If we look at our life…
If we check our state of mind…
If we observe what is happening in the world around us…
We find sorrow, pain, peacelessness, worry, hatred. Over time, we have accepted these as natural. We have come to believe that this is how life is meant to be. This present world has reached the peak of the Iron Age — a time when righteousness has steeply declined .
But will this continue forever?
Will the Iron Age intensify endlessly?
No.
It is God’s promise that whenever there is a steep decline in righteousness, He Himself descends into this world .
The Real Meaning of Decline in Righteousness
Decline in righteousness does not merely mean moral decay in society. It means the soul has completely changed from its original form .
Instead of,
purity, peace, power, love and bliss, the soul adopted:
Lust - Anger - Greed- Attachment - Ego - Jealousy - Hatred
We began believing these to be our Sanskars — our nature.
And as are our Sanskars, so becomes our Sansar (world) .
Today, the world is not just in darkness — it is in the midnight of darkness. But after midnight, dawn must arrive. After the Iron Age, the Golden Age must emerge .
Who Brings the Golden Age?
The Golden Age cannot appear automatically. To establish a golden-aged world, we need golden-aged Sanskars .
How will these Sanskars be created?
At this time of midnight — the peak of Iron Age — the Incorporeal Supreme Soul, God Shiva, the Point of Light whom we lovingly call Shiv Baba, descends into this world .
He descends during the night of ignorance.
Therefore, it is called Shiv-Ratri — the night of Shiva.
And because it happens at the darkest phase of the cycle, we call it Maha Shivratri .
The Symbol of the Kalash and Shivling
When God descends, He explains spiritual knowledge — drop by drop . Each drop of knowledge fills the “Kalash” of our intellect. That is why a Kalash is shown above the Shivling, with water trickling down drop by drop. This symbolizes spiritual wisdom flowing into our intellect.
As these drops of knowledge enter:
The intellect becomes pure
Awareness awakens
Ignorance begins to dissolve
The First Awakening : I Am Not This Body
The very first drop of knowledge is:
I am not this body. My name, qualification, position, wealth, relationships — they are mine. But they are not “I.”
I am the soul — the energy that drives and manages all aspects of life .
This realization awakens us from the sleep of body-consciousness. We had mistaken labels for the self.
Understanding the World Cycle
The second drop of knowledge reveals the world cycle:
Golden Age - Silver Age - Copper Age - Iron Age
Just like morning, afternoon, evening and night repeat every 24 hours, the world cycle repeats eternally . I, the soul, was once a golden-aged divine being. Gradually, as purity depleted, I arrived in the Iron Age, filled with vices .
But as knowledge fills the intellect again, awakening happens.
We realize:
I am a pure soul. Peace is my original Sanskar. Love, power, bliss and knowledge are my true nature .
Earlier we searched for these outside. Now we realize they are within.
Why Do We Observe Jagran?
On Shivratri, devotees stay awake the whole night — Jagran.
Why?
Because God comes to awaken us from the sleep of ignorance . This is not just physical wakefulness. It is spiritual awakening.
An awakening for a lifetime.
Why Do We Pour Milk and Water on the Shivling?
Pouring water and milk symbolizes a pledge of purity .
We promise to inculcate purity in:
Mind - Body - Wealth - Words - Actions - Relationships
When purity enters our life:
Mind becomes stable, Intellect becomes clean and God’s remembrance becomes natural.
Earlier, the mind wandered during remembrance. But once purity becomes natural, connection with God becomes effortless.
The True Meaning of Upvas
Upvas does not merely mean fasting.
“Up” means near.
“Vas” means residing.
Upvas means residing close to God . Externally, we live with everyone and perform all responsibilities. Internally, we reside near the Supreme.
If the mind is impure, remembrance is difficult. But with purity, remaining in God’s company becomes natural .
And whoever we live with, we become like them. Thus, living in God’s company transforms us.
From Weakness to Transformation
Upvas is also called Vrat.
When our attitude transforms, our words and actions transform .
Weaknesses we once believed were unchangeable begin to dissolve effortlessly. Habits disappear so naturally that we do not even realize when they changed .
This is spiritual transformation.
Why Offer Aak and Datura Flowers?
These flowers are considered poisonous.
Why offer poisonous flowers to Shiv Baba?
Because they symbolize the poison within us — our vices .
We offer:
Anger - Ego - Greed - Attachment - Jealousy
We believed these were our nature — our flowers. But they are poisonous.
Until we surrender iron-aged Sanskars, golden-aged Sanskars cannot emerge .
The Meaning Behind Bhang
On Shivratri, some drink Bhang. But how can one meditate, observe Vrat and remain awakened under intoxication?
Bhang symbolizes something deeper — spiritual intoxication .
It represents:
Intoxication of God’s knowledge
Intoxication of God’s powers
Intoxication of divine sustenance
Intoxication of super-sensuous joy
This intoxication is not for one day. It becomes constant throughout life.
A soul intoxicated with spiritual joy no longer seeks happiness through sense organs .
Gallery
Recognising God
At the peak of the Iron Age, the Incorporeal Supreme Soul descends. Very few among multi-millions recognize Him .
How do we recognize God?
Very simple.
Just begin receiving the drops of knowledge He is giving .
As we receive:
Intellect becomes pure, Purity becomes natural and Awakening becomes permanent
An Invitation
Rajyog Meditation Centres, known as Brahma Kumaris Centres, are places where this spiritual knowledge is shared .
Through the instrument Brahma Baba, the Incorporeal Supreme Soul Shiv Baba gives these drops of wisdom .
The invitation is simple:
Come once.
Understand how God is giving knowledge at this time.
Once understood, recognition becomes certain .
Collective Transformation
As Sanskars transform:
Spiritual intoxication becomes a way of life, Old thoughts dissolve, Iron-aged weaknesses end and,
Collectively, we will:
Finish the Iron Age
Re-establish the Golden Age
The Golden Age is not created automatically.
We must collectively create it.
Final Reflection
Maha Shivratri is not just a festival.
It is:
The night of spiritual awakening
The pledge of purity
The offering of vices
The experience of divine proximity
The intoxication of super-sensuous joy
The beginning of Golden Age Sanskars
At this time of world transformation, awakening is not for one night.
It is for a lifetime.
Om Shanti.
