Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva
as he is also known. Shiva the Destroyer of Evil is among the
most praised and worshipped of all the gods in the Hindu religion.
Hindus all over the world know him through different names and
forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which
glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or
the phallus of Shiva that represents him. For it is the Shiva
linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of creation, the beginning
of everything.
Shiva Ratri is the night of Lord Shiva when He himself was created
by His own Divine Grace and Hindus all over the world celebrate
this day with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. Shiva Ratri literally
means ' the night consecrated to Shiva'. This auspicious festival
falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the month of
Falgun, (February - March in the Gregorian calendar ). The temple
of Mahakal considered to be the most sacred is crowded with devotees
offering prayers on this special day. These worshippers come from
far and wide to pay their respects and homage to Mahadev on his
sacred day.
Shiva Ratri is a much anticipated festival by all Hindus. On
this holy day people fast through out the day. At dawn, worshippers
take a holy bath and go to the temple to worship.
One of the interesting aspects of Shiva Ratri is that on this
day devotees and non-devotees alike freely indulge in smoking
intoxicating substances such as marijuana and bhang for it is
the only day in the annual calendar when marijuana is legal. Many
people take these intoxicants in the belief that it pleases Lord
Shiva for he too is said to be fond of it. Thus marijuana is taken
as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods.
The Purana, one of the many holy texts of the Hindus, tells us
that if you worship Lord Shiva on this day all your sins will
be forgiven. Giving an examle the Purana talks about an event
that occurred ages before about a hunter from Banaras in India.
This man worshipped Lord Shiva unknowingly on Shiva Ratri and
he was forgiven for all his sins.
Devotees are not distinguished as poor or rich but treated equally
for Lord Shiva treats everyone equally. Thus the festival of Shiva
Ratri shows the devotion and faith Nepalese have towards the Hindu
religion.
Article by Avigya Karki
