thirteen) Shivaratris of the year, only one is considered Maha (great) Shivaratri. Within the lifetime of anyone reading this, Maha Shivaratri will fall sometime between February 12-March 13 when the Sun is in the sidereal constellation Kumbha (Aquarius).

Per the purnimanta mode of reckoning the Hindu calendar, the lunar date of Maha Shivaratri is defined as: Phalguna Krsna Chaturdashi ~ the fourteenth lunar day in the dark half (waning moon) in the month of Phalguna. The purnimanta mode is in vogue in Northern and Central India, parts of Orissa, Nepal and among Hindus in Pakistan.

Per the amanta mode of reckoning the Hindu calendar, the lunar date of Maha Shivaratri is defined as: Magha Krsna Chaturdashi ~ the fourteenth lunar day in the dark half (waning moon) in the month of Magha. The amanta mode is in vogue in Southern, Eastern and Western India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and among Hindus in South-East Asia.

Regardless of which reckoning mode one uses, the date and time of Maha Shivaratri is exactly the same. The two reckonings are, in fact, two ways of saying the same thing. The two systems only differ in how they define lunar months - whether they go from full moon to full moon (purnimanta) or new moon to new moon (amanta). However, it must be remembered that Maha Shivaratri, like all festivals on the Hindu calendar, does not necessarily fall on the same day throughout the world. One must observe this festival according to its actual occurance in your time zone.

As was stated at the beginning of the post, in all time zones that cover North and South America and the Pacific, Maha Shivaratri is to be observed on Sunday, February 22, 2009. In all time zones that cover Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, Maha Shivaratri is to be observed on Monday, February 23, 2009. Full celebrations generally begin around 6 pm on the given date, and continue on until 6 am (or local sunrise) on the following day.

Aum Namah Shivaya.

Phalguna Krsna 5, Samvat 2065

(Plava Samvatsara, Yugabda 5110) [?]

Happy Shivaratri

I wish all the readers of this blog a very happy and blessed Shivaratri. May God Shiva's blessings and grace be you all now and forever!

Shivaratri is on March 5 in Europe and the Americas, and March 6 in Asia and Australia.

Aum Namah Shivaya.

Shiva's Muslim Devotees Carry Kanwars

Indore, Aug 12 :

As lakhs of Kanwarias, the Lord Shiva devotees, offered the holy water of River Ganges at Shiva temples in their hometowns in north India, a group of Muslims in Madhya Pradesh also offered the holy water at the Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple.

The group comprising 30 Muslims covered a distance of 80 kilometres from Sirpur to the Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple, on foot. They were accompanied by 1,200 other Hindu devotees carrying "Kanwars" or, the pots balancing on a bamboo pole to the temple.

Clad in saffron dresses, just like other Hindu brethrens, these devotees known as "Kanwarias" or, the carriers of "Kanwars", kept singing hymns and shouting "Bol Bum" in the praise of Lord Shiva.

Everyone stayed on a vegetarian diet and followed strict religious guidelines through out their pilgrimage.

Abdul Ismail Chishti, a Muslim devotee, said: "This Kanwar pilgrimage has been going out of this city for the last ten years. There are about 30 to 35 Muslims who participate in this annual pilgrimage. Nobody can differentiate (between the Hindus and the Muslims) since everyone participates with equal religious fervour. All of them greet the pilgrimage with brotherhood and peace,"

The gesture of Muslim devotees of Lord Shiva on Saturday fascinated a lot of attention of other pilgrims in the State.

Hindus in the city say the pilgrimage proved a good occasion to strengthen communal harmony here. Bholu Agnihotri, the organiser of a camp set up for the Kanwarias' stopover, said: "People from all religions participate in this pilgrimage in some way or the other. Whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs or Christians- they all serve with equal fervour."

Many Muslims in other parts of the country are known for making "Kanwars" for the Shiva devotees who carry them on shoulders, travelling long stretches to offer holy water at Shiva temples during the auspicious Monsoon month as per Hindu calendar. About eight lakh Kanwarias take on the pilgrimage during Shravan month.

Source: http://www.dailyindia.com/