MahaShivratri happens on the fourteenth day of each lunar month, just before the new moon. Among the twelve Shivaratri each year, Mahashivaratri, celebrated in February or March, is the most important. On this night, the Earth’s position helps increase our energy levels, making it a great time for spiritual growth. To take advantage of this, people celebrate a special nightlong festival. One important practice during this night is to stay awake with a straight back to let energy flow freely.
Mahashivratri is meaningful for many. For spiritual seekers, it’s a powerful night for growth and meditation. Families celebrate it as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, symbolizing love. Those with ambitions see it as Shiva’s victory over enemies, inspiring strength. Ascetics view it as the day Shiva became one with Mount Kailash, reaching absolute stillness. In yogic tradition, Shiva is the Adi Guru, making Mahashivratri a night of deep stillness, energy, and devotion.
Beyond legends, Mahashivratri holds great significance in yogic traditions for the spiritual possibilities it presents. Modern science indicates that everything life, matter, the cosmos, and galaxies ultimately comes from one energy in various forms.
For yogis, this is a lived experience. The term “yogi” describes someone who has realized the oneness of existence. In this context, “yoga” represents a deep desire to understand the limitless and experience unity with all. Mahashivaratri offers a special opportunity for seekers to connect with this oneness.
Shivaratri, occurring on the darkest night of the month, might seem like a celebration of darkness. While people often prefer light, “Shiva” in yogic tradition means “that which is not.” Shiva represents the vast emptiness beyond creation. With a narrow perspective, we see only forms of creation, but a broader view reveals that the true essence of existence is the infinite emptiness that unites everything.
Galaxies, despite being extensively studied, are merely tiny fragments within the immense void that surrounds and binds them. This boundless and infinite emptiness is what is known as Shiva. Contemporary science now acknowledges that all existence originates from nothingness and ultimately dissolves back into it. In this context, Shiva, representing this vast emptiness, is revered as the supreme being, or Mahadeva.
Across all religions and cultures, the divine is described as omnipresent and all-pervading. If we consider this, the only thing that can truly be everywhere is not light, but darkness, emptiness, or nothingness. When people seek well-being, the divine is often described as light. But for those who seek liberation and dissolution who wish to go beyond life itself the divine is seen as darkness, the ultimate source and destination of all existence.
Light is fleeting, originating from a source that eventually fades away. In contrast, darkness is infinite, ever-present, and does not rely on anything to exist. Many perceive darkness as something negative, associating it with fear or uncertainty. However, in reality, darkness is all-encompassing, forming the very foundation upon which everything else emerges. Unlike light, which depends on an external source to shine, darkness is self-sustaining and boundless, extending beyond the limits of human perception.
When we speak of “Shiva,” we refer to this immense, limitless void the infinite space where creation unfolds. This vast emptiness is not a mere absence but the very essence that allows existence to take shape. Just as the universe expands within the vast stretches of space, all life and matter arise from this profound nothingness. Shiva represents this eternal space, the cosmic womb where all things are born and to which they ultimately return. It is within this unbounded emptiness that the cycle of creation, sustenance, and dissolution continues endlessly, making Shiva the ultimate force that governs existence.
Mahashivaratri is a chance to connect with the vast emptiness within us, the source of all creation. Shiva embodies both destruction and compassion, making this night special for receiving blessings. Don’t let it pass without experiencing the vastness of Shiva. May it be a night of true awakening for you.
