|
All are invited to celebrate Sivaratri,
the Night of Siva, one of the most auspicious events of the year
in the Hindu calendar.
It is said that Lord Siva protects the
world throughout the year but this is his one night to rest.
It is our duty to watch over the world for him. This all night
vigil with continuous chanting of the names of Siva, Lord of
Yogis, will tune your mind to the highest spiritual
vibrations.
The
Legend of the Hunter
Once a hunter while chasing a
deer wandered into a dense forest and found himself on the banks
of river Kolidum when he heard the growl of a tiger. To protect
himself from the beast he climbed up a tree nearby. The tiger
pitched itself on the ground below the tree fostering no
intention to leave. The hunter stayed up in the tree all night
and to keep himself from falling asleep, he gently plucked one
leaf after another from the tree and threw it down. Under the
tree was a Shiva Linga and the tree blessedly turned out
to be a bilva tree. Unknowingly the man had pleased the
deity with bilva leaves. At sunrise, the hunter looked
down to find the tiger gone, and in its place stood Lord Shiva.
He prostrated before the Lord and attained salvation from the
cycle of birth and death.
Stay for the first puja (devotional
worship), which begins at 10:00pm or all through the night.
Offerings of fruits, sweets and
flowers are welcome. The festival of Sivaratri will end with a
feast at dawn.
Please contact
us here at the Center if you have any further questions.
|