FREMONT: The name of the festival that roughly translates to the ‘great night of Shiva’ is celebrated with fanfare and enthusiasm by the Hindu community globally. As per the Hindu calendar, Shivratri is celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Maagha. According to some, Shivratri is celebrated as the day when Shiva saved the world from the pot of poison that emerged from the ocean during Samudra Manthan.
The basic principle underlying the observance of the Maha-Shivaratri Vrata appears to be to shed hatred, ego, old habits, attachment with worldly life and become samdarsi by accepting and loving the downtrodden, needy, and the untouchables.
Vedic Dharma Samaj temple in Fremont celebrated Maha Shivratri puja spread over two days on March 6 and 7. The entire twelve hours were divided into four parts or Kalam and there was ablution or Abhishekam for Shiva Linga after every three hours. The priests performed the ablution with the prescribed eleven ingredients.
Devotees chanted Panchakshara ‘Om Namah Shivaya,’ 1008 Shiva Namahvali (1008 Holy Names of Lord Shiva) and offered holy Bilva Patras to the Lord. Chants, mantras, pujas, offerings, meditations, every possible means to propitiate the Lord was on evidence on the auspicious day, ahead of the grand culmination of the aarti.
Fremont Hindu temple had organized for the special Sahasra Spatula Lingaarchana with 1008 Shiv Lingas and it was the first time all over Bay area, says, Deepak Chhabra. Over 5000 devotees offered their prayers on this holy day at the Fremont Hindu temple.
The temple management had made elaborate arrangements for Shiva Parvathi Kalyana Mahotsavam. On Monday, the Kalyanam of Sri Parvathi and Sri Shiva Kalyanam was attended by over thousand devotees from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed Tandava, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction on this auspicious night of Shivaratri.
The temple management thanked the priests, volunteers, committee members and others associated with the temple proceedings for their valuable time and for bringing the best religious events to the Bay area devotees.
Shiv Durga temple at Santa Clara also celebrated Maha Shivratri with yagna, havan, abhishekam, bhajan, aarti with preeti bhoj going all day long. The Sunday celebration was attended by over 1000 Bay Area devotees and special guests from all over Bay area. Amarnath Linga, which was carved out of ice block, was a major attraction of the event.
Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
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