Maha Shivratri or Shiva Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals celebrated among Hindus around the world. Shivratri is composed of two words: Shiv means “benefactor” and ratri means “night”.
In today’s world, the birth of any human being is celebrated as the birth “day,” even if the time of birth of the baby is in the middle of the night. However, God Shiva’s birth is remembered as birth “night,” and is observed as a time of transformation. The deep spiritual significance of Shivratri focuses on the time that God descends on earth.
Even though it is referred to as “night,” it is actually a transitional time of day and night, commonly called the “dawn”. This “dawn” is understood as the meeting of two ages, “Kaliyug” (Iron or age of ignorance), and “Satyug” (Golden or age of truth). On the one hand, this time is described as one of extreme darkness when the state of the world is very critical, and on the other hand, it is an auspicious time when a new world order emerges. The fast observed on Shivratri also signifies that one is sacrificing all earthly pleasures.
There is also a lot of misunderstanding about the third eye of God Shiva that if it is opened it results in destruction of the whole world. However, the real implication is that this “Third Eye of Knowledge” or the divine eye of Kaliyug human beings, is opened by God Shiva to destroy all evil in the universe, which is a welcome act and a blessing to the creation. When the third eye opens up, our thinking changes, light comes into our life and we see the real self and others with total clarity with a newfound vision. There is a true feeling that everyone is good and very intimate with no duality.
Why is so much importance given to the observance of jagaran (stay awake the whole night) during Shivratri?
Shiva is the source of light to remove the darkness, that is to say to destroy all evils and bring prosperity to the world. The significance of keeping awake at night is to impress on one’s mind that one is not a body alone but a soul seeking salvation from the world of suffering. There is a very famous shloka (verse) in the Bhagwad Gita: “Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhawati bharat, abhyuthannam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham.”
The literal meaning is, “Whenever there is decay of righteousness, and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth; for the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, and for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.” Looking at the deteriorating conditions in all sectors of society around the world, we can easily appreciate that “the time” has come when God’s intervention is necessary to bring about a transformation in this world.
If Shivratri is the time that this intervention takes place and God Shiva is already on earth performing the dance of creation, sustenance, and destruction, then how do we human beings recognise the presence of God and the subtle dynamic of changes that are happening as a result? Do we recognise this as the outpouring of books on the subjects of mindfulness, peace of mind, purity of intentions, unconditional love, and gross national happiness?
Do we recognise this as a call to mitigate our carbon footprint by changing our lifestyle and diet and re-establishing a relationship of regard with Mother Nature? As promised, God has now descended from His Supreme Abode at the end of Kaliyug and is performing a divine dance of world transformation through the subtle acts of the Trinity – Brahma (creation), Vishnu (sustenance) and Shankar (destruction). As God Himself is incorporeal and does not have a physical or subtle form, He uses a human being to impart the spiritual teachings. The Brahma Kumaris teach and study these spiritual teachings as the study of Raja Yoga. The teachings were imparted through Prajapita Brahma. The study and practice of Raja Yoga is a process of the opening of the third eye. There is a saying that when the third eye of Shiva opens, then all impurities in the world are burnt into ashes. Something similar to the phoenix rising from the ashes to liberation in life.
The third eye is the awakening of divine insight which God Shiva imparts through knowledge to the souls and restores them to their original divinity and self-sovereignty. The method of practice is “Manmanabhav,” which means to be in the remembrance of only One. When this practice is truly imbibed, it cleanses the soul and liberates it from sins, negativities, and impurities.
This practice is called a purification process. Shiva, the Supreme Soul, fills the intellects of souls with the treasures of wisdom, spiritual power, and divine virtues. But for the intellect to hold God’s treasures, it is required to be like a golden vessel. It needs to develop “preet,” love for the Truth.
So, God Shiva begins the process of purification by showering unlimited love on souls so that they can cultivate all relationships with Him, but in particular the relationships of Father, Teacher, and Satguru (Supreme Guide). Savouring the spiritual attainments experienced in being in relationship with God, the soul realises the most important lesson that is vital to this time: “Consider the self to be a soul, seated in the centre of the forehead, and remember only God, the Supreme Soul, the Purifier, the Remover of Sorrow and Bestower of Happiness.”
