Mahasivaratri is the ‘Grand Night of Siva’. Lord Siva, known as the Destroyer in The Hindu mythology turned as the Protector when he swallowed the “ Haalahala” poison to save the worlds. It is stated in LingaPurana that on the 14th night of new moon in the month of Phalgun or ‘Masi’, in Tamil, Lord Siva manifested himself in the form of Linga. Hence it is considered to be very auspicious and celebrated all over by the devotees as the Grand night of Siva. There are various interesting legendary histories related to the festival of Mahasivaratri. Some say that it marks the day Lord Siva and Goddess Parvaty were married. Some believe that it is the auspicious night when Lord Siva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Various traditions and customs related to Sivaratri are dutifully followed by the devotees of Lord Siva. On Mahasivaratri, worship of Lord Siva continues all through the day and night in all Siva temples.
Let us take a view at one of the famous Siva temples in our own Namma Chennai, the Kapaleeswarar Kovil and the rituals followed on the Mahasivaratri day. According to the archeologists and historians, this temple stands in its ground for the past 350 years. Once in Kailasa, Devi Parvati asked Siva to extol the greatness of the divine five-lettered mantra, OM NAMAH SHIVAYA (Panchakshara). Lord accepted the request and started his discourse but the attention of Devi was diverted mid-way by the beautiful dance of a peacock. Enraged Siva cursed Devi to be born as a peacock. When asked for emancipation, the Lord told Devi to worship Him under Punnai tree in Toniamandala, as a peacock. Devi in the form of a peacock worshipped the Lord and as promised, Lord too redeemed Devi of her curse. Since, Devi assumed a form of a peacock to worship Siva, this temple gets its name (Mayura=Mayil;Puri=place) and the Lord gets His name Punnaivananathar. Another legend says that while competing with Vishnu regarding mutual superiority, Brahma uttered a lie that he had seen the crest of Lord Siva, who had assumed the form of a pillar of light. Brahma was punished by the Lord for speaking a lie and his fifth head was plucked off. The skull stuck to the hand of Siva. Brahma lost the power to create. He repented and came to the earth and performed severe penance. Pleased, Siva granted him his powers again. Brahma requested Siva to assume the name Kapaleeswara, in memory of the Kapala(skull) which struck to his hands. Lord obliged and thus the name Kapaleeswara came to be known as His name.
On the Mahasivaratri day, the priests in this temple perform rituals and pooja on sivalingam all through the day and night. The special pooja called the Lingothbavakalam, which constitutes the 4-kaala abhishekam is done for the Sivalingam in the night starting from 11 pm till 4 am. The important part of the ritual is the archana done with Vastra (cloth). Four colored clothes Yellow,Red,Blue and finally Green are offered to the deity. Archana and abhishekam is done ritually while chanting ‘Om Namasivaya’. This special pooja or Paraartha pooja is done for all jeeva rasis, plants and humans of all religion to be safe and healthy. The temple then closes for an hour and opens again at 5:30 am as usual.
The other temple we are going to see is the Tiruvannamalai kovil. According to history Brahma and Vishnu were competing for their superiority. Lord Siva appeared as flaming pillar of fire. To see the tip of the fire Brahma took the form of a stork and flew upwards while Vishnu took the form of wild boar and drilled down under the soil. But both of them failed to find the tip. Then Lord Siva appeared in his true form .Brahma and Vishnu accepted Siva’s supremacy. On the request of Brahma and Vishnu Lord Siva appeared in the form of a hill which is in the shape of a lingam. Hence this place is called Thiruvannamalai and the deity by the name Annamalaiyar. It is to mark this day that ‘Mahadeepam’ is lit on the top of this holy hill on the day of karthigai deepam. There are 8 lingams at 8 cardinal points around the hill. The devotees circumambulate the hill and worship the Lord to attain prosperity and moksha. At Tiruvannamalai Mahasivaratri is celebrated with great devotion and fervor. Devotees observe fast the whole day and do Pooja for the lingams.chant hymns and Panchakshara through the night.
Let us all join together in meditation on Lord Siva to seek his blessings on this auspicious Mahasivaratri.
