Shivaratri is considered as one of the sacred nights. There are many mythological stories on Shivaratri. It is said that Lord Śiva married Pārvatī during this time. Another version says that during Śivarātri, Śiva swallowed ālakāla poison that frothed out while churning Divine Ocean. Another version says that Śiva peprformed Cosmic dance on this night to unleash the great deluge (mahāpralaya). This is night is observed by fasting through the day and in the night pūjā is performed to Lord Śiva. Here is a quick guide to perform pūjā during Śivarātri. Mainly lotus and bilva leaves, which is also known as śrīpatra, are used. Śiva is very fond of bilva leaves. Bilvāṣṭaka – बिल्वाष्टक explains the importance of offering bilva leaves to Śiva. While placing the bilva leaves on Śivaliṅga, the bottom portion of bilva leaf, where nerves crisscross should be on the liṅga.
त्रिदलं त्रिगुणाकारं त्रिनेत्रं च त्रियायुधं
त्रिजन्म पापसंहारं एकबिल्व शिवारपणं॥
tridalaṁ triguṇākāraṁ trinetraṁ ca triyāyudhaṁ
trijanma pāpasaṁhāraṁ ekabilva śivārapaṇaṁ ||
Meaning: I offer one bilva leaf having three leaflets that is capable of eradication all types of sins accrued to me over the last three births to Śiva, who is the Lord of three guṇa-s (sattva, rajas, and tamas, which are the cause of creation) and who has three eyes. Therefore on Śivarātri day, bilva leaves should be used while worshipping Śiva. There are mythological stories associated with bilva leaves and Śiva.
Procedure of pūjā is the same, as done in normal days. But, certain additional abhiṣeka can done using the following material in that order.
1. sesame oil (gangly oil)
2. pañcakavya
3. rice flour (it is supposed give relief from debts)
4. powdered gooseberry power
5. turmeric powder
6. pañcāmṛta (milk, curd, butter, honey, and sugar; alternatively five fruit pieces mixed with honey can also be used)
7. milk
8. curd
9. ghee (clarified butter)
10. honey
11. sugarcane juice
12. other fruit juices
13. tender coconut water
14. boiled rice/cooked rice (annabhiṣeka)
15. śaṅkha (conch)
16. kalaśa
At the end of pūjā following eight arghya-s are to be offered. For offering, milk and water should be mixed and kept in a big vessel. One has to hold a flower at the tips of ring and middle fingers and offer arghya using an uttaraṇi. Everyone in the family can offer arghya. Following are the arghya mantras.
संकल्पम् saṁkalpam: (for arghya-s)
सांबपरमेश्वर पूजान्ते क्षीरर्घ्य प्रदानं करिष्ये॥
sāṁbaparameśvara pūjānte kṣīrarghya pradānaṁ kariṣye ||
1. The following arghya should be done three times:
नमःशिवाय सांबाय सर्वपापहराय च। शिवरात्रौ मया दत्तं इदं अर्घ्यं गृहाण भो॥ सांबशिवाय नमः इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
namaḥśivāya sāṁbāya sarvapāpaharāya ca | śivarātrau mayā dattaṁ idaṁ arghyaṁ gṛhāṇa bho || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
2. The following arghya should be done three times:
मया कृतान्यशेषाणि पापानि नुद शङ्कर। शिवरात्रौ मया दत्तं गृहाणार्घ्यं प्रसिद मे॥ सांबशिवाय नमः इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
mayā kṛtānyaśeṣāṇi pāpāni nuda śaṅkara | śivarātrau mayā dattaṁ gṛhāṇārghyaṁ prasida me || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ ||
3. The following arghya should be done three times:
आकाशदिक् शरीराय ग्रहरक्षत्र मालिने। सुर सिन्धु विनाशाय दत्तं अर्घ्यं मया शिव॥ सांबशिवाय नमः इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
ākāśadik śarīrāya graharakṣatra māline | sura sindhu vināśāya dattaṁ arghyaṁ mayā śiva || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
4. The following arghya should be done three times:
व्योमकेश नमस्तुभ्यं सोमात्मन् व्योमरूपिणे। नक्षत्रमालिने देव गृहाणार्घ्यं इदं प्रभो॥ सांबशिवाय नमः इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
vyomakeśa namastubhyaṁ somātman vyomarūpiṇe | nakṣatramāline deva gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ prabho || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
5. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for Pārvati)
अंबिकायै नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्ते देवि पार्वति। गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं सुप्रिता वरदा भव। अंबिकायै नमः। इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
aṁbikāyai namastubhyaṁ namaste devi pārvati | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ mayā dattaṁ supritā varadā bhava | aṁbikāyai namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
6. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for Kārttikeya कार्त्तिकेय son of Pārvati and Parameśvara)
सुब्रह्मण्य महाभाग कार्तिकेय सुरोत्तम। गृहाणार्घ्यं इदं दत्तं सुप्रितो वरदो भव। सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः। इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
subrahmaṇya mahābhāga kārtikeya surottama | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ dattaṁ suprito varado bhava | subrahmaṇyāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
7. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for नन्दिकेश्वर nandikeśvara, the vehicle of Śiva)
नन्दिकेश महाभाग शिवध्यान परायण। गृहाणार्घ्यं इदं दत्तं नन्दिकेश्वर नमोऽस्तुते। नन्दिकेशाय नमः। इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
nandikeśa mahābhāga śivadhyāna parāyaṇa | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ dattaṁ nandikeśvara namo'stute | nandikeśāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
8. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for चण्डिकेश्वर Caṇḍikeśvara, an attendant of Śiva)
चण्डिकेशाय नमः। इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं इदमर्घ्यं॥
caṇḍikeśāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||
At the end of these arghya-s, the following mantra is to be recited.
