Devotees were enthralled not only by the captivating offerings to the Lord from our talented guest artists but also by the devotional outpourings that were prevalent from the beginning until the conclusion of Mahasivaratri. At Sivanandashram Reservoir Hills over 150 people kept vigil throughout the night. At the last quarter, the noticeable enthusiasm and devotion as devotees walked around Ganga Rani and vibrantly chanted the Om Nama Sivaya Mantra even at that early part of the morning, was indeed heart-warming.
Mahasivaratri at Sivanandashram Reservoir Hills
About Mahasivaratri our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda wrote, "The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality of passionate activity), and Tamas (that of inertia). The Sivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas, are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant control is exercised over the mind. Every three hours a round of worship of the Siva Lingam is conducted. Sivaratri is a perfect Vrata. Lord Siva assured Parvati as follows: 'There is no ritual, O Parvati, which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity.'"
Another inspiring message was taken from the Akshara Mana Malai, dedicated to Lord Siva and which is an inspired poetical composition by Sri Ramana Maharishi. One of its most evocative verses celebrates the death of the ego:
"Arunachala! I came to you with the intention of making you mine. But instead it
was you who consumed me. You swallowed my ego. You consumed my individuality
and absorbed me into yourself. "Now there is peace. He who came to feast on you became
a feast for you. "The eater and the eaten have merged into one. "There is no duality
any longer. "I have lost my individuality, my ego, and my body consciousness and have
attained inseparable eternal union with the Self. I have no further desires"
Our Master wrote the following about the inner significance of Mahasivaratri, "Offer this inner worship to Lord Siva daily. 'I worship the jewel of my Self, the Siva residing in the lotus of my heart. I bathe Him with the water of my pure mind, brought from the river of devotion and faith. I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of Samadhi—all this in order that I may not be born again in this world.'"
