Sivarathri message-Part-2

Parama Siva is the Tatva Nama of Parameshwara

All the infinite names of Parameshwara can be categorized into four:

Tatva Nama, Ananya Nama, Avyaya Nama, and Vibhooti Nama.

Paramasiva, Siva, Sivam are the Tatva Names of Parameshwara.

Paramasiva Sabda is the principle that represents the Nirguna Brahma that existed before the creation of the universe, time, beings, Devas, Bhagwans, and the Saguna Brahma who is the cause of creation of the universe.

Who is Paramasiva?

What is the meaning of Siva?

Here are a few definitions out of many:

‘Shuddhatwarthu Sivah Proktah’

Owing to his purity, he is called Siva.

‘Shobhanatwat Sivah’

Because he is the source of light, he is Siva

‘Shamyateeti Sivah’

Because he is the epitome of Shanti (peace), he is Siva.

‘Vashteeti Sivah’

Because he is omnipresent, he is Siva

‘Shete’smin Sarvamiti Sivah’

Because he is all-encompassing, he is Siva

Because he is Mangalakari (auspicious), he is Siva.

and so on.

Parameshwara as defined by the Rishis

Who is the ‘Our Siva’ that Sree Narayana Guru was referring to – the Paramasiva of the Aarsha Guru Paramparas, of Sanathana Dharma?

In all Para Vidyas (spiritual sciences) like Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra, and Siddhanta, Paramasiva is the Paramatatva (highest principle). According to Yoga, Moksha is attained when Paramasiva who is situated in the Sahsrara Padma is realized. In Tantra Vidya, the first of the 36 principles is the Siva Tantra. Even in Siddhanta, Siva is the supreme principle. In Vedantha, attaining Shivoham is Moksha.

It is noteworthy that in all of these, Paramasiva is described as Parameshwara Tatva itself. But later, some conservatists and the flawed written works that they propagated, limited this principle to just one of them among the Trimurtis. Not only did they give human forms to the synonyms (Siva, Devi, Vishnu, Brahma) of the one Ishwara, they propagated absurd stories hatched in their twisted imaginations. They were depicted as subhumans, and sometimes even lower than animals. It is a fact that the Puranas have played a major role in this. This is what Sree Narayana Guru said in his short meaningful phrase ‘It is not your Siva (their limited concept), but our Siva (as per Siddhanta Parampara) that I have enshrined.’

This is the definition given by Siddha Maharshis:

को वा परमशिव:?

यस्य आत्मनो अन्य: ईश्वरो नास्ति, निराश्रय: निरामयश्च भूत्वा समस्तलोकाय सदा शिवं (मङ्गलं, परमश्रेय:) दत्वा प्रशोभितो परमज्योति:, सच्चिदानन्दस्वरूप: सनातन: परमेश्वर: एक एव परं ब्रह्म तत्वम्। परमशिव:।

Yasya atmano anyah ishwaro nasthi, nirashrayah niramayashcha bhootva samasthalokaaya sada Sivam (mangalam, paramashreyah) datva prashobhitho paramajyothih, sacchidanandaswaroopah sanatanah parameshwarah eka eva param brahma tatvam. ParamaSivah.

Meaning:

One who is Nirashraya (one who does not need to rely upon anyone else), Nireeshwara (one who has no Ishwara, Pati, or Natha above him – Nireesha, Aneeshwara, Aneesha), Niramaya (unaffected by any flaws or limitations), SadaSiva who showers enlightenment even before the origin of the universe and after (Sivam – is the Paramjyoti (Absolute light) Sachhidananda Swaroopi (ever-existent, ever-conscious, ever-blissful) who is the fundamental cause of everything, even before the worlds came into existence.)

(SadaSiva, Siva Kevala, Rudratwam Aseeth – Nirguna Brahma)

When the worlds, time, and life forms came into existence, SambaSiva is the Saguna Brahma who showers (bestows) Sada Mangalam (auspiciousness), Kalyanam (goodness and upliftment), Paramananma (ultimate virtue), and Shubham (good fortune) to all the worlds and its beings. Nitya Shudhha Buddha Mukta – he is eternal, ever-pure, ever-conscious, ever-liberated (Mundaka Bhashyam by Shankaracharya) – SaCha Bhagwan Nitya Shuddha Buddha Mukta Swabhava Api San – GeethaBhashyam by Sankaracharya) – ParamaSiva is the only Parabrahma Tatva who is Sacchidananda Swaroopi, Sanathana, and Parameshwara.

