Mahāśivarātri means: the Great Night of Śiva / Mahādevaḥ, he is the Supreme Being in Śaivism. Śiva is known as The Destroyer within the Trimurti, the Vedic trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu.

It is a notable Vedic festival, marking a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Śiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Śiva.

Over 15,000 years ago, predating all religion, Adiyogi, the first Yogi, transmitted the science of Yoga to his seven disciples, the Saptarishis. He expounded 112 ways through which human beings can transcend their limitations and reach their ultimate potential. Adiyogi’s offerings are tools for individual transformation, as individual transformation is the only way to transform the world. His fundamental message is that “in is the only way out” for human wellbeing and liberation.

The origin story of Adiyogi

The story involves Śiva, who teaches his wife, Goddess Pārvatī how to perform yoga and meditation. Therefore, he gets the title “Adi Guru of Yoga”. According to the Adiyogi legend, Śiva taught Pārvatī 84 yoga postures from the Vedic Paramparā (lineage). The ability to achieve Rājayoga, the “Goal of Yoga,” is offered through these 84 Asanas. Furthermore, these yogic postures reduce doshas and offer the optimum outcomes.

Adiyogi’s origins have their own symbolism in Vedic and Tantrik tradition. According to the tradition, Adiyogi appeared on the banks of the Kantisarovar Lake in the Himalayas over 15,000 years ago. He was said to have appeared as a wild, long-haired ascetic, covered in ash, and sitting in deep meditation. The symbolism behind his appearance is significant. The ash represents detachment from materialism, and his long hair represents a connection to the divine.

It is believed to have transmitted his knowledge to seven sages or Saptariṣis who then spread it across the world. The significance of Adiyogi lies not only in his role as a teacher but also in his embodiment of certain qualities such as stillness, awareness, and transcendence. These qualities are central to the practice of yoga and meditation today. Śivas teachings are free from philosophical discourse, offering instead straightforward guidance on the path to liberation. The Śiva Sutras and Vighyana Bhairava Tantra are well-known texts that provide precise methods for freeing the soul from the constraints of the body and mind, allowing it to experience its true state of bliss. Over centuries, these techniques have been honed by various masters who perfected them and passed them on to their disciples. This gave rise to the Paramparā / Guru-disciple tradition, through which the wisdom of yoga has been transmitted across generations.

Adiyogi’s teachings

Adiyogi’s teachings are deeply rooted in the ancient Indian tradition of yoga and meditation. According to Adiyogi, the ultimate goal of human life is to attain spiritual enlightenment through self-realization. This can only be achieved by understanding and transcending one’s own limitations and ego-driven desires and this process requires discipline, dedication, and a deep commitment to inner transformation. Adiyogi’s teachings offer a powerful framework for personal growth and spiritual evolution based on timeless wisdom passed down over millennia within India’s rich cultural heritage. By embracing these teachings with an open heart & mind we can hope for betterment not just at an individual level but also collectively as humanity itself.

Honoring the Great Yogi & Yogini

Their relationship symbolizes the union of consciousness (Śiva) and energy (Śakti), representing the balance and harmony needed for spiritual growth and enlightenment.

It is a celebration of the Divine’s presence, both as a transcendent force beyond all creation and as a living energy within the subtle realms of the present moment. During these sacred periods, the supreme invites you to embark on your own journey of awakening.

“In this body, there is a sacred mountain, the vertebral column. Within this subtle realm are seers and sages, the stars and planets as well as sacred pilgrimages, temples, and deities. The sun and moon, the agents of creation and destruction and all the elements are also there within”

~ Śiva Saṃhitā

During the night of Mahāśivarātri we embrace the principles of…

• Dissolution
• Letting Go
• Releasing
• Clearing away what obstructs you
• Resolution (as my teacher would say)

The night is calling you to pray to release what no longer serves!

