Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Shivaratri night during bhajansession – Mysore – March 11 , 2013
Shivaratri- this is the janma ratri (the night for this birth). The saying ‘Janmaniki oka ratri’ means our birth, our death and everything that happens in between is actually happening within a period of one night (ratri). In other words, from the point of birth to the point of death is just a period of one night. This birth is known as janma. Tonight is the night (ratri) for this janma. Hence this Maha Shivaratri is the janma ratri. It is said that this janma night (ratri) should not be wasted. However many Shivaratris may come and go during the lifetime, all of them are taking place within one night.
By harbouring doubts/ suspicions about Paramatma, Guru, father and mother we acquire a demonic state (fiendishness, rakshasatva). Hence in this birth, listening to the words of the Sadguru is itself Shivaratri. It is also Maha Shivaratri.
Maha Shivaratri is the day when Lingodbhava (emergence of the linga) takes place. Lingodbhava means emergence of knowledge (jnana utpatti). This night should be worshipped (upasana) through Lingodbhava i.e. through knowledge (jnana).
We presume that Lingodbhava is an event that takes place exactly at 12 mid-night. It is not so. From the moment of our birth, Lingodbhava (acquisition of knowledge) is taking place every second. It is not necessary that it should happen only on Shivaratri.
Birth or acquisition of knowledge amounts to driving out of ignorance (ajnana). Lingodbhava taking place within the body means that knowledge is dawning upon the person. When does this happen? This happens as soon as we listen to the sayings of the Sadguru.
It was this Supreme Lord Shiva who taught the lessons to Brahma (creator). Brahma means jnana (knowledge) and vidhi (fate, destiny). Shiva is also the Lord who has taught knowledge to sustenance (paripalana). In other words, it means He has taught this knowledge to Vishnu. To us, beings who are under the dictate of vidhi (destiny), the Supreme Lord Shiva is teaching us the knowledge through the medium of Guru. The day when such knowledge is passed on to us is Shivaratri.
The saying ‘janmaki oka Shivaratri’ is misunderstood to mean that in this birth at least one Shivaratri should be spent properly/dedicatedly. Due to this we are satisfied that in this lifetime, we had spent one such Shivaratri earlier wisely. It is adequate enough. This is absolutely a wrong concept. What matters truly is the amount of time spent, in this lifetime, in reading Vishnu Sahasranama, how much time was spent in worship of Shiva, how many times did the person think of Vishnu, how many abhishekams were performed to the Lord in this lifetime, how many times did we offer circumambulation (pradakshina) around the temple, how much time was spent in Sadguru seva, did we listen to the sayings of the Guru and how far were we successful in abiding by His words. Participation in each of these activities is lindogbhava (emergence of linga, knowledge).
The night of Shivaratri or lingodbhava consists of 4 avasthas (stages, phases). It dawns after the completion of the 4th stage.
Each being passes through 4 stages (avasthas) of life i.e. childhood (balya), boyhood (koumara), youth (youvana) and old age (varthakya). These are the 4 ashramas of life. Do not confuse and assume these ashramas to mean constructed buildings. These ashramas or stages of life represent the changes in physical bodies during a lifetime. These 4 stages take place within the period of birth or death.
Presently we are now in the 4th avastha (later part of the night). As far as tonight’s functions are concerned we are in the last avastha (stage). By no means can we say that all persons are in the 4th stage of life. There are many children, youth etc. who are yet to arrive at this stage of life. They will reach this stage physically after a certain period of time. Only those who are in the old age can be said to be in the 4th stage.
Within this stage of old age (Varthakya, vrudhapya) there is a small period called Vanaprastha ashrama. This is the period of training. Detachment (Vairagya) comes only after training. Guru does not grant the supreme knowledge immediately to the person upon his arrival at the Guru’s ashram. He will watch for some days. Here ‘some days’ means for a certain period of time. We have no idea when the period will be completed and when He will shower the knowledge upon the person. We cannot presume that we will serve for 4 years and then automatically become eligible to acquire the knowledge. The Sadguru may, if He so wishes, give the knowledge at the time of the person’s death. Perhaps He may shower it upon the person after his death. Who knows, He may not give it at all. It is His wish.
You job is only to complete your sadhana and your worship (upasana) without fail. Only this will aid you in acquiring the real knowledge. Don’t say that I have completed my worship (upasana) hence I have to be blessed with jnana. It is not a certificate that is to be handed over to you. There can be no certificate for Jnana (knowledge).
We should be always alert in the waking state (jaagrat avastha). We have taken on a human body and hence together with this body we should be very alert/ careful at all times. If you say Swamiji will take care and hence if you are careless, He will teach you a lesson.
Tonight is the night for this knowledge. Tonight on Shivaratri we are in Jaagarana (waking state). We have kept the senses in the custody of Lord and are completely awake. We have not come under the influence of lies, cheating, injustice, attachments, senses (indriya) etc. and gone off to sleep. To fast means to state that ‘I will not lie, I will not cheat. I will not come under the influence of attachments, bondages and senses’.
Om Namah Shivaya!
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla