Time to discover the legend behind Mahashivratri

The 14th day of every month is known as Shivaratri. Mahashivaratri is the most powerful of the year’s twelve Shivaratris and celebrates the grace of Shiva. The word “Shiva” means “that which is not”. Science says everything came out of nothing and will go back into nothing. There’s a certain dimension of energy which scientists call dark energy. They say that is what is holding everything together. If you look at the sky, you will see many stars, but still, the biggest presence is the vast emptiness. This emptiness – the very basis of creation – is referred to as “Shiva”. He is also called “the dark one.” His night, Shivaratri, is the darkest night of the month.

On Mahashivaratri, the planetary positions, especially in the northern hemisphere, are such that there is a natural upsurge of energy in the human system. It is easy to move our energies upwards. To facilitate this, one should keep the spine vertical. Hence, the tradition of staying awake throughout this night.

Shiva has always been referred to as “Triambaka” because he has a third eye, the eye of inner vision. The two eyes all human beings have are sensory organs that feed the mind with impressions of the physical. They just see what is on the surface. So another eye, an eye of deeper penetration, has to be opened.

Knowing doesn’t come from reading books or listening to someone, nor does it mean simply acquiring information. Knowing means opening up a new vision of life. For real knowing, the third eye has to open. This brings a clarity that no situation can distort. On Mahashivaratri, that possibility becomes easily accessible.