Just in time for Mahashivaratri

[Jainarayan]

The devotion here is off the scale.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The last day of 'Kumbha Snana" (bath). Let us see what the statistics say, how many hundreds of millions?

 

[Vinayaka]

Have a great night tonight, for those who celebrate.

 

[Shantanu]

Have a great night tonight, for those who celebrate.

I would not be celebrating for today I cut off all links to God in protest.

 

[Vinayaka]

I would not be celebrating for today I cut off all links to God in protest.

That's up to you, but if you're looking for a debate, please start a new thread, as debating isn't allowed in DIRs.

 

[Shantanu]

That's up to you, but if you're looking for a debate, please start a new thread, as debating isn't allowed in DIRs.

Who is debating:I am just responding to your post that we should all celebrate.

 

[Vinayaka]

Who is debating:I am just responding to your post that we should all celebrate.

That's not what I said. I just wished a happy night for all who do celebrate.

 

[Shantanu]

That's not what I said. I just wished a happy night for all who do celebrate.

Fine by me, as long as I am not included in the celebrations because I feel thoroughly let down by God.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Fine by me, as long as I am not included in the celebrations because I feel thoroughly let down by God.

This is your choice, however, this thread is not the appropriate venue to air out your current existential crisis. Please create a new thread or take it outside of the DIR.

 

[Shantanu]

This is your choice, however, this thread is not the appropriate venue to air out your current existential crisis. Please create a new thread or take it outside of the DIR.

Sorry for the intrusion into the Forum rules (again).

 

[Viraja]

Shivratri is so auspicious for spiritual pursuits... those who observe a whole day fast and also praise Lord Shiva by letting go of sleep through the night, are blessed 100-fold because it involves 2 forms of discipline - of stomach and the desire to rest.

 

[Vinayaka]

Shivratri is so auspicious for spiritual pursuits... those who observe a whole day fast and also praise Lord Shiva by letting go of sleep through the night, are blessed 100-fold because it involves 2 forms of discipline - of stomach and the desire to rest.

Did you know that in the Sri Lanka community, the tradition is to stay up until 6PM the following day? I have stayed up all night, but not for quite a few years. Tonight it'll be until about 1 AM. The temple here does a homa at 11, and then an abhishekham/puja. There will be far less people than at the 7 PM puja. It's usually a little nuts, as the crowd can be rather diverse, with usually a few people unaccustomed to the rules and guidelines at the temple, like silence during worship.

There are always a few hard core folks who stay through the 3AM, and the 6AM pujas too.

 

[Viraja]

Did you know that in the Sri Lanka community, the tradition is to stay up until 6PM the following day? I have stayed up all night, but not for quite a few years. Tonight it'll be until about 1 AM. The temple here does a homa at 11, and then an abhishekham/puja. There will be far less people than at the 7 PM puja. It's usually a little nuts, as the crowd can be rather diverse, with usually a few people unaccustomed to the rules and guidelines at the temple, like silence during worship.

There are always a few hard core folks who stay through the 3AM, and the 6AM pujas too.

I think it helps to be engaged attentively in some pursuit, like reciting a stotra so many number of times. So far, a few times I have stayed up all night, and to make myself feel less sleepy, I recited stotras in succession numerous times.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think it helps to be engaged attentively in some pursuit, like reciting a stotra so many number of times. So far, a few times I have stayed up all night, and to make myself feel less sleepy, I recited stotras in succession numerous times.

Quick and lively group bhajan helps too.

 

[Shantanu]

I think it helps to be engaged attentively in some pursuit, like reciting a stotra so many number of times. So far, a few times I have stayed up all night, and to make myself feel less sleepy, I recited stotras in succession numerous times.

I liked the Mahamantra 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' when I saw it written on the doorway of our Puja Room in my in-laws house in India. That seems like being a long time back although it was only a few weeks back. I looked at the sun and focussed on the divine.

 

[Viraja]

I liked the Mahamantra 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' when I saw it written on the doorway of our Puja Room in my in-laws house in India. That seems like being a long time back although it was only a few weeks back. I looked at the sun and focussed on the divine.

That is from Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Sri Krishna!

HH Radhanath Swami recommends 16 rounds of the Mahamantra japa each single day. That would take 4 hrs.

God's name or mantra-japa of his holy name is more potent than worship of the deity in any other form, they say.

 

[Shantanu]

That is from Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Sri Krishna!

HH Radhanath Swami recommends 16 rounds of the Mahamantra japa each single day. That would take 4 hrs.

God's name or mantra-japa of his holy name is more potent than worship of the deity in any other form, they say.

So do you think I should give up my anger at God for a 20 year wait to secure my sanity: I am angry with Him right now for all what I considered to be dharmic have been thwarted by society. I am a one man band without friends and without even so much as 'well done son' from God. So much for ever considering that I was an avatar so clean were my objectives.

 

[Viraja]

So do you think I should give up my anger at God for a 20 year wait to secure my sanity: I am angry with Him right now for all what I considered to be dharmic have been thwarted by society. I am a one man band without friends and without even so much as 'well done son' from God. So much for ever considering that I was an avatar so clean were my objectives.

Please say a lot more of what you are going through, and also give me a lot of time to respond.

I will think deeply, also do some research, and who knows... may be I will have something valuable to offer to you!

Good luck, my friend.

 

[Shantanu]

Please say a lot more of what you are going through, and also give me a lot of time to respond.

I will think deeply, also do some research, and who knows... may be I will have something valuable to offer to you!

Good luck, my friend.

You are truly divine Viraja.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm attempting to keep a fast today, limited to dairy and fruits, maybe a small mixed salad. Salads are iffy though, many items to avoid on a fast day. So maybe just dairy (no cheese except curd because of the possibility of animal enzymes) and fruit. As I was leaving the temple yesterday the manager said to me "Tomorrow night!" I said disappointedly, "I know, but I can't make it". My coworker said she can't either. I said well then, I don't feel too badly.

So anyway...

शुभ महाशिवरात्रि
śubha mahāśivarātri