Prayers for peace at Shivaraathiri celebrations

The Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia organised a group prayer on February 13 at Crestwood High School in Baulkham Hills on the occasion of Maha Shivaraathiri, the well-known Hindu festival. Nearly a hundred people participated, despite uncertain weather conditions. The main aim of the group prayer was Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all living beings in the world be happy).

It was also intended to teach Hindu Australian children the 16 basic steps to perform a simple pooja (prayer) for Lord Shiva, especially to mark the occasion of Mahaa Shivaraathiri.

Kumari Dhanya and Kumari Supriya welcomed the gathering and stressed the importance of group prayer “kootu prarthanai”. In group prayer, an acquaintance between the worshippers is achieved and love and peace are promoted. All devotees feel they are equal, humble and exalted as they sit in the same position, recite similar prayers, perform expressive, symmetrical actions, and turn towards one Lord for one cause, in this case for “world peace and harmony”. This inspires them with a feeling of value for humanity and equality of all human beings before God. The festival is principally celebrated through day-long fasting, night-long vigil praising Lord Shiva in the form of chanting, bhajans and slokas and by offerings of bael (bilwa) leaves to Lord Shiva. From a scientific point of view according to Ayurveda, bilwa leaves are a powerful preventive medicine for all respiratory diseases including cardiac problems. The worship of Lord Shiva with these leaves is like aromatherapy. According to research, when the moon moves to an angle between 84 degrees to 180 degrees in its rotation around the earth, there will be profound influence on the brain, digestive organs, kidneys, reproductive organs and spleen. Especially in the Tamil month of Maasi, there is increased distance between the earth and the sun due to its longitudinal axis. This influence reaches its peak on the 14 day of the moon’s descent, which is Mahaa Shivaraathiri day. Ayurveda prescribes fasting on this day, with the intention of keeping the body systems intact.

Through this celebration, VHP Australia extended Mahaa Shivaraathiri to a “Sarvo Jana Rathiri”, and a vigil and chanting were conducted for the happiness of mankind.

Sri Ramarathinam and Sri Subramanian taught the audience the 16 basic steps to for Lord Shiva.

Chanting of vedic mantras was done by the four Sydney Veda

Patasala students located in Carlingford, Baulkham Hills, Liverpool and Dural. It was truly heartening to see all the children chanting these mantras and slokas in a systematic and structured fashion. The vibrations of the powerful mantras were felt very strong divine presence was felt in the room and surely all the Gods would have heard these prayers for peace and happiness in humanity.

A delectable array of prasadams was organised and served by Smt Subhashree Balachandar’s team and all attendees were as happy with the food for the stomach, as they were with the food for the soul.

Uma Rama Subramanian