HINDUISM

Maha Shivarathri and significance of Nanthy Flag

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Maha Shivarathri which is one of the most important festivals of Hindus dedicated to Lord Shiva falls on February 20. On this day devotees will fast and keep vigil throughout the night repeating the words “Om Sivaya Nama”.

Poojas will be conducted at Shivan temples during the four quarters of the night accompanied with devotional songs, mantra recitation and rendering of classical dances dedicated to Lord Shiva.

God is omnipotent and all pervasive. By the nature of these qualities He is formless. On Maha Shivarathri Day Lord Shiva manifests Himself in the form of a Lingam. Further, Lord Shiva assumes various forms in pursuance of His Divine Spirit.

The prime manifestation with the form of the formless Shiva is known as Lingabhana Moorthy and He is said to make His appearance in that form at midnight on Maha Shivarathri Day. On this auspicious occasion of Maha Shivarathri Lord Shiva performs the ecstatic dance of Nataraja. The cosmic dances on Maha Shivarathri Day is represented as working out the infinite modes or rhythm in the process of universal creation, preservation and destruction.

The small drum (Udukkai) in one hand symbolizes creation. The Abayakara or the hand dispelling fear and assuring protection symbolizes preservation. Fire in another hand depicts the aspect of destruction. These three fold nature of God absolute is brought out by the dance of Lord Shiva on Maha Shivarathri Day.

The Divine Dance is the thrilling expression of God's realization by one who has transcended the limitation of the material layers of one's personality. This divine dance portrays the world being formed and dissolved. The cosmic activity is the central motive of the dance. Lord Shiva's dance posture balancing on one foot signifies the single pointed attainment of a man's realization with the absolute realization.

The dwarfish demon which is crushed under Lord Shiva's foot represents the Ego. When the ego and desires are kept under control the man of perfection experiences within himself the pure transcendental essence of Divinity.

The desires which constitute the limited ego or individuality represent the lower nature of man. This lower nature is likened to a serpent. A perfect control of the lower nature by the higher proclaims the dignity and glory of man.

This idea is symbolized by Lord Shiva adorning himself with a coiling serpent around His neck. The continuous chain of creation and destruction maintains the entire universe. In other words the universe exists because of the continuous process of creation and destruction.

Rathri means night when it is dark. Darkness stands for lack of knowledge. Lord Shiva's dance on Maha Sivarathri indicates that His transcendental experience of the reality is unknown to the rest of the mankind.

Even Lord Shiva's consort Parvathi was destroyed by one stare. This signifies that the man of perfection possesses the fire of pure knowledge, in the light of which ignorance, passion, egoistic arrogance disappear which leads to absolute beauty, peace and bliss.

Furthermore, in every Shivan temple there is Nanthy (Bull) which is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. It is always found facing Shivalingam in the places of worship. In fact, Nanthy represents Dharma. It is very often said that the world revolves not round the inventors of new noises, but round the inventors of values, thus said a German poet.

It is by Dharma that civilization in maintained. Therefore, the Nanthy which is the vehicle of Lord Shiva represents Dharma.

Indeed, there is a flag for every nation, every religion and every political party without any exception. They hoist their flags in all important religious occasions and the whole world comes to know of their respective celebrations an account of their flags. But, there was no such flag common to Hindus to be hoisted during festival anywhere in the world.

Realizing this Divine service the world Saiva Council's (Sri Lanka) Vice President, Vice President of All Ceylon Hindu Congress, Vice President of Vivekananda Society and Trustee of the Colombo Saiva Munnetra Sangam “Vidai Kodi” Sinnadurai Dhanabalaa and several others have taken all possible steps to hoist Nanthy Flags at New Kathiresan Temple as Maha Shivarathri Day and distribute these flags to all the devotees and well-wishers.

Furthermore, these flags will be hoisted at various Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka particularly at Thiruketheeswaram temple, Munneswaram temple, Naguleswaram temple and Kochchikade Shivan Temple. Besides, on this day Nanthi Flags will be hoisted in foreign countries at religious organizations and temples particularly in London, South Afrida, Australia, Canada, France and several other countries.

In fact, Maha Shivarathri was chosen as “Saiva Flag Day”, not only because it was an important festival for the saivites, but also because it is a rare occasion when a large number of devotees would congregate in temples on this occasion. Further, the main purpose of conducting the sale of Nanthy Flags is to raise funds for several development activities.

Indeed, the flag hoisting ceremony in temples particularly on Maha Shivarathri Day indicates that the descendant of Kundalani Sakthy at Moolatharam of our Spinal Chord should rise to the head.

The flag lowering ceremony indicates that the supreme consciousness descends down from the head to the body and reach the end of the spinal chord.

As such, on this Maha Shivarathri Day, let us pray to Lord Shiva by way of fasting and keeping vigil throughout the night to receive His Divine Blessings.