From Shavam to Shivoham Part – Seventy Six

From Shavam to Shivoham

On February 23 this year falls the sacred festival of Shivarathri. This celebration has been one of the most significant events in the festival calendar of Prasanthi Nilayam, every year right from the 1950s. On many years, Bhagavan Baba, gracefully has used this occasion to offer a glimpse of His Divinity with the mysterious manifestation of the Linga from His own being. Besides this, the message that the Lord delivers to the large concourse of devotees who gather for this festival is deeply profound and revealing. Let us recapitulate one of those priceless discourses. Here is an excerpt from Bhagavan’s message delivered, nearly four decades ago, in 1969.

Though we have the Mahashivarathri once a year, we have a Shivarathri every month, dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. And, why is the rathri (the night), so important? During the dark fortnight of the month, sadhana (spiritual practice) has to be done to eliminate each day a fraction of the mind, for, every day, a fraction of the Moon too is being taken out of cognisance. On the night of chathurdhasi, the 14th day, which is the night of Shiva, only a fraction remains.

If special effort is made that night, through more intensive and vigilant spiritual practice like puja or japam or dhyana (ritual worship, or one-pointed repetition of holy names or meditation), success is ensured. Shiva alone has to be meditated upon that night without the mind straying towards thoughts of sleep or food.

This has to be done every month; once a year, on Mahaashivaraathri,a special spurt of spiritual activity is recommended, so that what is shavam (corpse) can become Shivam (God), by the perpetual awareness of its Divine Indweller.

This is a day dedicated to the Shiva that is in each of you. From the Himalayan ranges down to Cape Kanyakumari, the entire land of India resounds today to the authentic declaration “Shivoham” and to the adoration, “Om Namah Shivaaya.”

Since thousands pray here, and elsewhere in lakhs and crores, the Linga is emanating from Me, so that you may derive the Bliss that pervades the World through Lingodhbhava (emergence of the Linga).

The manifestation of the Linga is a part of My Nature. These pandits (scholars of spirituality) explain it as reminiscent of an epochal event in the past when Shiva challenged Brahma and Vishnu to gauge the height and depth of the Linga Form He assumed. They failed and had to accept defeat. But, the Linga emerges, as a result of prayer and Grace. You have to recognise in this event a glimpse of Divinity, a sign of infinite Grace.

Just as Om is the sound symbol of God, the Linga is the form symbol or the visible symbol of God, the most meaningful, simplest and the least endowed with the appendages of attributes. Lingam means, that in which this jagath (world of change) attains laya (mergence or dissolution), Leeyathe. All Forms merge in the Formless at last. Shiva is the Principle of the Destruction of all Names and Forms, of all entities and individuals. So, the Linga is the simplest sign of emergence and mergence.

Read Also: Sanctify Human Life Through the Pursuit of Sathya and Dharma part- one hundred Seven

From Shavam to Shivoham – divine wisdom for positive awakening

From Shavam to Shivoham is a profound spiritual message that explains the journey of human life from lifeless ignorance to divine awareness. “Shavam” means a body without spiritual consciousness, while “Shivoham” means “I am Shiva,” or “I am one with the Divine.” This journey is not about becoming something new from outside. It is about discovering the sacred truth already hidden within the heart.

Human beings often identify themselves only with the body, name, position, family, success, and possessions. But all these are temporary. The body changes, wealth comes and goes, praise fades, and worldly roles keep shifting. When a person lives only for these passing things, life becomes limited and restless. Spiritual wisdom teaches that our real identity is deeper than the body and greater than the mind.

From Shavam to Shivoham reminds us that a life without awareness is like a body moving without higher purpose. A person may eat, work, speak, earn, and enjoy, but if there is no love, truth, compassion, and devotion, life remains incomplete. Real life begins when the soul awakens to its divine nature and starts living with purity and purpose.

The transformation from ignorance to wisdom begins with self-inquiry. We must ask, “Who am I beyond this body? What is the purpose of this life? Why do anger, ego, fear, and desire control me?” Such questions open the door to inner awakening. When the mind turns inward sincerely, the light of truth slowly begins to shine.

From Shavam to Shivoham is also the journey from ego to surrender. Ego makes us feel separate from others and from God. It says, “I am the doer, I am superior, I must control everything.” This creates pride, fear, jealousy, and conflict. Surrender does not mean weakness. It means recognizing that divine power is the real source of strength, wisdom, and peace.

Purity is essential on this path. An impure mind cannot experience divine truth clearly. Anger, greed, hatred, lust, pride, and selfishness cover the inner light like dust on a mirror. Through prayer, meditation, good company, selfless service, and control of the senses, the mirror of the heart becomes clean. Then the presence of Shiva within can be felt more deeply.

From Shavam to Shivoham teaches that Shiva is not only a deity to be worshipped outside, but also the pure consciousness present within. Lord Shiva represents silence, detachment, wisdom, compassion, and supreme peace. When we develop these qualities in our own life, worship becomes living reality. Offering flowers is good, but offering ego, anger, and selfishness is higher worship.

This journey also requires control of the mind. The mind can either bind us or free us. When the mind runs behind every desire, it creates suffering. When it is trained through discipline and devotion, it becomes a bridge to the Divine. Meditation helps us observe thoughts without becoming their slave. Slowly, restlessness reduces and inner stillness grows.

From Shavam to Shivoham is not a path of escaping daily duties. It is a path of performing duties with divine awareness. Work becomes worship when done honestly. Family life becomes sacred when filled with love and patience. Service becomes prayer when done without pride. Every action can become spiritual when ego is removed and the result is offered to God.

The greatest obstacle in this transformation is forgetfulness of our real nature. We forget that we are divine souls and begin living like helpless beings trapped by circumstances. We allow fear to rule us, anger to burn us, and desire to drag us. Spiritual practice brings remembrance. It reminds us that the same divine consciousness that shines in saints also exists within us.

From Shavam to Shivoham also means moving from darkness to light. Darkness is ignorance, selfishness, and attachment. Light is wisdom, love, and unity. When we see others as separate, we judge and hurt. When we see the same divine presence in all, compassion arises naturally. This vision changes relationships, speech, and behavior.

Service is a powerful way to awaken Shivoham within. When we serve others, we reduce ego and expand love. Feeding the hungry, comforting the sad, helping the weak, and speaking kindly are simple actions, but they carry spiritual power. Selfless service teaches that God is present in every being.

In the end, this sacred journey is the purpose of human life. We are not born only to chase temporary pleasures and suffer endlessly. We are born to awaken, purify, love, serve, and realize the Divine within. When the heart becomes pure and the mind becomes peaceful, the truth of Shivoham is no longer a concept. It becomes direct inner experience.

From Shavam to Shivoham finally teaches that human life becomes blessed when it moves from body-consciousness to God-consciousness. The lifelessness of ignorance disappears, and the light of divine awareness rises within. Then every breath becomes sacred, every action becomes worship, and every moment becomes filled with Shiva’s eternal peace.