Mahā Sivarātri, the only Hindu festival that spans an entire
day and night, is not only a day of festival but also a day of contemplation
with many serious observers of the festival choosing to fast and desist from
speaking for the entire period. Lord Siva
is the role model for ascetics, symbolizing the commitment to austere life and
self-discipline. Unlike the typical Hindu festivals that are extremely celebratory,
Sivarātri is an unique festival that calls for moderation, withdrawal and
introspection.
The Siva Linga is the
one of the most misunderstood icon of Hindu religion with many mistaking it as
phallus worship. The literal translation the Sānskrit word linga is ‘sign’. The linga is in fact a physical
representation of the ‘thump-sized
indweller who resides all the time in the innermost cave of heart of all people’
(“angushta mātra purushontharātmā sadā janānām hridaye sannivishta” – Kathopanishad)
. The linga is dark denoting its hidden
nature starting from a single point and expanding downward just like this
universe from the singularity of big bang. It is also the sign of divinity that
is present in every single human being.
Lord Siva is the destroyer, a bringer of death and an icon
of ferocious anger. How is that he has
come to be an idol of worship? Apart
from the Purāna story of Lord Siva saving the world from the poison of kālakuda,
we should also search into the Upanishads to understand the height of Siva’s
stature. In the Kathopanishad, as the God of Death, Lord Yama, concludes his
first set of instructions to Nachiketas, he says this:
“yasya brahma ća kshatram ća ubhe bhavata odana
mruthyur yasyopasećanam
ka itthā veda yatra sa”
“Who then can know where is this (mighty self) for whom
knowledge and effort are the main courses of food and death the condiment (pickle)”
There are three identifications of the self that we use to
define our own selves. They are, ‘I know’,
‘I do’ and ‘I am’. Everything else that we consider to be us are built on these
three fundamental identifications. Of these, knowledge and effort brings to the
soul experiences which are like food that is savored to nourish the soul
through experiences
To understand the symbolism used here for death, we need to dwell little into the Indian style of eating. A spicy pickle is generally
served along with the main courses of food in the platter. The eater takes a
break from eating the main course by taking a little of this pickle and places
it on the tongue to invigorate the taste bud and increase the appetite. It is
this spicy pickle that is indicated here to represent death. Death is a
temporary break to the soul’s consumption of knowledge and effort, accelerating
its aptitude for more experiences. And, death is a redefinition of all
identifications arising from ‘I am’
Moksha or the final release is the ending of all the three
identifications mentioned above which are bondages for the soul. Therefore, we
pray to Lord Siva for Moksha with this powerful mantra known as the Mruthyunjaya
mantra (mantra for winning over death)
“thryambakam yajāmahe sugandhim pushti vardanam
urvārukamiva bandhanāt mruthyormuksheeya māmrutāt”
“I worship the thryambaka (that removes the three
identifications) which is fragrant and nourishing (restoring my
divine nature and strength). Release me from the bondage of death just as a
melon is removed from the creeper”
The identifications ‘I know’, ‘I do’ and ‘I am’ has only
made us weak, subjecting to the joys and sorrows of the world. Lord Siva, who
is the destroyer of these three identifications using his bow thryambaka is the
solace to remove these identification as painless as a ripe melon falling off
of the creeper of Samsāra (the world experience)
This is my contemplation for this Mahā Sivarātri.
Felicitations to you all on your spiritual journey
