Maha Sivarathri and significance of Nanthy Flag for peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka

CELEBRATION: Maha Sivarathri which falls today (Feb. 16) will be observed in every temple and also in Hindu homes. The whole day and night will be profitably spent in temples. The night which is devoted to Lord Shiva as the term Sivarathri indicates is more important than the observances during the day.

At a temple the night is divided into four quarters from sunset to sunrise, in each of which, ceremonies of Abishekam, Puja and Archanai are performed and at the same time in a separately appointed place there will be continuous devotional music and religious discourses to enable the devotees to pass the time in prayer and meditation without sleeping throughout the night.

The night is emphasised to signify the darkness of the world of senses in which we find ourselves; the endeavour is to pass from darkness to light, from night to the day of deliverance.

Early in the morning after Sivarathri night, the slender streak of a moon in its last phase escapes from the darkness which threatens to swallow it up by union with the resplendent rising sun. This is symbolic of the achievement of Moksha, heavenly bliss, illumination, liberation from Samsara or salvation and it is in essence the realisation of the object of one’s life.

In fact, Lord Shiva in His aspect of Nataraja or the Cosmic dances on Maha Sivarathri Day is represented as working out the infinite modes of rhythm in the processes of universal creation, preservation and destruction.

The small drum (Uduakkai) in one hand symbolises creation, the abayakara or the hand dispelling fear and assuring protection symbolises preservation. Fire in another hand depicts the aspect of destruction. These three fold nature of God absolute is brought out by the dance of Shiva on Maha Sivarathri Day.

Furthermore, in every Shivan temple there is Nanthy (bull) which is the vahana or vehicle of Lord Shiva, is always found facing Shivalingam in the places of worship.

In fact, Nanthi represents Dharma. It is very often said that “the world revolveth not round the inventors of new noises, but it revolveth inaudibly round the inventors of values”, thus said a German poet.

Further, in the history of the world every nation has stood for a particular idea which it has sought to weave into the fabric of the lives of the people. The Germans made the concept of beauty essentially their own, the rule of law moulded the pattern of the Britishers.

Likewise, long before the Greeks and Britishers, the Hindus were told to govern their lives by the norms of Dharma, which comprehends all the excellence, which make for an ideal humanity.

Dharma is an internal discipline by which a given social order is protected. It is by Dharma that civilisation is maintained. Therefore Dharma may be defined as social norm or moral law.

Since Nanthi or the Sacred Bull is said to be the vehicle of Lord Shiva, it also means that Dharma is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.

To the ordinary Hindu, Nanthi represents physical of Shiva in the form of a bull. Lord Nanthy is a manifested energy or dynamic motion that is felt in the invisible and partly visible nature of the micro or macro cosmos and in the visible objective nature it is a vehicle.

Indeed, there is a flag for every nation, every religion and every political party without any exception. They hoist their flags during all their important occasions and celebrations and the whole world comes to know their respective celebrations on account of their flag hoisting ceremony. But, there is no such flag common to Hindus being hoisted during festivals or ceremonies anywhere in the world.

Realising this divine service that the ‘Colombo Saiva Munnetta Sangam’ had taken all possible steps to hoist the Nanthy Flag (Nanthi Kodi) in every religious organisation particularly in Hindu temples and Hindu homes.

In fact, the hoisting of the Nanthy flag (Nanthi kodi) was the vision and brainchild of late Mr. S. T. Sinnadurai, the founder of Leela Press and great social and religious worker.

Though the idea of hoisting Nanthy flag originated from late Mrs. Sinnadurai, it has now been taken forward by his son S. Dhanabalaa. Indeed, his divine service has been immensely appreciated and duly recognised by all the communities and denominations.

Furthermore, realising the importance of hoisting the Nanthy flag, even the Colombo Municipal Council Deputy Mayor S. Rajendran has taken all possible steps to distribute Nanthy flags on Maha Sivarathri day. Rajendran deserves our congratulations for this tremendous divine service.

In Hinduism every god has an associated vehicle. For example Lord Ganesha has the rat, Goddess Saraswathy has the swan and Lord Muruga has the peacock.

As an independent deity the bull was in ancient times of the Lord of Joy (Nandikeswara) and was represented as a man with the bull’s head. Lord Shiva is nothing else, but Lord Nanthy and in the visible state it is represented by a bull.

The saints selected a bull as a vehicle for Lord Shiva since it ploughs the field, draws carts and helps man in many ways. Furthermore, the bull is a vehicle representing movement. It is the movement of the Supreme Consciousness Lord Shiva since it is statue and the dynamic nature was called as Nanthy.

The flag hoisting ceremony in the temples particularly on Maha Sivarathri Day indicates that the descended Kundalani Sakthy at Moolatharam of our spinal cord should rise to the head. The flag lowering ceremony indicates how this supreme consciousness descends down from the head to the body (Creation) and reach the end of the spinal cord (Moolathatam).

In fact, the hoisting of Nanthi Kodi (Nanthy flag) at the top of the Rajagopurams of the temples and in other religious organisations will undoubtedly explain the principles and philosophies of Saivaism to achieve the goal of life.

The Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs and the All Ceylon Hindu Congress have consistently given Mr. Dhanabalaa necessary support, encouragement, strength and assistance in every way for his immense divine service.

Undoubtedly the Nanthy flag (Nanthi Kodi) encapsulates the essence of Hindu-Saiva thought. It portrays reality, moral and ethical norms. As such, Nanthy flag is an apt representation of the Hindus who are passive yet perceptive, hale yet humble and deep, devout and detached.

Hence, on this great and glorious occasion of ‘Mahasivarathri’, our paramount duty is to resist disintegration by strengthening the forces of integration. Let us not forget that Sri Lanka has a vision and a mission. It should set an example to men and women everywhere to eschew violence and hatred and to tread the path of peace, love and compassion.

Furthermore, let all the Hindu devotees hoist Nanthy flag (Nanthi kodi) which represents Lord Shiva not only in the temples, but even in their homes, schools, and religious organisations to bring about everlasting peace and eternal prosperity to Sri Lanka.

On this ‘Mahasivarathri Day’ let me conclude with the soul-stirring words of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore:

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and actions

Into that Heaven of Freedom, my father let my country awake.”

- Kalabhooshanam

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar