Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah!
Om Namah Sivaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

Namaste!

Sivaratri Message
by Sri Swami Sivananda

Taken from Divine Life Magazine 1948

Sivaratri is the “Blessed Night”, the “Night of Siva”. It is one of the memorable days of the year. It is an occasion for disciplining ourselves, for restraining the objective tendencies of the mind. Life on earth is the stepping stone to Infinite Existence. It is attained through the negation of individual separateness and through the affirmation of the Divine Unity. In view of the fact that the only meaning of life is this effort towards spiritual realisation, it goes without saying that every moment of our life should be utilised for that noble purpose. But there are certain times in the year when the universal forces move towards the inner Reality, when the conscious struggle of the individual to achieve Self-realisation is helped by the external powers also. Ordinarily, everyone has to swim against the current of Maya, the Creative Power of Existence, and face terrible oppositions from cosmic forces. But the spiritual effort or Sadhana is given a further impetus to enhance the vigour of its spiritual march and lessen the power of its obstructing factors, when divine forces manifest themselves on the terrestrial plane.

This spiritual manifestation of the Transcendental Divinity upon earth is of two varieties—embodied and disembodied, concrete and abstract. Embodied Divine manifestations are seen in personalities like Sri Krishna etc., when the action of the Divine can be clearly seen with the eyes. But the abstract manifestations cannot be seen by the physical sense, but can only be felt by the inner soul. Universal Forces reveal themselves to rectify certain defects in any part of the Universe. Epidemics, earth-quakes and the like are such universal happenings. Sudden uplift of certain parts of the world are some of the constructive aspects of the universe. Spiritual forces sweep away evil, at times even without human awareness. The Kalki Avatara and the beginning of Krita Yuga is an example. In Sivaratri, we find one such disembodied manifestation of spiritual forces and the suppression of undivine powers.

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15th February is Maha Sivaratri.

The following article was recently posted at Sri Swami Krishnanandaji's site:

• I Am the Universe

Yours in the service of Gurudev,

Pannirselvam

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Lord Siva and His Worship
by Sri Swami Sivananda

This is a most valuable and instructive book for the aspirants, particularly for the devotees of Lord Siva. It is full of instructions on practical Sadhana for attaining Siva-Tattva or God-realisation.

The secrets of Siva Tandava, Sakti Yoga, etc., are very nicely presented. The translation of the Saiva Upanishads is a beautiful addition. The lives of Siva Acharyas, the Bhaktas and the Nayanars are inspiring and soul-stirring. A study of their lives will make one's life sublime and holy.

Up to this time there has been no such presentation on this subject. The philosophical portion is highly illuminating and helpful to the readers. The book contains the essence of all Saiva Puranas. The book is written in a very lucid and clear style. It must be studied by all religious-minded persons as it is of solid worth from the spiritual point of view.

For more information, please see: Lord Siva and His Worship

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ADAPTABILITY: Among the questions that the Master put to a young man who had come to the Ashram with the idea of staying permanently, was, “Have you got the spirit of adaptability?”

“Yes,” the young man replied.

“If a man beats you, will you keep quiet like a stone?” the Master enquired.

“Yes,” the man replied, rather hesitatingly; and then said suddenly, “If I have a desire to beat him, I will do so.” “You will beat him?” the Master asked smilingly. “Yes, if I think I should beat him, I will.”

The Master said, “Do not beat him. Try to remain silent like a stone.”

“In our religious tradition, Lord Siva is represented as an aspect of God, the Almighty. He presents before us the ideal of supreme renunciation born of Divine Realisation. Renunciation born of Divine Realisation, not born of frustration, not born of an escapist attitude, not born of defeatism, but born of an insight into the nature of things, a clear understanding of the nature of life and the wisdom of existence in its completeness. This is the source of Vairagya or renunciation. You do not want anything, not because you cannot get things, but because you have realised the interconnectedness of things, and the unity of all purpose in consciousness. All desires get hushed, sublimated and boiled down to the divine Being only when this realisation comes.” – Sri Swami Krishnananda

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