Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two

Ananda (sheer bliss), is man’s real nature. But, alas, man in his ignorance and perversity, devotes all his skills, resources and time to acquisition of Ananda through his outward bound senses, rather than discover it by using the inward probing intellect and intuition. What he attains by his struggle and search is, at best, a pseudo-Ananda, a fleeting modicum of pleasure, an indistinct image visible in a murky mirror. It is not the everlasting bliss of Atma (eternal self), indiminishable by the blows of fortune, ecstasy beyond imagination. The delight one gathers from the objective world has to be continuously renewed and replenished, for it fades away soon. Therefore, man becomes a bondsman of desire, which presents before him an unending series of targets.

Man is, in truth, the Atma, which is beyond the bounds of his mind. The Atma has neither beginning nor end. The mind, the senses and the body undergo decline, or development every moment and finally disintegrate and die. Man places faith in the instruments of exploration and experience that are superficial and so, he deprives himself of the supreme Ananda, inherent in the Atma. Like the sun hidden by the clouds, embers covered by ash, the retina overlaid by cataract, the sheet of water veiled by moss, the consciousness of man is coated thick with likes and dislikes; how then can the splendour of Atma shine through?

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Man lives for a high purpose, not for submitting as the beast does to every demand of instinct and impulse. He has to install himself as the master, not crawl as a slave. He has the right to proclaim Shivoham (“I am Shiva”), “I am Achyutha” (I am the indiminishable Fullness), “I am Ananda” (I am the everlasting bliss). As soon as one becomes aware of his reality, the chains that bind him, iron as well as gold, fall off and he attains Moksha (liberation).

There are only two entities’ – The Seen, and The See-er. The See-er is Atma, the Seen is the Creation. The See-er is Conscious; The Seen is inert. So long as man is immersed in the inert and The See-er, the Witness or the Atma is neglected or negated, he cannot escape from distress and despair. The meat on the hook hanging at the end of the rod, draws the attention of the fish and tantalises it, but the fish is hooked and has to give up its life. The man who yields to the desire for sensual pleasures has to suffer the same fate. The sages knew that the ‘seen’ cannot last or provide lasting joy. They renounced the lower cravings and the transitory comforts. Thyaga (renunciation) was, for them, the genuine Yoga (path to merge with the Divine)…

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The mind is kindred to the Moon as the Eyes are to the Sun. Shivarathri is prescribed for the fourteenth night of the dark half of the month, the night previous to the New Moon when the Moon suffers from total blackout. The Moon and the mind which it rules over are drastically reduced every month on the fourteenth night. When that night is devoted to vigilant adoration of God, the remnant of the wayward mind is overcome and victory ensured. This month’s Shivarathri is holier than the rest and so, it is called Mahashivarathri.

With firm faith and a cleansed heart, the night should be spent in glorifying God. No moment should be wasted in other thoughts. Time flees fast. Like a block of ice, it melts soon and flows away; like water held in a leaky pot, it disappears drop by drop. The time allotted for one’s life ticks off quite soon, and the span ends sometime somehow. So, be vigilant. Be warned. Be alert and aware. Seek the shelter of the Lord and transform every moment into a sacred celebration.

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Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two – A sacred night of devotion and inner awakening

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two is a deeply spiritual theme that reminds us of the sacred power of night, silence, prayer, and surrender. Sivaratri is not only a festival observed through rituals and fasting; it is a divine opportunity to turn inward, purify the mind, and remember Lord Shiva with love and discipline. This holy night teaches that darkness outside can become light inside when the heart is filled with devotion.

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two shows that true worship is not limited to offering flowers, lighting lamps, or chanting mantras. These practices are beautiful when performed with sincerity, but the real purpose is inner transformation. A devotee should use this night to remove anger, ego, jealousy, greed, and selfishness from the heart. When these inner impurities reduce, divine peace begins to shine.

The word Shiva itself suggests auspiciousness, purity, and goodness. Lord Shiva represents silence, detachment, compassion, and supreme awareness. He sits in deep meditation, showing humanity that real strength comes from inner stillness. Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two reminds us that the mind must become calm before it can feel God deeply. A restless mind cannot taste the sweetness of devotion.

Fasting on Sivaratri also has a deeper meaning. It is not only about avoiding food. It is about controlling the senses and reducing dependence on outer pleasures. The tongue wants taste, the eyes want attraction, the ears want praise, and the mind wants comfort. Through fasting and prayer, the devotee learns self-control. This discipline makes the heart lighter and the mind more focused on God.

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two also teaches the importance of staying awake. The outer practice of night vigil carries an inner message: do not sleep in ignorance. Many people live without awareness, running after temporary desires and forgetting the purpose of life. Sivaratri calls the seeker to awaken from laziness, attachment, and ego. Spiritual wakefulness means living with truth, love, service, and remembrance of God.

The offering of water, milk, bilva leaves, and prayers to the Shiva Lingam also has symbolic meaning. The Lingam represents the formless Divine in a sacred form. It points toward the truth that God is beyond name, shape, and limitation. Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two inspires devotees to move beyond outer identity and feel the divine presence within the heart.

This sacred night also teaches goodness in daily life. A person cannot worship Shiva sincerely and then live with harshness, dishonesty, and selfishness. The real offering to God is pure conduct. Speak truthfully, act kindly, help the needy, control anger, respect elders, and avoid hurting others. When goodness enters behavior, worship becomes complete.

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two reminds us that godliness is not far away. It is expressed through compassion, patience, forgiveness, humility, and service. A person becomes godly not by outer appearance, but by inner purity. When the heart becomes soft and the mind becomes disciplined, divine qualities begin to appear naturally in daily life.

Prayer on this night has special value because silence and devotion make the heart receptive. Repeating the name of Shiva, singing bhajans, reading sacred teachings, or sitting quietly in meditation can bring deep peace. Even a simple prayer offered with love can become powerful. God listens to sincerity, not decoration. A humble heart reaches the Divine more quickly than a proud mind full of words.

Sivaratri also teaches surrender. Life does not always move according to personal wishes. There are delays, failures, illness, losses, and painful moments. Lord Shiva’s example teaches calmness in all situations. The devotee should perform duty sincerely and leave the result to divine wisdom. Surrender does not make a person weak; it makes the heart peaceful and strong.

Sivaratri -Holiest Night of Goodness and Godliness Part – fifty Two is also a reminder that the highest spiritual journey is from darkness to light. The darkness of ignorance must become the light of wisdom. The darkness of ego must become the light of humility. The darkness of selfishness must become the light of service. The darkness of fear must become the light of faith.

In the end, Sivaratri is not only one night in the year. Its message should continue every day. If a devotee becomes more truthful, peaceful, loving, disciplined, and devoted after observing this holy night, then the worship has become successful. The real Sivaratri happens when the heart becomes pure, the mind becomes calm, and life becomes an offering to God.