Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Alternate common names/spellings include Maha Sivaratri,Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivaratri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maaghamonth of the Hindu calendar. Since many different calendars are followed by various ethno-linguistic groups of India, the month and the Tithi name are not uniform all over India and Nepal. Celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha(waning moon) of the month ofMaagha according to the Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama or Phalguna according to theVikrama era. The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or Bilva/Vilvamleaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil. All through the day the devotees, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord " Namah Shivaya". In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach life's summum bonum steadily and swiftly.
Shiva Meditation - Viswanatha Ashtakam
In meditation, the Supreme Lord Shiva symbolizes Himself as the "Victorious Yogi" who has a Cosmic Consciousness in many forms. The most famous incarnations of Lord Shiva are the Meditator, the Karma Yogi, the Ego-Sacrificer (under the Goddess Kali/Durga), the Dancer (Nataraja) and the Master of Life. Meditating upon Lord Shiva helps one attain limitless benefits and salvation. Those who meditate to the sounds on this CD while focusing on the name of the eternal Shiva are sure to achieve eternal bliss and liberation.
