Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. The little boy was still chanting though his eyes were closed. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. He was fanning the idol with the little bamboo fan in his hand. He heard some noise. He opened his eyes and looked at the sleeping people. The whole group of women and children was asleep, on the floor, in the puja–ghar (prayer room) in the huge house. It was the night of Maha Shivraatri. The women were fasting since early morning and were tired. The little boy looked closely at the idol again in the dim light of the lamp. There.. he found the culprits. Two big rats were eating the prasaad (sweets) kept in front of the Shivling (idol of God Shiv), hungrily. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv Shankar.. The little boy was chanting and fanning while looking at the naughty rats, in amazement. One rat started climbing up the Shivling. Bam Bam Bholey.. Jai Shiv.. The boy stopped the chant. The rat was sitting on top of the Shivling and eating the big laddu (Indian sweet) kept there. The boy shook his mother awake. She asked, what is it, Moola ? Moola replied, Maa (mother), look that rat is sitting on top of our Shivling. Moola’s mother asked, so what ? Moola said, if God cannot keep himself safe from a rat then how can he save the universe ? Maa admonished Moola. She bent down to prostrate in front of the God, in fear. Decades later, Moola grew up as Mool Shankar whom the whole world now remembers as Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati. This Maha Shivraatri incident from his childhood and other such experiences later encouraged him to establish, Arya Samaj in 1875, in then Bombay.
Maha Shivraatri is celebrated with great gusto in all Shiv temples across the globe but especially in Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Uttarakhand. During samudra manthan (churning of ocean) in Sat–Yug, Halaahal poison was produced which God Shiv drank but withheld it in his throat, at this location. This poison was so toxic that it turned Shiv’s neck, blue. Hence, Shiv is called Neelkanth (blue necked). This temple is 32 kms from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
Maha Shivraatri has various beliefs associated with it. Maha Shivraatri is celebrated faithfully by unmarried girls wishing for an ideal husband like God Shiv. And, married women pray for the safety and welfare of their husbands. Maha Shivraatri is celebrated as the auspicious night of Shiv-Gauri vivaah (wedding). Gauri wished to have Shiv as her husband. But Shiv was reluctant. So Gauri did penance for several years, worshipping Shiv all these years. Shiv was pleased with her penance. And that is how Shiv agreed for this marriage. Gauri Kund in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district is the location where Gauri did penance and Shiv blessed her. Gauri Kund is the base camp to reach Kedarnath by trekking or by riding a pony.
The wedding of Shiv with Gauri was performed in Sat–Yug at Triyuginarayan temple in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. In this wedding, God Brahma was the priest while God Vishnu was the main witness. Gauri’s mother, Maina was not happy at Shiv’s appearance and members of the baraat (bridegroom’s associates). Shiv was dressed in tiger-skin, ash smeared all around his body, matted locks and serpents circled around his neck. Shiv’s associates consisted of bulls, birds, animals and creatures as half animals and half humans. Mahakavi (great poet) Vidyapati has written about this episode in his famous song – Hum Nahi Aaju Rahab Ahi Aangan, Je Boodh Aanal Jamayi (I won’t stay in this house till the time this infirm son-in-law is present here). Vidyapati wrote these lines :
Bhanayi Vidyapati Sunu E Mainaayin, Dridh Karu Appan Giyaan..
Shubh Shubh Kaye Shiri Gauri Biyaahu, Gauri Har Ek Samaan..
(Vidyapati says, listen Maina madam ! Remain steadfast in your thoughts. Please bless Gauri’s marriage now. As Gauri and Shiv are not two entities but one).
Nepalese army celebrates Maha Shivraatri as Army Day in Tundikhel, Nepal. Local Hindus in great numbers visit Umarkot Shiv Temple in Pakistan to celebrate Maha Shivraatri. In countries like Suriname, Trinidad, Fiji and Mauritius, the devout offer Belpatra ( Bel leaves), fruits, milk, white flowers, honey and coconut to the deity. They spend their time in Shiv temples doing meditation, prayers and offering holy water to the Shivling while chanting aloud, Bol Bam, Bol Bam !
Maha Shivraatri is considered the night when Shiv did his ferocious Taandav dance in Sat–Yug after his wife, Sati killed herself by jumping in fire. This happened due to Sati’s father, Daksh Prajapati constantly insulting Shiv. Shiv was looking dangerous as he was holding Sati’s burnt body in his hands while performing Taandav dance. To save the humanity from Shiv’s wrath, Vishnu cut Sati’s body in small parts with his Sudarshan Chakra (wheel). Wherever each of these body parts of Sati fell in Akhand Bhaarat (Indian sub-continent), a Shakti Peeth temple stands today. So Shakti Peeth temples are associated with Maha Shivraatri too.
Dear reader, at several places in India, you’ll find this line written on walls, banners and hoardings – Shiv he Guru hain (Shiv is the first Guru) ! It is believed that Maha Shivraatri is the night when our adiyogi (first guru) brought down his level of consciousness to match with mere mortals on planet earth. Tantra considers that, at this plane, the mind is easily surpassed. The param yogi (ultimate yogi) rises above the limits of time, space and occasion. Maha Shivraatri is called the night of Nirvaan (eternal liberation). This is when the yogi achieves his target of Shoonya (ultimate bliss) ! Om Namah Shivaay ! Om Namah Shivaay ! !
Maverick Yogi 