MahashivaratriMahashivaratriVSNE – 2009 VSNE – 2009 CelebrationsCelebrationsBy Tushar GaddiBy Tushar Gaddi

MahaShivaratri• Sharanu Sharanarthi,• Wish you all a very Happy

MahaShivaratri 2009 !

Kids and Questions• Kids!! and Questions ?? Does kids

ask questions ? Well, yes…• Just like all kids, I have always

wondered what, why, how and where of all things. Believe it or not “MahaShivarathri” is one of them.

Kids and Questions!• I would like to share my

findings on –What is MahaShivarathri ?–Why is MahaShivarathri ?–How is MahaShivarathri ?–Where is MahaShivarathri ?

What is MahaShivarathri?

• Did you know that “Shivarathri” occurs every month ?

• “Shivarathri” – “The night of Shiva” is the night before and the day of the new moon.

What is MahaShivarathri?

• “MahaShivarathri” - “Great Night of Shiva” - is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar

Why MahaShivarathri ?

• 1. During the samudra-manthana (the churning of the ocean) by the Gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a poison, came out of the ocean. At this time, the gods approached Lord Shiva and prayed to him to protect their lives by consuming this poison.

Why MahaShivarathri?• Pleased with their prayers, out of

compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison and held it in his throat by binding it with a snake. The throat became blue due to the poison (thus Lord Shiva is also known as Neelakantha) and Shiva remained unharmed. This days marks that event.

Why MahaShivarathri ?

• 2. Shiva's Favourite Day• After creation was complete,

Parvati asked Lord Shiva which rituals pleased him the most. The Lord replied that the 13th night of the new moon, during the month of Maagha, is his most favourite day.

Why MahaShivarathri?•Parvati repeated these words

to her friends, from whom the word spread over all creation.

Why MahaShivarathri ?

Because I like • different kind of Tambittu, • Sweet Potato• Palahaara• HoLige• Just kidding

How is MahaShivaratri?

• Shivaratri is celebrated by worshipping Lord Shiva

• Fasting – How many in here did your fasting on the day of Shivaratri ?

• IshtaLinga Puje• Jaagarane – Any one again ?

What did I do ?• I hear someone from the back asking

me what I did on Maha Shivaratri ?• Along with the family, we went to the

Temple• Did Linga Puje together at night.• Postponed Fasting and Jagarne for

next year!

Where is MahaShivarathri?

• Shiva is in all of us. • As we wear Ishtalinga, we

celebrate MahaShivaratri along with Shiva, wherever we are!

• Om Namah Shivaya

Trivia Question - 1• Who is known as “Triambaka” ?

Trivia Answer - 1• Shiva with his third eye is known

as “Triambaka”

Trivia Question - 2• Who is known as “Adi Yogi” ?

Trivia Answer - 2• Shiva, is also knows as “Adi Yogi”

or “First Yogi”

Trivia Question - 3• What is name of the leaves offered

to Shiva during the puje ?

Trivia Answer - 3• Beal Leaves (Bilva Patre)

Trivia Question - 4• Can you eat multiple meals and do

fasting on the same day ?• Isn’t this interesting ?

Trivia Answer - 4• Well, you can do this if you decide

to “fast until your next meal” !

Thanks• Thanks for listening• Om Namah Shivaya