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Enjoy this week’s audio replay on Soundcloud – go to Pillai Center and choose the Powertime Practice Playlist.
This week we are preparing for the Maha Shivaratri powertime on the night of Friday, February 21. Sucharita gave us helpful tips and demonstrated hydrating a Shiva Linga. Maha Shivaratri, or the great night of Shiva, is a once-a-year opportunity to invoke Shiva’s Grace during his descent to the earth plane for prosperity, fulfillment of wishes, as well as the removal of sins, disease, and debts.
Here are some facts about Maha Shivaratri from Astroved.com:
There are several mythologies associated with Maha Shivaratri
- On Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva assumed the form of an infinite flaming fire (Shiva Lingam ) to put an end to the duel between Lord Brahma and Vishnu and prove Shiva’s supremacy over everyone.
- According to another legend, on Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva drank the Halahala (poison) that fell in the nectar during the event of Samudra Manthan (churning of the milky ocean) to save the universe.
- Maha Shivaratri is also observed as the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
- Another myth states that it was on Maha Shivaratri Lord Shiva beheld River Ganges in his matted hair to soften her flow down to the earth.
- The practice of nightlong vigil and worship of Lord Shiva came into practice when a tribal and an ardent devotee of Shiva named Lubhdhaka who kept awake the whole night on a tree, dropping Bilva leaves on a Shiva Lingam beneath the tree on Maha Shivaratri. This rewarded him with divine bliss.
Rituals of Maha Shivaratri
Scriptures relate that Shiva prefers being worshipped in the form of Lingam on this special day. Devotees of Shiva enjoy the heartfelt pleasure they obtain on chanting the Panchakshari (5 letter) mantra “Na Ma Si Va Ya” throughout the Maha Shivaratri pooja. While performing abishekam (hydration pooja) to the Lingam with milk, honey, butter, curd and rose water, or holy water of the Ganges you should chant this mantra.
As Bilva leaf (leaf from wood apple tree) is considered very sacred to Shiva, offering him a sprig of this leaf and chanting the verses of Bilvashtakam (hymn highlighting the importance of offering Bilva leaves to Lord Shiva) on Maha Shivaratri is considered very auspicious. Subsequently, you can offer fruits and flowers to him.
Rituals of Maha Shivaratri are performed throughout the night for every three hours from 6 PM to 6 AM and are called 4 Kalas (powertimes). If possible, keep awake throughout the night and keep your stomach empty. Some fast completely or observe a modified fast such as eating only fruit and milk.
The sound vibrations of the mantra “Na Ma Si Va Ya” are the sounds of the five elements:
- Na is a sound for the earth element
- Ma is a sound for the water element
- Si (pronounced like the English word “she”) is a sound for the fire element
- Va is a sound for the air or wind element
- Ya is a sound for the ether or causal plane
These sounds help you harmonize with all the five basic elements of nature, which constitute every matter in the universe.
The Great Night of Shiva, Pillai Center Academy course includes 4 initiations/meditations from Dr. Pillai to use during Maha Shivaratri.
Course participants are welcome to join a LIVE Maha Shivaratri vigil hosted by Sucharita from 6 pm – 6 am PST February 21-22. If you purchase or have ever purchased the Great Night of Shiva course on Pillai Center Academy you can access the call details on the course page.
Watch Dr. Pillai talk about Maha Shivaratri.
Learn about Maha Shivaratri rituals to be performed in India.
NOTE: There will be NO Powertime Practice call on Saturday, February 22.
Powertimes
11TH MOON – VISHNU WEALTH BLESSINGS
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020, 04:02 AM ET
Ekadasi is the day when Vishnu’s blessings for wealth and health are abundant. Chant Om Namo Narayanaya for Vishnu or Shreem Brzee for his consort, Lakshmi.
13TH MOON – KARMA BUSTING
Thursday Feb 20, 2020, 05:29 AM ET
The 13th Moon phase is called Pradosham, a karma-removing time. 1 1/2 hours before sunset through sunset is the most powerful time to pray to Shiva to dissolve your bad karma. Hydrate a Shivalinga by pouring water/milk/juice over it as you chant the karma busting mantra, Thiru Neela Kantam Makaral Shivayanama. Visualize blue light in your throat. Roll and break a coconut or lime(s) to remove karma.
14 MOON – GANESHA REMOVES OBSTACLES
Friday Feb 21, 2020, 06:51 AM PM ET
Ganesha is especially very powerful and present on the 4th and 14th moon phases. Call on him to remove your obstacles by chanting his mantra, Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. Roll and break a coconut or lime(s) to remove obstacles and karma.
MAHA SHIVARATRI-THE GREAT NIGHT OF SHIVA
Friday Feb 21, 2020 6:00 PM IST 12 hours live!
Dr. Pillai has said, “For me, the most important day in each year is this Night of Shiva because it’s the day that Shiva gives an opportunity for everyone to merge with his consciousness. You’ll become Shiva himself. Shiva is the God of enlightenment. Nothing else matters to him. Shiva gives an opportunity for all human beings to embrace him, which means to be enlightened on this very sacred night.”
Every Full Moon is time of incredible energy for both prosperity and enlightenment. Your spiritual practices and meditations on this day/night will be very powerful. Chant Shreem Brzee for wealth.
Coaching
If you are interested in scheduling one-to-one Personal Coaching with Sucharita, you are welcome to send a request to: sucharita@pillaicenter.com
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