According to Hinduism, Mahashivarathiri takes place in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. It is believed that on this particular night Lord Shiva performs his heavenly dance. Lord Shiva dances throughout the night on this day to dispel darkness and ignorance from the world.
According to the Hindu lunar calendar Shivarathiri takes place every month on the day before the new moon. But the Mahashivarathiri is considered as the holiest festival by Hindus all over the world. It falls at the end of the winter season and at the beginning of the summer season. According to the North Indian Hindu calendar it falls in the month of Phalguna. However, according to the South Indian Hindu calendar the same month is called Magha. It is observed on the Charusti Thithi and Krishna Paksha.
Lord Shiva is widely regarded as the supreme God in the Hindu pantheon. The word ‘Shiva’ itself means ‘auspicious’ in Sanskrit. Within the Hindu concept, Shiva is the creator, preserver and destroyer symbolising the unending cyclical process of creation and destruction. Lord Shiva’s body is adorned with the ashes from the cremation ground.
After cremation, the human body is reduced to ash which is considered a pure form devoid of all worldly sins and evils (Hasthi). It is mentioned in the holy song of Sri Gnana Sampanthar’s Devaram, “Thodudaiya Sevi En Vedai eriyan Thuven Mathi Soodi; Kaadudaiya Sudalai Podi Poosi en ullam kavar Kalven.”
Holy ash
The holy ash is known as ‘Vibhuthi’ and is prepared by burning the dung of the Holy Cow or ‘Komatha’. It cures all kinds of fears and sins and is thus regarded as a great gift to the Shivaists. Vibhuthi is the Sanskrit term for what is referred to as the Thiru Neeru and represents the image of love of the Goddess Parasakthi. Shiva devotees wear the Vibhudhi mainly on their forehead because thoughts generate from the head. When it is worn on the chest it implies that the feelings come from the heart. Shiva devotees while wearing Vibhuthi repeat the words ‘Shiva Shiva’ to reveal the importance of Shivan and Shakthi together in the form of the holy ash just as how ghee is merged with curd.
The philosophy of Lord Shiva is generally known as Saiva philosophy. According to Saiva philosophy, the whole universe obeys the rule of God and everything takes place according to the divine rule. Another praiseworthy fact is that Shivaism regards various other religious forms of the ladder. The top most of it reaches the feet of God and eternal bliss. Shivaism belief indicates that all the Vedas (scripts) and Agama Sastras are given to the universe by Lord Shiva himself.
Dr. G.U. Pope in his famed Thiruvasakam translation describes Lord Shiva. He says, “He is the first and only God having one sacred face and three eyes which are the glowing splendour of the sun, the moon and the God of Fire. His crescent matted hair is crowned with the Ganges, the crescent moon and the Kondari (cassisa) garland.
His sacred ears are adorned with the earrings of conch shell and flower petals. His thought is black with the poison crescent churned out from the milky sea. His sacred hands grasp an antelope and an axe that give the sign of safety and the assurance of gifts and grace. His body, ruddy like coral, is besmeared with sacred ashes. His breast is adorned with sacred white thread and necklaces consisting of bones.
He has girded himself with the tiger skin. His waist is resplendent with dagger and girdle.
His feet are like red roses, lotus flowers, tinkle with the heroic anklets and sounding bells. Such is the body that he wears as Sri Kandar. He sits on the silver hill of Kailasam whose innumerable white peaks are adorned with diverse jewels.”
Among the Trimoorthy or Trinity (three main Gods), Lord Shiva is considered the supreme God who acts in accordance with the universal cyclical creation and destruction. Lord Brahma is for creation and Lord Maha Vishnu is the protector. It is a belief that Lord Shiva is the creator, preserver and destroyer. In performing three functions he takes the form of Lord Brahma and Vishnu. This is the reason for installing Lord Mula Moorthy (supreme Moorthy).
The late great scholar Rev. S. Gnana Prakasar in his book Philosophical Saivaism mentions that Lord Shiva is a composite personality. It is generally believed that even the functions of Lord Bhrama and Lord Vishnu are performed by Lord Shiva.
The Hindu religion is divided into three major branches such as Saivam or Shaivam (a branch based on Lord Shiva), Shaktism (another branch based on Goddess Shakti) and Vaishnavam (based on Lord Maha Vishnu). The term Shaivam or Saivam is often named as “Shivam”, followers of Lord Shiva.
Holy weapon
Often Lord Shiva is represented at Hindu temples in the form of his holy weapon called Trishul, holy drum Uddukku (Dumbru) or Shiva Lingam.
The Trishul or Trident represents the three important factors of life such as knowledge, desire and implementation of acts. Uddukku (Dumbru) symbolises the sacred verses of holy scripts which guide the living beings of the world. According to Tirumanthiram of Saint Thirumulanar, the Creator formed the world out of the sound of Uddukku (Dumbru).
Tirumanthiram says, ‘Thoram thudithaniel’. Lord Shiva wears Serpent around the neck as an ornament which symbolises the egoism which reveals that Lord controls the ego of the humans.
The Ruthra bead garlands around the neck signify the purity of the world. Similarly, Ruthra garland in his right hand reveals the concentration power of the Lord, while the river Ganga and crescent moon adorn his head.
The river Ganga implies the fountain of knowledge and wisdom which passes from generation to generation. The crescent moon symbolises the cycle of creation and destruction. The middle eye in the forehead of the Lord reveals that the Lord is the destroyer of evil and sins, while the tiger skin worn indicates his fearlessness.
The dancing deity of Lord Shiva is called Lord Nataraja who is manifested in 108 Thandava Karanas. That is why Lord Shiva is often referred to as Thandava Moorthy. The figure of Lord Shiva in Arthanareeswar form (half Lord Shiva and half Parvati) implies half Shiva and half Parvathi together in one.
Lord Shiva is also known as Maha Deva (Great Lord). The Sanskrit term Eshwar means “God”. So, Lord Shiva is frequently known as Maheswar. Another name of Lord Shiva is Paramporul or Parameshwar.
The term ‘Param’ means universe. Various Puranas, Idihas, Ahama shastras and poetry define Lord Shiva in numerous forms. The term Sarveshwar is also another important name for Lord Shiva. Sarvam means the whole world.
Eshwar means the supreme power or almighty or God. So, in the true sense, the supreme power controls the universe. Another important name of Lord Shiva is Someshwar. He is recognised by holding the “Crescent” form of the moon. Chandra means moon, while Shekkar means owner or wearer.
Lord Shiva is known as Lord Rudramoorthy whose forms are always represented with Agni Deva. Lord Nataraj holds the Agni Dev (God of Fire) on his left palm while the Omkar form (aggressive) of Rudra has a “Jyoti Suvalai” around his Jadhai (hair).
Thirukoneshwaram, Thirukeethiswaram, Naguleshwaram and Munneswaram are some of the outstanding Shiva temples in Sri Lanka.