Shivaratri: we celebrate the sixth on May 17, 2023

1.- The second Shivaratri (Jyeshtha) of 2023 is May 17, a date marked in Kashmir Shaivism

1.1.- Shivaratri, feel the power of Tantra

The night of Shiva Shivaratri It is the night before the new moon (or Amavasya) of each month (or Masik), and is considered the darkest night because it comes before the beginning of the lunar cycle towards the full moon. We celebrate the second Shivaratri of 2023 this May 17th.

During this astrological and special event for Tantra, due to the absence of the influence of the moon, the solar and masculine energies (represented by Shiva) are manifested to the maximum. This exceptional phenomenon gives us the possibility of entering into communion with Shiva (the supreme solar/masculine principle) very easily, and benefiting from his power.

2.- The most propitious night to transfigure yourself into Shiva

In the tradition of Shivaism in Kashmir, it is also very successful for tantric aspirants to take the opportunity to do the love ritual during the night of Masik Shivaratri. It is a very auspicious moment for the spiritual and tantric couple. Aspirants can greatly benefit from the awakening and expansion of consciousness, and from a very characteristic and solar state of mental clarity. Also, men, taking advantage of this beneficial moment, can significantly increase their virility and solarity.

So we advise you to meditate with Shiva, and if it is possible to do the love ritual during the night of Masik Shivaratri, to experience what is exposed (in yourselves).

In the tradition of Kashmir Shivaism let’s celebrate the second Shivaratri of 2023!

Shiva’s ice lingam at Amarnath

Whether in a Masik Shivaratri, but especially in Mahashivaratri, in addition to fasting, Shiva devotees follow this same procedure:

You can find more auspicious incense to worship Shiva in our online store.

3.- The history of the Shiva Lingams and their sacred properties according to Tantra

4.- Once a year the great Maha Shivaratri is celebrated

Maha Shivaratri, the main festival of Kashmir Shaivism, will be celebrated this year on Monday, February 18, from 11:44 PM to 12:31 PM on March 20. Mainland India time.

Once a year, we celebrate Maha Shivaratri, Shiva’s great night. This momentous event in Tantra is traditionally dedicated to Paramashiva (Shiva, or the Supreme Consciousness: God). Shiva’s devotees consider this night to be the most sacred of the entire year, and it is enthusiastically celebrated by all Shivaites, all over the world.

Among the twelve Shivaratri of the Hindu calendar, Mahashivratri is the one with the greatest spiritual importance. This is a day when nature pushes human beings towards their spiritual self, the true one. The importance of this celebration (which lasts all night) is to allow the energies coming from the Macrocosm to emerge in us, and in a natural way.

5.- One of the mythological stories related to Shiva

5.1.- Stories of Tantra: How the 54 Shakti Sthalas were born

Here we narrate the story of how Sati was burned in the ceremonial fire after her father insulted Shiva

Shiva began to move from stillness to dance and from dance to stillness. All the others, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas and the Devas of the three worlds began to watch him with fascination and intrigue. They enjoyed this absolute movement and absolute silence, but they had no idea of the nature of their experience. They wanted to try it.

From intrigue they passed to interest. That interest led them to get a little closer to him, but they couldn’t stand the intensity of his dance or the intensity of the silence.

Ese interés les llevó a acercarse un poco más a él, pero no pudieron soportarla intensidad de su baile ni la intensidad del silencio. They called a conference, which gradually turned into a conspiracy. They decided that Shiva should get married.

– We must have someone on our side who can tell us what is the basis of such an ecstatic experience, such an exuberance and, at the same time, such a deadly stillness. He seems to be enjoying both. We need someone who can go undercover to discover the secret of the experience.

If you want to get a glimpse into Shiva’s interior, a tremendous conspiracy is necessary, and it was planned and executed. Thus they got Shiva to marry Sati. She gave in to the wishes of the conspirators, fully involved herself, and became a passionate devotee of Shiva.

Shiva allowed Sati to become a part of his life. But Sati’s father, Daksha, hated Shiva, his son-in-law, because Shiva is not a king, he does not dress well, he is smeared with ashes and he eats from a human skull. He is always in meditation or intoxicated, with his eyes closed or dancing like a possessed. This was not a son-in-law that Daksha was proud of.

Some time later, Daksha wanted to perform a great ritual, for which he invited every king, every god, and every Yaksha. But he did not invite Shiva. Shiva and Sati were sitting in the forest and for their love, Sati was trying to feed him fruits from the forest as that was all they ate. They did not have a hearth or cooking utensils, so they only ate fruits and whatever else came as an offering.

But Sati saw passing chariots, kings, gods and goddesses, heading to an unknown place. Seeing this entourage he asked Shiva:

– What’s going on? Where are all these great rulers going?

Shiva said:

– No matter. We don’t need to go where they go.

But Sati got very excited.
-But where will they go? Look how well dressed they are. What will be happening?

He said:

– Don’t bother, we’re fine here. Are you unhappy? No. You are happy. Do not worry about them.

But her feminine curiosity did not allow her to simply sit there and enjoy the fruits of the tree. He went to stop one of the cars and asked them:

– Where are you going?

They said:

– You do not know? Your father is holding a huge Yagna – a sacrifice – and he has invited us all. Not coming?

She felt abandoned and dishonored when she learned that she and her husband had not been invited. He thought that this was not fair, and he said to Shiva:

– I’m going to talk to my father. Why would he have done this?

Shiva said:

– No matter. Why do you get nervous? We are fine here. Why should we go to the sacrifice your father performs?

But she was very angry that she hadn’t been invited. sati said:

– No, I have to go, there must be a mistake. How can they not invite you and me? Perhaps the invitation has been lost. I’m sure my father wouldn’t forget to invite us.

Shiva said:

– Do not go.
But she did not want to listen to him and went to see her father.

When he arrived at the ritual, he found all his cousin sisters and all the leaders completely decked out. Ella había llegado con ropas sencillas, así que la gente se burló y se rió de ella. They Asked:

– Where is your husband, with his skin full of ashes? Where is that man with the matted hair?

She ignored the comments and went to see her father, believing there was a mistake. When he found it, Daksha was furious. Saty asked:

– How did you stop inviting us?

Then Daksha insulted Shiva in every possible way and said:

– I will never let your husband into my house.

Sati was crestfallen. The sacrificial fire was already lit, so he went to the fire, entered it and burned himself. Nandi, who had followed Sati, when she saw what had happened, was terrified and ran back to Shiva, explaining that Sati had immolated herself in the sacrificial fire because of Daksha’s insults.

Shiva stood still for a while. Then he turned into fire, and he got up in a rage. Shiva pulled out a lock of her hair, hit it against a rock, and a very powerful being named Veerabhadra appeared. He told Veerabhadra:

– Go destroy the sacrifice. Anyone who is involved in this sacrifice, destroy them, including Daksha.

Veerabhadra was furious and laid waste to the sacrifice, killing all who stood in his way, and impaled Daksha.

Shiva then arrived, picked up Sati’s burned body with pain beyond words. He put it on his shoulder and walked with great pain. He would not let the flames consume his body or give him a burial. He just kept walking. As she walked, Sati’s body began to rot, and as it rotted, it fell off in 54 different places. These 54 places emerged as Shakti Sthala in India. As each part of his body fell, a quality of Shakti settled there. These are the main temples of the Devi in India.