MAHASHIVARATRI 2012

Maha Sivarathri 2012

This year's Maha Sivarathri falls on 20th February 2012, the day before the Amavasya.    The four Jamams of that night will comprise the rathri for observation of the Vratha to be awake and pray Lord Siva.     It is considered very appropriate to do Abhisekams to Lingam in house with milk, curd, butter and honey in that order for the four Jamams.     Apart from being awake on that night, performing abhishekams, Prayers by singing hymns of Siva and with Mantras Shiva Panchakshari - Om Namachivaya, Siva Shakthi   Panchakshari - Om Hrim Namachivaya and Mruthunjaya Mantra are considered the best way to get the blessings of Lord Siva.      Mruthunjaya Mantra:
Om trayambakama Yajamahe
Suganthim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanat
Mrutyor Mukshiya Mamrutat


The Shiva Gayatri Mantra, and Astothram and Sahasranamam are also mantras chanted during the Vratha.    The Gayathri Mantra is given below:
Om tatpurushaya Vidhmahe
Mahadevaya Vidmahi
Tanno Rudra Prachodayat

 


Fasting from the evening till the next morning is observed normally on this day.   The legend has it that on this day, when offered prayers unintentionally to Lord Siva fetches the blessings of Shiva as he gets pleased on the prayers offered on this day.   Thus the story of King Chitrbanu is narrated in connection with this.   King Chitrabanu of Ikshvahu Dynasty ruled Jambudweepa was observing fast on a Siva rathri day when Sage Ashtavakra came to meet the king.    The sage asked the King on the purpose of the fast.   The king said he had the gift of knowing about his previous birth and that he was a hunter born in Varanasi with the name Suswara, in the previous birth.  While hunting in the forest one day, it was late for him to return home and hence took shelter in a tree.   He climbed the tree with the deer he had killed.   The tree was a Bael  (Vilvam) and even as he was sitting on the tree, he felt sorry for his wife and children who were awaiting for the food.   As he was overcoming with the emotions, he was also plucking the vilva leaves and dropping them to pass the night.  In the morning, he went with the deer and sold it and bought food for his family.   When he was about to break his fast, a stranger came asked for food and he first offered food for the stranger and then took food.    At the time of death, two messengers of Lord Shiva appeared and took his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva and he learnt from them that the prayers offered unconciously on the day when he was in the forest was the reason for this.    A shiva linga was beneath the Bael tree and as he shed tears thinking the family, this fell on the siva linga and washed it.    The Bilva leaves he plucked and dropped fell on the linga thus Vilva leaves had been offered as prayers that night.    He had also been not taking any food sitting over the tree and thus observed a fast on that night.   Thus he had worshipped Lord Shiva that night unconsciously that had merited him to be taken to the abode of Lord Shiva.    Thus the hunter Suswa had enjoyed bliss for long ages to be reborn as Chitrabanu.  Thus narrated Chitrabanu to Sage Ashtavakra.   Bhisma, while resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma referred to this stroy.
Vilvastogam:

Vallalar's Tamil song:   Mandiram Avadhu Neeru:



மந்திரம் ஆவது நீறு; வானவர் மேலது நீறு;
சுந்தரம் ஆவது நீறு; துதிக்கப் படுவது நீறு;
தந்திரம் ஆவது நீறு; சமயத்தில் உள்ளது நீறு;
செந்துவர் வாய் உமை பங்கன், திரு ஆலவாயான் திருநீறே.

வேதத்தில் உள்ளது நீறு; வெந்துயர் தீர்ப்பது நீறு;
போதம் தருவது நீறு; புன்மை தவிர்ப்பது நீறு;
ஓதத் தகுவது நீறு; உண்மையில் உள்ளது நீறு;
சீதப் புனல் வயல் சூழ்ந்த திரு ஆலவாயான் திருநீறே.