Firstly, one has to understand that prayer is direct communication with God. In this way one turns to God and draws closer to God. By doing so, one derives strength and direction from the Supreme Divine Energy. I am sure that on this night, all of you pray with faith that God/ Shiva responds to your prayer.Prayer to Lord Shiva is a very personal experience, filling ones emotional and spiritual needs. This prayer to Lord Shiva is to acknowledge that on this night He is present and is very active in our lives. Singing of hymns on this night is bhakti source of prayer and contemplation to Lord Shiva.
The effects of this night’s prayer are creative to the mind. The body also feels well. The scriptures make mention that Lord Shiva is a pure and pristine God. Shiva is free from the gunas; all 3 of them; therefore, Shiva can purify anything by the mere utterance of His name. Shiva confers good and auspiciousness on all who sing His name on this night. He destroys sorrow at its root cause.
Who then is Shiva?
Shiva is the great ascetic, the master of knowledge, the medicine for ignorance, disease and worldly troubles. Shiva’s other name is Nilakanta, the one with the blue throat. By taking the poison, he saved the entire creation. His abode is Kailasa. Shiva represents Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram; meaning Truth, Goodness and Beauty. Actually, these are the essences of Lord Shiva. The Lord of Yoga is Shiva. The Lord is worshipped as a Linga in 5 major temples in South India.
Shiva is worshipped as the 5 elements:
1. Space – Akash Linga in Chidambaram
2. Water – Appu Linga in Trichy
3. Fire – Agni Linga in Tiruvannamalai
4. Earth – Prithi Linga in Kanchipuram
5. Air – Vayu Linga in Andhra Pradesh
Let your prayer on this night be:
OM NAMA SHIVAYA NAMAH
I salute Lord Shiva, the liberator of everything, omnipresent embodiment of
Brahmadeva, without birth or death, to that Lord, my humble prostrations.
OM NAMA SHIVAYA NAMAHA
