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Maha Shivratri : The Divine Awakening of the Soul
Will the world always remain in darkness, or is a new dawn about to begin?
If we observe our lives, our state of mind, and the world around us, we see sorrow, unrest, hatred, and suffering. We have accepted these as natural. We call this period the peak of the Iron Age (Kaliyug), believing that the world has reached its lowest state. But is this the end, or is there hope for a transformation? Will this darkness continue forever?
The divine promise is clear: “Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, I will descend into this world.” This means that at the time of extreme ignorance and suffering, God Himself comes to awaken us and guide us toward a new age of purity and peace. But how does this transformation happen? How do we move from the Iron Age to the Golden Age? The answer lies within us—our Sanskaras (spiritual impressions), our purity, and our awakening.
The Cycle of Time: From Darkness to Light
The world moves through a cycle—Golden Age (Satyug), Silver Age (Tretayug), Copper Age (Dwaparyug), and Iron Age (Kaliyug). Just as after night comes the morning, after the darkest period of the Iron Age, a new age must dawn. But this transformation does not happen automatically. We, the souls, must bring the Golden Age by changing our Sanskaras.
Right now, humanity is in a deep slumber of ignorance. We have identified ourselves with our body, name, wealth, and relationships, forgetting our true self—the soul. This is the greatest illusion. But just as the first ray of sunlight begins to break the night, the first drop of spiritual wisdom can awaken us.
The First Awakening: “I Am a Soul”
The moment we realize, “I am not this body, but a soul, an eternal being of light,” we begin to wake up. Our labels—name, profession, status—are external, but our true identity is the soul, a being of peace, love, and purity. This first realization is like the first drop of knowledge that fills our intellect with light.
The Descent of God: The Significance of Shivratri
At this time of extreme darkness, God Himself, the Incorporeal Supreme Soul—Shiv Baba—descends into this world. That is why this event is called Shivratri (Shiv means Benevolent One, Ratri means night). God descends in the night of ignorance to give us the light of knowledge.
This is symbolized in temples where water continuously drips from a kalash (urn) onto the Shivling. This represents the gradual flow of spiritual wisdom into our intellect, purifying us drop by drop. As our intellect becomes pure, we begin to transform.
The Process of Transformation: The Pledge of Purity
To shift from the Iron Age to the Golden Age, we must return to our original pure state. For this, purity is the foundation. This is why on Shivratri, we take a pledge of purity—of mind, words, and actions. This is symbolized by offering water and milk to the Shivling, which represents cleansing and purity.
But purity is not just about external rituals. It means:
- Purity in thoughts—releasing anger, hatred, jealousy, and ego.
- Purity in relationships—interacting with others with love and respect.
- Purity in diet—eating pure, vegetarian, and sattvic food.
- Purity in actions—ensuring all karma is based on righteousness.
Once we embrace purity, our mind naturally starts remembering God. The struggle to focus during meditation disappears because purity brings closeness to the Divine.
The Symbolism of Offerings on Shivratri
Upvas: Fasting for the Soul
On Shivratri, many observe fasting (Upvas). But the true meaning of Upvas is not just avoiding food—it means staying close to God.
- “Up” means near, “Vas” means to reside.
- True fasting is keeping the mind constantly in God’s remembrance while performing all worldly duties.
- When we remain in God’s company, we become like Him—peaceful, pure, and powerful.
This is why Upvas naturally leads to a transformation in our attitude, behavior, and destiny.
Aak and Datura flowers to Shivling
These flowers are considered poisonous, yet they are offered. Why?
Because these represent our vices and weaknesses—lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego.
- We have mistakenly believed these to be our natural Sanskaras.
- But on this day, we surrender them to God.
- Only by giving up these negative traits can we adopt divine qualities and create the Golden Age.
Thus, Shivratri is a time to let go of our inner weaknesses and embrace our original divine nature.
Spiritual Intoxication: The True Meaning of Bhang
Many people drink Bhang on Shivratri. But the true meaning of Bhang is spiritual intoxication.
- It is the intoxication of divine knowledge, God’s love, and the joy of soul consciousness.
- It is not a temporary high, but a permanent state of bliss that stays with us throughout life.
When we are spiritually intoxicated, we do not seek happiness externally. Instead, we experience super-sensuous joy—joy beyond the senses, a joy of the soul.
The Ultimate Awakening: Recognizing God
On this sacred day, let us recognize that God has descended into this world to guide us. But very few among millions recognize Him.
To recognize God, we do not need miracles or supernatural signs. The simplest way is:
✔ Receive the drops of knowledge that He gives.
✔ Purify the intellect through meditation and self-transformation.
✔ Take a pledge of purity and live a life of divine remembrance.
When we do this, an awakening happens—not for one day, but for a lifetime. It is a shift from the old self to the new self, from darkness to light, from sorrow to bliss.
Invitation to Transformation
Wherever you are, you will find a Rajyoga meditation center near you. These are places where God’s spiritual wisdom is given, where we can receive these drops of divine knowledge, and where we can transform our lives.
On this auspicious Shivratri, let us:
🌟 Recognize God in His true form.
🌟 Receive His wisdom and let it awaken our intellect.
🌟 Take a pledge of purity and live in God’s remembrance.
🌟 Offer our weaknesses to Him and embrace divine Sanskaras.
🌟 Become instruments to create the Golden Age.
The Iron Age has reached its peak. The time for transformation is now. The new dawn is waiting. Let us collectively create the Golden Age, beginning with the self.
Guided Meditation for Divine Connection
“Sit comfortably. Keep your eyes half-open. Breathe deeply. Now, gently remind yourself—’I am a pure, peaceful soul. I am a being of light. My original nature is love, power, and bliss. I am connected to the Supreme Light, Shiv Baba. His wisdom fills my intellect, drop by drop, purifying me completely. All my weaknesses dissolve. I am awakening. The new world is being created through me. I am a divine soul. I am the creator of the Golden Age.’“
Remain in this experience for a few minutes. Let this realization become your new reality.
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