The symbolism of Siva Linga worship

The Parameshwara Tatva is Akaaya, Nirakaara, Niravayava, Niramaya, Aneeshwara, Nirashraya. A limbless Siva Linga is an attempt to worship such a Parameshwara symbolically. The Rishis testify that all Ishwara Prateekas (symbols of Ishwara), gods and goddesses worship the one and only Parameshwara. Early Vigrahas of Sree Padmanabha in the sleeping pose depict him as worshipping a Siva Linga. The Valmiki Ramayana and Vyasa Mahabharata make it clear that Avatars like Badrinath (Badrinarayan), Sri Rama, and Sri Krishna were devotees of Parameshwara! That is why Parameshwara is also praised by names such as Rameshwara, Ramanatha, Gopeshwara, Krishneshwara. Sri Sankaracharya and Sri Narayana have written stotras like Lingashtakam.

Significance of Shivrathri

First, it marks the first manifestation of ParamaSiva in the form of Karana Jyoti Linga Swaroopa (Divya Thejas – divine glow or light) in the highest world of the Bhuvana Trayas, the Karana Loka, before the Bhagwans. This manifestation was meant to rid the world of Maya and bestow Jnana Prakasha (enlightenment). Many Rishis have mentioned that Parameshwara, who is beyond the physical, astral, and causal worlds, appeared before Narayana Rishi and Brahma Rishi of the Karana Loka (causal world). First, to remove Maya of nature, and lead them to Moksha through bestowing them Poorna Jnana (complete wisdom). The Rishis say that Sree Parameshwara appeared as Agnishaila Karana Jyothi Linga. (This is referenced by Rishis including Sri Sankaracharya and Sri Narayana Guru in many Divya Stotras (divine hymns)). The prevailing view is that devotees observe Sivarathri to commemorate this auspicious event.

After appearing in the form of Jyoti Linga, he also manifested in a Karana body. Various Guru Paramparas of Sanathana Dharma state that he bestowed Sanathana Dharma by assuming divine bodies such as Maha Rudra in the causal world, as Siva Sankara Rishi in the astral world, and as Adinatha or Adiyogi (Dakshinamurthy) on earth in the physical world. On earth, Sivarathri is celebrated as the day on which Sree Parameshwara manifested in a human form as Adinatha (also known by names such as Dakshinamurthy) to bestow Sanathana Dharma (Veda) to mankind through the Aarsha Guru Paramparas. This is the form of Siva depicted in the Dhyana Shlokas. (The symbol of Parameshwara is the limbless Siva Linga. It was the human manifest form of Parameshwara clad in a tiger skin and bearing a Jata on the head, that appeared before the Rishis!)

शान्तं पद्मासनस्थं शशधरमकुटं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रं ।

शूलं वज्रम च खड्गं परसुमभयदं दक्षिणाङ्गे वहन्तम् ।

नागं पाशं च घण्टां डमरुसहितं साङ्कशं वामभागे ।

नानालङ्गकारदीप्तं स्पटिकमणिनिभं पार्वतीशं नमामि ।।

Shaantam padmaasanastham shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram,

Shoolam vajram cha khadgam parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam;

Naagam paasham cha ghantaam damarusahitam saankusham vaamabhaage,

Naanaalankaara deeptam sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami.

This Dhyana Sloka refers to the human manifestation of Parameshwara who is Akaaya (bodiless), Nirakara (formless), and Niravayava (limbless). This Pratyaksha Roopa (manifest form) is described as Adinatha (Adiyogi) by the Yoga Parampara, Dakshinamurthy (Jnanamurthy) by the Vedanta Parampara, SadaSiva Rishi, Siva Rishi, Sivasankara Rishi by the Tantra Parampara, Swachandanatha, Srikanta Rudra, Neelakanta Rudra by the Siddhanta Parampara. The Shwethaswataropanishad describes him as Rudra Maharshi and devotees praise him as Kailasanatha.

Note the Guru Parampara Vandana Shloka

SadaSiva Samarambhaam

Shankaracharya madhyamaam

Asmadacharya paryantam

Vande Guru paramparaam

The Dakshinamurthy Shloka written by Shankaracharya is very famous. The Paramaguru (supreme Guru) who taught his disciples through speech as well as through silence.

The Hatha Yoga Pradeepika begins with invocation to Adiyogi who is Adinatha.

Sri adinathaya namostu tasmai

yenopadishta hathayogavidya

vibhrajate paronnatarajayogam

Arodhumichchoradhirohiniva

(Hatha Yoga Pradeepika 1:1)

Tradition has it that the Pancha Mukha Sadhana Sampradayam (Tatpurusham, Aghoram, Sadyojatam, Vamadevam, Ishana) originated from SadaSiva Murthy.

