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Re: [Q] Significance of Shivarathri
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: [Q] Significance of Shivarathri
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From: Eswar Josyula <76142.1306@CompuServe.COM>
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Date: 9 Feb 1995 23:37:01 GMT
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From news@mhadf.production.compuserve.com Thu Feb 9 18: 27:12 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: via CompuServe Information Service
The eve of every newmoon night is a an auspicious night for Lord Siva
and is a Sivaratri. The new moon night in the vedic month of Magha,
however, is more special because Lord Siva performs the Cosmic dance
of creation, preservation and destruction, and hence, is known as
Mahasivaratri. This year it falls on February 27.
The temples perform Rudra Abhisekham starting in the evening and
all throught the night for four times. Devotees fast all day and the
night of Mahasivaratri and break the fast the next day morning. Friends
gather together and sing praises or bhajans of Lord Siva. Some take
the opportunity to chant the mantra "om namah Sivayya" all night.
It is also common to congregate at the nearby Siva temple and pour water
on the Lingam. Many women worship Siva for the welfare of their husbands
and the unmarried women make offerings in the hope of getting a good
husband.
There are probably many more ways of celebrating the occasion...
-Eswar Josyula
