Significance of Shivaratri
This is the month of the holy festival of Shivarathri which falls on 26th of February this year. Let’s recapitulate Swami’s message given on this holy day a decade ago, in 1996.
The cosmic process shrishti (creation), sthithi (sustenance) and layam (dissolution) goes on in every human being. Creation is the outcome of sankalpa (or thought). Sthithi is protection of creation. Layam is the merger of creation in its source. Srishti, Sthithi and Layam are also identified with the three qualities – Sathva, Rajas and Thamas…The three gunas (or qualities) represent the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara). The Trinity represent the Thrilokas (three Worlds). The three worlds and the Trinity are present in every human being. The three are to be regarded as one and worshipped as Shivam. What is Shivam? It is the embodiment of Auspiciousness. When man recognizes the unified form of the Trinity his humanness acquires auspiciousness.
There is a misunderstanding about these three. Layam is considered as destruction or dissolution. Its real meaning is mergence. ‘O’ represents organization. It means protection. ‘G’ stands for generation (creation). Brahma, Vishnu and Eeshvara are three potencies lmmanent in man. To understand this it is essential to follow the spiritual path. Spirituality does not mean leading a lonely ascetic life. Spirituality means getting rid of attachment and hatred and looking upon the whole humanity as one. Everyone should understand this inner meaning of spirituality.
Auspiciousness consists in diverting the mind towards God. This calls for getting rid of the inherited animal tendencies in man. This is the occasion to recognise the omnipresence of the Divine in all beings and in all objects. It follows that whomsoever you adore or condemn, you are adoring or condemning God. You must follow the injunction: Help ever, hurt never.
Every human being has sacred qualities, based on his Shivathvam (Divine essence). Hence man should realise his inherent divinity, though his body is made up of the five elements. Thereby humanness is transformed into divinity. The human birth is intended for the pursuit of Dharma. Dharma implies harmony in thought, word and deed. When every person realises his essential divine nature, the entire world will be transformed. The body and the mind are mere instruments. Man’s reality is the Aathma (Self). Man should use the instruments given to him to perform his duties well and realise his oneness with God.
All the phenomena in Nature proclaim the glory of the Divine. Why foster religious differences? Let everyone carry out the dictates of the Divine, who governs the universe. Everything that happens is by the Will of God. The principle teaching of the Vedhas is that all men should strive together in harmony and share their joys together in amity. Through unity, humanity can achieve purity, leading to divinity. The three great enemies of man are lust, anger and greed. These have to be eliminated. The greatest quality in man is love. Love is God. Live in love.
