Maha Shivaratri: A Night of Yoga

February 25, 2025

Namita Sinha

urdhva-yoga
February 25, 2025
5:34 am

Maha Shivaratri holds a profound significance for practitioners of Yoga, as Lord Shiva is revered as Adiyogi, the primordial yogi. This sacred night symbolizes the union of Shiva and his consort, Parvati. Moreover, during the ongoing Kumbh Mela, India’s largest spiritual gathering, the Shaivite Naga Sadhus, representing a core aspect of Hindu spiritual heritage, take center stage. This year, the Kumbh Mela has drawn over 50 crore devotees.

Across India, Maha Shivaratri is observed with deep devotion. Devotees honor Lord Shiva throughout the night with abhisheka, offering water, milk, ghee, honey, fruits, and flowers upon the Shivalinga, his symbolic representation.

The Adiyogi and Hatha Yoga:

As Adiyogi, Lord Shiva is the originator of Yoga. He imparted the practice of Hatha Yoga to his first disciple, Devi Parvati. The 84 asanas of Hatha Yoga are believed to have originated from Shiva’s movements, with Natarajasana, for example, directly reflecting his form as Nataraja.

Leading Hatha Yoga traditions in India, such as Natha Yoga and Siddha Yoga Parampara, trace their lineage to Shiva as Adiyogi. Notable figures like Gorakshanath and Swatmarama, the author of the foundational text Hatha Yoga Pradipika, belong to the Natha Yoga Parampara.

The Lord of Prana and Pranayama:

Prana, as the unit of cosmic energy in human beings is also a manifestation of Lord Shiva. In the yogic text Shiva Swarodaya, where swara is the referred to as the movement of pranic energies as inhalation and exhalation. Svarodya vijnana is a science that uses nostril breathing to predict health, future events, and auspicious or inauspicious outcomes of individual through his/her breath.

Lord Shiva and the Mind:

The very name “Shiva” signifies auspiciousness and benevolence. The Shiva Sankalpa Sukta from the Shukla Yajurveda delves into the nature of the mind, expressing the aspiration “Shiva Sankalpamastu”—may my mind be auspicious and benevolent like Shiva.

The first verse beautifully captures this:

“Yajjagrato duramudaiti daivam tadusuptasya tathaivaiti Duramgamam jyotisham jyotirekam tanme manaha shiva sankalpamastu”

(Mind, that travels far and wide on waking and comes back on sleeping, such far travelling mind that is the light of One light, may my mind be like Shiva, auspicious and benevolent.)

Dharana, Dhyana, and Lord Shiva:

Lord Shiva is the embodiment of meditation. He resides in solitary places like Mount Kailash, adorned with a serpent and ash-smeared body, symbolizing profound detachment. In the stillness of meditation, with his eyes closed, he represents the silent essence of Yoga.

Lord Shiva: Supreme Consciousness:

The Shivalinga, his symbolic pillar, represents the ascending power of Yoga and the support of the universe, signifying supreme consciousness.

Maha Shivaratri and Yogic Practice:

Maha Shivaratri falls on the darkest night of the fourteenth day of the Hindu lunar month Magha, known as Magha Krishna Chaturdashi. Devotees observe fast and, after evening purification, engage in puja, abhisheka, and bhajans throughout the night.

For those on the path of Yoga, Maha Shivaratri is an opportunity to attune to the Shiva-like energy of the night through silence and meditation. Practicing meditation with an erect spine and chanting Shiva mantras like So-Ham, Shivoham, or Om Namah Shivaya is highly beneficial.

In Shaivite Hindu traditions, Manas Puja, an internal form of worship, is practiced. In Shiva Manas Puja, one visualizes the Shivalinga in the heart center and mentally offers fruits, flowers, sandalwood paste, a diya (lamp), bells, and a conch with devotion and surrender. These five offerings, known as panchopachar puja, symbolize the five elements within us: earth, water, fire, air, and space.

Yoga and the offering of Bilva Patra:

One of the most significant offerings to Lord Shiva is the bilva patra, the leaf of the bilva tree (Aegle marmelos). Its three petals represent the principle of three in Lord Shiva, reflecting his role as the lord of Yoga, the three eyes (with the third eye being the center of intuition and higher knowledge, Jnana Chakshu), and the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). Offering bilva leaves symbolizes the surrender of one’s three Gunas, uniting with the Lord who transcends them, embodying Satya (truth), Shivam (auspiciousness), and Sundaram (beauty).

Adi Shankaracharya’s Bilvashtakam glorifies the offering of bilva leaves:

“tridalaṃ triguṇākāraṃ trinĕtraṃ ca triyāyudhaṃ
trijanma pāpasaṃhāram ĕkabilvaṃ śivārpaṇaṃ”

Meaning:

The leaves of the bilva tree have three petals, they are an expression of three qualities of existence, the three eyes, and the three weapons of Shiva. An offering of a single bilva leaf to Shiva destroys the sins of three lifetimes.

A night of auspiciousness:

The yogic texts describe Shiva’s residence in solitary locales, such as śmaśāna (cremation grounds) and the snow-capped mountains. To observe Maha Shivaratri in a yogic manner is to be in solitude, engaging in deep manana (contemplation) and dhyana (meditation).

It is also beneficial to engage in the study of stotras that elucidate his qualities, such as the Shiva Sahasranama, the thousand names of Shiva, and to contemplate their meanings.

May our minds be imbued with Shiva sankalpa – filled with beautiful and benevolent thoughts.

Our sankalpas are our desires, which motivate our actions. This Maha Shivaratri, let your sankalpa be: “May my desires for the external world find repose, and may auspiciousness reside within my mind.”