Sah esha poorveshaamapi guruh

Kaalenaanavacchedath

(Patanjali Yoga Sutram 1:26)

Kaalena – by time

Anavacchedaath – boundless – one who is not limited by space and time – eternal – ever-new, unborn, Ajaikapath, Akaaya, Nirakara, Niravayava.

Sah – Him (Ishwara)

Api – even

Purvesham – of the ones former

Guru – is Guru

He is the Parama Guru of the Para Vidya and Parama Aacharya of the Apara Vidyas

He is the ultimate source of Para Vidya and Apara Vidyas.

Vaidyanatha / Vaidyaishwara / Vaitheeshwara – one who inspired Dhanvantari and Agastya Maharshi, who are among the 18 Siddhas.

He is the Paramacharya who gave Dhanurveda to Parasurama and Marma Vidya to Agastya. (Southern /Thekkan Kalaripayattu in Kerala is based on the Agastya tradition, Northern / Vadakkan Kalaripayattu is based on the Parasurama tradition. There is a practice of installing Shadadharas and Siva Lingas in Kalari Pooja Peetam (altars).

Nataraja – the lord of arts like Dance, Music, Instruments; Kalanatha

The Vaijnanika who inspired Panini through the Maaheshwara Sutras leading to his contribution to Samskrit grammar and literature and Agastya for research in Tamil language.

Sivarathri:

It is clear that we observe Sivarathri to commemorate these timeless events when Parameshwara appeared in the form of Jyothi Linga and manifested in the physical – astral – causal bodies to destroy the darkness of Maya (illusion) and Ajnana (ignorance). It is that sacred day of worshiping Parama Siva who is the epitome of mercy, commemorating the significant moment when Sanathana Dharma (Veda) was bestowed upon in the Tribhuvanas. Sivarathri is the day chosen by the Rishis to remind people about the glory of the Parama Prema Murthy (supreme epitome of love), Karunyavaridhi (epitome of mercy), Bholenath (all-forgiver), Mrityunjaya (who is immortal and bestows immortality), to create awareness and sense of duty towards Sanathana Dharma Sastra which was given by Parameshwara, and to meditate upon him more deeply.

Significance of Sivarathri:

We learned that Sivarathri is the day to commemorate the occasions when Parameshwara manifested in the form of Jyoti Linga and other divine forms in the universe as a bestower of the light of knowledge to remove darkness of Maya, Avidya and Ajanana of nature. That is, Maha Sivarathri is the foundation day of Guru Paramparas and Sanathana Dharma Vidya.

There is no better day than Shivrathri to meditate upon Sree Parameshwara, Guru Paramparas, and Sanathana Dharma. This day is of great importance in the life of a Sadhak. Sivarathri is the prime among the sacred days observed in Sanathana Dharma.

The Rishis say that Mahashivrathri Vrata (observances) is the Rajadhiraja (king of the kings) or Chakravarthi of all Vratas.

Reminds that only Maheshwara, who transcends Maya, can completely destroy Maya.

Mayam tu prakritim vidyanmayinam cha maheshwaram

Shwetsvataropanishad Chapter 4, Mantra 10

Shivrathri is the sacred day that affirms the Ekeshwara philosophy (Ekam Sat Vipra Bhaudha Vadanti) of Sanathana Dharma.

The highest proof of Parameshwara’s infinite mercy is that he bestowed the knowledge that removes the darkness of ignorance, making everyone conscious of their innate divinity, and uplifts all beings to Bhagwans. Sivarathri is also the day to commemorate this grace or love of Ishwara.

Paramasiva who is the epitome of love, goodness, mercy, and compassion not only bestowed Jnana (wisdom), but is also the founder of Aarsha Guru Paramparas system in Sanathana Dharma! He gave Sanathana Dharma (Veda) by manifesting as Maharudra in Karana Loka, as Siva Sankara Rishi in Sookshma Loka, as Adinatha (Adiyogi) on earth in the Sthoola Loka. The Guru Paramparas originate from him who is SadaSiva. He is fulfilling his mission through the Guru Paramparas in all the worlds. Later, he imparted wisdom through Antardarshana (intuition) of the Yogis, and continues to do so! MahaSivarathri is also a day to remember Sree Parameshwara and his great mercy, the system of Guru Paramparas he established, and the benefits of Sanathana Dharma! No other day is as sacred and special as this.

The practice of Sivalinga worship, meditating upon Ishwara through internal and external Jyoti and Agni, began as a commemoration of the occasion when Sree Parameshwara first appeared in the Karana Loka as a Karana Agni Parvata.

(to be continued)