अनया पूजया अर्घ्यप्रदानेन च सपरिवारः सांबशिव प्रीयताम्।
anayā pūjayā arghyapradānena ca saparivāraḥ sāṁbaśiva prīyatām |
February 17, 2015 01:17 PM
Thank you Guruji,
Will perform this puja tonight and can you post a simple meditation to be done on the holy night.
February 17, 2015 02:20 PM
1. Sit for normal meditative posture, with spine erect.
2. Inhale and exhale only through left nostril not exceeding 10 times. While doing this, close the right nostril with right index finger.
3. Sit for two minutes, resorting to normal breathing.
4. Now try to slow down breathing rate as low as possible.
5. With closed eyes and reduced breathing rate, recite ॐ namaḥśivāya, first with a little sound and then recite mentally. When verbal recitation is about to stop, follow as detailed below.
6. Fix attention one inch above ājñācakra (manas chakra). For this, use both the eyeballs to look at manas charka and also visualize that breathing takes place from manas chakra. After 30 seconds, eyeballs should be brought back to normal position. If during intent meditation, eyeballs again go to manas chakra on their own, then it is not a problem.
7. Meditate as long as possible and if the quality of the meditation is good, one can “see” bright Light between the eye brows. During this time, one could become unconscious and therefore, it is advisable to have proper back support.
8. Once this Light is “seen”, stay with that Light for some time.
9. After being with that Light for some time, consciousness will return back to the body on its own. The whole process could take around two to three hours.
10. This meditation should be done only in empty stomach. It is advisable to have water by the side.
February 17, 2015 08:59 PM
Inside the head just above pituitary and pineal glands.
February 17, 2015 06:30 PM
Respected Guruji,
When concentrating on Manas charkra. Should the awareness be on Forehead above ajna chakra or should we focus inside our head where manas chakra is located which is above ajna chakra
Regards,
jayanth
March 07, 2015 03:04 AM
Dearest Guruji,
Thank you very much for the Shivaratri Puja and meditation and i'm following all your teachings and guidelines.
Guruji, I found this rare Mritasanjivini Mantrah on Sanskrit Documents site and can you please translate it in english for the benefit of all.Thank you
॥ मृतसञ्जीविनी मन्त्रः ॥
। अथ मृतसञ्जीविनी मन्त्रः ।
शुक्र ऋषिः, गायत्री छन्दः, मृतसञ्जीवनी देवी देवता ।
ह्रीं बीजं, स्वाहा शक्तिः, हंसः कीलकं, न्यासं मूलेन ।
विनियोगः समाख्यात स्त्रिचतुश्चैककं पुनः ।
षट् चतु द्विककेनैव षडङ्गानि समाचरेत् ।
१ ह्रीं हंसः, २ सञ्जीविनि, ३ जूं, ४ जीवम्प्राणग्रन्थिं,
५ कुरु स्वाहा ।
ह्रीं हंसः, सञ्जीविनि, जूं हंसः कुरु कुरु, कुरु सौः सौः, स्वाहा ।
October 13, 2016 02:15 AM
Dear Sir, Curious to know if I can add arghya for Ganesha in this procedure. What would be the first two lines of arghya-mantra for the same?