Today is one of the most beautiful constellations and beautiful days in the year. Every day is beautiful but today is special. Today Lord Shiva is celebrated, adored and worshipped throughout the whole world, where millions upon millions meditate upon him and repeat his name. Today is Shivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva! In every Shiva temple in the world they will perform abhisheka throughout the night – millions of people are reciting Lord Shiva’s name, fasting all day and in the morning they shall break their fast. Why fast? When you fast, your energy is balanced and it is also a kind of austerity, purification of consciousness, with control over the senses to balance your intellect and emotions. More spiritual energy develops in your heart and consciousness when you fast. Each atom in our body and on this planet vibrates today with the energy of Lord Shiva.
Who is Shiva? Shiva is known as Svayambhu. No one created him, he manifested himself. He was the first creative consciousness in Anant Brahmand, the endless universe. This endless universe we compare with the body of the mother whom we call the Cosmic Mother, and within her that cosmic consciousness resides - it is not dormant, it is residing - like an embryo in the body of the human mother. Within this endless universe the reasonance awakes – Nada– the sound. That sound is known as OM and that sound still resonates in the entire universe, not only on our planet. Each blood cell still resonates immensely with this manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Awakening of the cosmic consciousness is the manifestation of Shiva – I am one and now I will multiply. Out of his consciousness, thousands of sun systems, stars and planets, visible and invisible elements are created. Shiva was, is and will be. Shiva means consciousness, pure and crystal clear. Shiva means the beauty and Shiva means the Truth. Shiva means the liberator. Shiva means moksha. Shiva is above the trinity. First is Shiva, the entire universe is a manifestation of his form, represented in the Shiva Lingam. Shiva is considered one of the most merciful Gods, with a little prayer he will be pleased and will fulfil all wishes.
Once there was a hunter who went to hunt but didn’t find anything to hunt. It was time of the sunset and he was in the dark jungle far from home, surrounded by the dark and wildlife. To protect himself from the wild animals he climbed up a tree and sat between two tree branches to spend the night. So that sleep would not overcome him, he picked a leaf from the tree and dropped it to the ground and in order to remain awake and alert he continued to pick one leaf and drop it to the ground. Unknown to him, beneath the tree was a monument of Lord Shiva, the Lingam.
At the time of the morning dawn, Lord Shiva appeared as he was so pleased that the whole night his devotee remained awake and adorned the Lingam with leaves of the tree. He asked ‘My son, what is your wish’. ‘Who are you asked the hunter?’ ‘I am here to bless you because you worshipped me with the leaves of the tree’ said Shiva. ‘I did not know. I am a sinner, a hunter, I kill poor animals, how can you bless me?’ Shiva replied, ‘That I don’t see, I only see that the entire night you were worshipping me and for that you will come to the universal consciousness of Lord Shiva’.
Today everyone is worshipping Lord Shiva. Bhakti is devotion. Only that pure love can liberate you. Otherwise there is suffering and I prayer to merciful Lord Shiva to bless you with good health. Health is not everything but everything is nothing without health, therefore the first blessing is good health.
Om Namah Shivaya!
When you awake in the morning sing Om Namaha Shivaya five times and then drink your coffee. Sing the Mahamrityu Jaya mantra under the shower. When you leave your house, repeat this mantra loudly, mentally and in your own melody. This mantra is for victory over death and protection against bad things such as accidents, negative energy, negative society and unpleasant situations. The Mahamrityu Jaya mantra is one of the best mantras.
The King of the death is called Yam Raja and for death it doesn’t matter how you die, if it’s in the fire, in the water, falling down, accident, illness – doesn’t matter. For death it doesn’t matter how much you suffer, the main thing is that you die. Therefore there is the Mahamrityu Jaya mantra to help protect you.
In India the driver of every vehicle – the three wheel moped, rickshaw, truck, bus, train, aeroplane, private car or scooter – repeat this mantra prior to starting the engine. If not knowing the mantra they will greet the Shakti that is part of Shiva. It is called Gowri Shankara.Gowri is Parvati – she is part of Shiva. The left side of body is feminine, the right is masculine. So before starting the vehicle the drivers pray to shakti in the engine and repeat Mayamrityu Jaya mantra. It is not blind belief, it functions, it is there. It protects us from many things and this evening throughout the world there will be abhisheka of Lord Shiva. They will bathe Lord Shiva in a combination of milk, ghee, honey, yoghurt and turmeric.
These are little things but very significant, like the Vedic marriage. Your parents will consult an astrologer who will view the planetary constellation of the bride and groom and say whether the two are compatible for marriage. When you marry according to this ritual and vedic ceremonies, you will have happy life and there will be no question of divorce, except in some individual cases.
Marriage in modern times is called Love marriage, when a boy and girl fall in love and say now we shall get married! After five years maybe they go to council office to get divorced. Love means emotion, sometimes high waves, sometimes no waves. This kind of Love is only physical emotion and very soon it will diminish and when there is no understanding between the two, there is divorce.
Twenty years ago, ten people travelled with me to India and one was a young woman approaching 30 years of age. We visited an Indian family and the Austrian lady spent time with the Indian ladies in the kitchen. One Indian lady asked the Austrian if she was married and she replied no. The Indian lady asked why she didn’t marry, and the Austrian replied ‘Well, I had a few friends and lived with them but didn’t marry’. The Indian lady was shocked, and said, ‘You lived with them!! So why didn’t you marry?’ The Austrian replied, ‘because I wasn’t sure if we would divorce.’ ‘You are still not married and yet you are thinking about divorce’ said the Indian, ‘You don’t show complete confidence to your husband’.
Therefore the purpose of consulting the Vedic constellation for marriage is to ensure a happy, healthy and harmonious family life.
You can spiritually develop even if you live a very hectic life. Repeat mantra. Doesn’t matter if the pronunciation is perfect or not, God knows what we feel in our heart. In the morning when you open your eyes, look to holy pictures or to a photo of your mother, father or child. That will give you the feeling of happiness the whole day. The first impression in your bedroom should be a picture of harmony with spiritual energy, not aggressive energy. Open your eyes and say Lord, my body mind senses thought consciousness and soul I offer to Thee. Guide me, protect my each and every step and thoughts. Lord thank you. Then stand up from the bed. Put your feet on the ground and say to the Earth, Mother Earth, forgive me that I step on you. Thank Mother Earth before stepping on her, it doesn’t take time. Protect me, I am in your lap. Go to wash your hands and thank the Lord for this clean water. Before eating, say thank you Lord for this food. Go to your car and repeat the Mahamrityu Jaya mantra. This is how you can maintain your spirituality in busy times without taking extra time out of your day.
Additionally, when you work, work not for the sake of the money but work as seva as though you are serving others. Work with the attitude of I am not the doer, God is the doer, I am only an instrument. At the end of the day when you return home, be thankful to God. Before sleeping pray to God. The whole day Lord you were guiding me and the fruits of all my deeds I offer to Thee. I go to sleep and give into your hands my body mind senses and consciousness, protect me during my sleep.
These kind of actions and prayers do not need extra time in your 24 hours. In this hectic and busy world where no one has time, this is how you can protect and develop your spirituality. Oh my dear friends, eating drinking sleeping and creating children, animals are also expert, you are human so what are you doing with your life?
Daily consider these thoughts: I am a human. What makes me human? What are those qualities that make me human and how to develop these? What is the mission of my life?
God gave you this human body, what is the aim of this life? Self Realisation is the aim of this life. There is enough chance for you to develop spiritually and you can do it. You are capable, you have great energy and power to do so. I wish you this and pray to Lord Shiva to bless you today for happy, healthy and long life.
