Nourishment for the Soul
Snigdha
Delhi-NCR
Hari Aum!
Prostration at the Holy feet of Guru Maa and Sree Guru Parampara. This is because of the Supreme grace of Gurus that we, the study circle members of SISS celebrate Maha Shivratri with great enthusiasm every year in the holy premises of SISS.
We started our puja this year on 18-02-23 by welcoming our pujya Maa ji with Purna Kumbh. After taking the blessings of Sree Ishwar, we started the puja with holy sermon from our respected Maa.
In the beginning of the Shodashaupchaar puja, Maa ji explained the significance of Maha Shivaratri. Mata explained, the ‘Shiv’ aspect in each of us, is the “Conscious Principle”, the “Auspiciousness” in each of us. If we remove Consciousness from us, what remains is dead matter, which is shav. Our Rishis have introduced Maha Shivratri puja to make us conscious of our Consciousness, the True Self within us. Our ego is the inert matter and it blocks the way to the Divinity. We must focus on the puja of Lord Shiv so that we invoke the Auspiciousness in us, leaving behind the material envelopment around us.
As an offering each of us explained the glory of the Divine, by chanting Sree Kashi Vishwanath Stotram as Rajopachaar. Lord Shiv represents the effulgent Self in me which is Non-dual, Nirguna and Nishkala i.e. undivided. The acknowledgement of Divinity is not possible without the presence of “pure intellect”, symbolised by Mata Parvati seated left to the Lord, as His consort.
His locks are adorned by beautiful Ganga, Which represents the flow of Spiritual knowledge. It is the pure intellect well connected with my True Self, (the Shivatwa) which will guide me to understand the pure knowledge i.e. Mother Ganga. By imbibing Shivatwa, I will be free from negativity, falsehood, desires, attachment and aversions.
I pray to the Lord to bestow the ‘third eye’, the eye of wisdom to come out of my ignorance and be with my True self which is ever Blissful.
Gratitude at the feet of Guru Maa for guiding us in our Spiritual endeavour. My sincere thanks to Sri. Chaitanya Ji for his relentless effort to put us on the right path.
Hari Aum!