Today is Maha Shivaratri – the darkest of nights and the day that means many different things to different people. Most people celebrate it as the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has provided several other meanings and they are all interesting and important.
Please read his blog Significance of MahaShivaratri.
For me Shivarathri brings back memories of Air Force Academy, Dindugul. Dad was posted there between 1983 and 1986 and we had an open air theatre on the campus. In 1984, Siru and I had gone to watch “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar” at the open air theatre and as we walked out, I saw dad and mum standing outside. I was wondering what happened because usually dad would try and find me only if there was some bad news. He anyway knew I was watching the movie and since the maintenance of the theatre was with MES he could have walked in anytime to inform me if there was indeed some bad news. The surprise for me was that he and mum were there to watch the 9.30 show so they could stay awake as it was Shivaratri !!
I suddenly got all religious and said I will also stay awake and watched the movie again with them. Am a huge fan of Rekha and any fan can watch “Salaame Ishq” a 1000 times and still not have enough of it.
Now as I remember the movie and Mahashivaratri, it’s really a fascinating coincidence – the movie is about fighting through your circumstances to find success, get through the darkness of difficulties to bask in the light of success and that’s exactly what Shivaratri is about – that darkness is not to be feared, because the Sun will rise again tomorrow morning and there will be light. Ofcourse the Sadhguru in his blog says it differently where the Divine is actually darkness .. Sure, I get that, but for most people darkness brings fear.
Choose to celebrate Mahashivaratri the way you want – anything that lifts your spirit. Shiva destroys evil, Shiva does the “Tandav” to destroy the old and make way for the new – so use the Mahashivaratri as the day to renew yourself. Destroy negative thoughts that bring despair, do the “Tandav” to make way for the new, embrace the change !
Wishing all the readers a very happy “Maha Shivaratri”. Embrace the change, make way for the new, dance your way through life :):)