Pilgrimages in Sacred India

Yatra
Pilgrimages in Sacred India

Kalimath July 2005

March 08 2005 marks Maha Shiva Ratri, the great night of Shiva, this year. Lord Shiva is often depicted merged in perfect samadhi. He is the God of meditation - eternal witness to the whole creation, our own least excited state of awareness. The unmanifest source of the universe - the home of all the laws of nature; he is mahadeva - the great God.

It is not surprising, therefore, that when our awareness identifies with that supremely auspicious level of life, we experience profound peace of mind: peace which surpasses the understanding. World peace is a by-product when this level of natural law is awakened or made lively in world consciousness

March 08 2005

Photograph of a painting of Lord Shiva hanging on the wall of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati’s ashram in Jyotir Math, Himalayas

On a more expressed level, Rudra - the lively aspect of Shiva is the antidote to afflictions of Shani: the planet Saturn. Regarded as the most malefic of the 9 Grahas, Shani/Saturn more than any other planet is the bringer of karmic retribution, the fruits of our past mistakes - grief.

Taking refuge in Lord Shiva is one of the most effective remedies for the difficulties caused by Shani/Saturn. Maha Shiva Ratri is the most efficacious night of the year to propitiate Lord Shiva and thereby invite his compassion and grace into our lives.

Mahashiva ratri
Himalayan pilgrimage
8 March 2005

Even though there are countless temples to Lord Shiva, the 12 Jyotirlingas, regarded as swayambhu (self created - not man made), are held in great veneration all over India. These are primordial centers of universal power and energy. One such jyotirlinga is located in Jageshwar in the Himalayas half a day's train journey from New Delhi.
In March 2005,r a small group from Australia will travel to Jageshwar in the Himalayas to participate in a traditional yagya call Rudrabhishek on the night of Maha Shiva Ratri. 7 Vedic Pundits (Brahmin Priests) from the ancient vedic tradition will perform this powerful shiva yagya at the primordial power centre (jyotirlinga) on the most auspicious night of the year.