The significance of Maha Sivarathri is the union of Siva and Shakti(power). If Shiva is away from Shakti it is like Shavam(corpse), or body without life. Only with Shakti does Shiva exist, this is the essence of Sivarathri. The Universe is combination of Siva and Shakti(Universal power). The universe in reality is shaped like the Siva Lingam. On the midnight of Sivarathri is the time for the Lingodbhavam. The inner meaning of this is that the aim and goal of Sivarathri is to enlighten the atma in us and unite it with the Universal power and thereby attain yoga. Sivarathri should awaken humanity and divinity in man.

By nature man is divine, due to power of Maya, we forget our blissful divine nature and fail to see divinity that is present everywhere and in everyone. When Shiva is worshipped with devotion, he frees us from the clutches of maya. He grants us the divine virtues of renunciation, discrimination, dispassion to worldly attractions, devotion to the Supreme Being, compassion to all beings, fearlessness, strength to practise spiritual disciplines for the control and purification of the mind.

Every person has Shakti(power) in Him, and everyone has to become a Siva. The Universe is Siva and to understand the philosophy of Siva, one has to experience the union of Siva and Shakti and make ourselves an abode of joy. And it is my heartfelt desire that all of you should attain this state.

Siva is not separate from Vishnu or Brahma. Siva, Vishnu & Brahma are all the same. If the Universe which is embodiment of Siva is without of Shakti then it becomes lifeless. When Shakti is united with matter it is Chaitanyam, or the Life force, and to reach that state of Chaitanyam is the goal of Sivarathri. Then Shavakaram(corpse) will become Sivaakaram(Lord Siva or Body with Life).

Upavaasam and Jagaran associated with Maha Sivarathri don't merely mean fasting and staying awake without sleep all night. The true meaning of Upavaasam(Upa + Vaasam): Upa means near, Vaasam means staying, this means that we should constantly think of God and thereby live close to God and feel the presence of God. The true meaning of Jagaran is being in a state of wakefulness or a state of knowledge. The fasting associated with Sivarathri impress upon the mind of man his duty to impose ‘fast’ on his senses and vigilance on his intelligence to keep away polluting impulses and inclinations. The true meaning of Jagaran is being in a state of wakefulness or a state of knowledge. Darkness prevails at night. But during Sivarathri, the night is not dark but full of light. The light is experienced by immersing oneself in good thoughts and contemplating on the glorious form of Siva, on the Divine, reminding oneself of unity with the Divine and attaining a state of pure holiness.

That is we should go from untruth to truth, darkness to light and death to immortality and that is the real meaning of Jagaran.

Divine blessings to all, Shubhamasthu, kalyanamastu. I hope that the world is an abode of peace.

Sri Sri Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharaj

Smt.K.Ratnamohini an ardent devotee of Swamiji passed away on February 16, 2013 at Hyderabad. She was the author of Viswaratnamala - a commentary of the 108 names of Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharaj, besides several other books about Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Swamijee.