During the day and night of Mahāśivarātri you can have as a background the chantings either of Mahāśivarātri (the first video below) or the Orphic hymn to Saturn (the second video below). Saturn energy is the same with Śiva. They are the same aspects of the masculine energy and are supporters to remove obstacles but not through our human vision but through the Divine vision. Aim is our evolution and revelation of our TRUE Self (soul / jiva), therefore what will be removed is in accordance with our spiritual path.

Transliteration: oṃ hriṃ namah shivāya (oṃ: The eternal source-sound-vibration of creation. hriṃ: Om and Hrim are Shiva and Shakti – pure undifferentiated consciousness and the infinite creative energy. Hrim is a bija mantra, condensed sound syllable that is said to lift the veil of illusion. namah/namaha: (Same as “namo”) To honor or solute. “All glory to…” shivāya: “to Shiva,” as in “Om, all glory to Shiva.” Shiva is “The Auspicious One,” the Supreme God, the Destroyer and Transformer, the Lord of the cosmic dance of all creation and destruction.)

Transliteration: Sundarānanā, Sundarānanā Hara Śiva Śiva Hara Sundarānanā Bhasmabhūṣita Hara Sundarānanā Kaala Netra Mādana Mohana Sundarānanā Bhooth Nātha Dev Dev Sundarānanā Candraśekhara Hara Sundarānanā Damru Dhar Damak Damak Sundarānanā Neelkant Naaghar Sundarānanā Hara Śiva Śiva Hara Sundarānanā (Beautiful-Faced One, Beautiful-Faced One, Beautiful-Faced One, Adorned with Ashes, Beautiful-Faced One, With eyes of darkness, enticer of Cupid, Beautiful-Faced One, Lord of spirits, divine deity, Beautiful-Faced One, Crowned with the moon, Beautiful-Faced One, Holder of the drum, making rhythmic sounds, Beautiful-Faced One, Blue-throated, serpents around the neck, Beautiful-Faced One, Shiva Shiva Hara Beautiful-Faced One.)

Αρχαια Ελληνικά: Ἀιθαλής, μακάρων τε θεῶν πάτερ ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν, ποικιλόβουλ᾽, ἀμίαντε, μεγασθενές, ἄλκιμε Τιτάν, ὃς δαπανᾶις μὲν ἅπαντα καὶ αὔξεις ἔμπαλιν αὐτός, δεσμοὺς ἀρρήκτους ὃς ἔχεις κατ᾽ ἀπείρονα κόσμον, αἰῶνος Κρόνε παγγενέτωρ, Κρόνε ποικιλόμυθε, Γαίης τε βλάστημα καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος, γέννα, φυή, μείωσι, Ῥέας πόσι, σεμνὲ Προμηθεῦ, ὃς ναίεις κατὰ πάντα μέρη κόσμοιο, γενάρχα, ἀγκυλομῆτα, φέριστε· κλύων ἱκετηρίδα φωνὴν πέμποις εὔολβον βιότου τέλος αἰὲν ἄμεμπτον.

Νεοελληνική: Εσύ πού πάντοτε θάλλεις, καί είσαι ό πατέρας των μακαρίων θεών καί των ανθρώπων, πολυμήχανε, αμόλυντε, μεγαλοδύναμε, Ισχυρέ Τιτάν εσύ εξαντλείς τα πάντα καί αντιθέτως συ ό ίδιος τα επαυξάνεις· έχεις δεσμούς αδιάρρηκτους εις τον άπέραντον κόσμον ώ Κρόνε, πατερά του αιώνος (του χρόνου), Κρόνε με τα πολλά ονόματα, πού είσαι το βλαστάρι της γης καί του ουρανού με τα πολλά αστέρια· είσαι ή γέννησις (ή αρχή), καί ή φθορά της Φύσεως, σύζυγος της Ρέας, Ο σεβαστός Προμηθεύς, πού κατοικείς εις όλα τα μέρη του κόσμου, ό αρχηγός του γένους (των ανθρώπων), πού ή σκέψις σου είναι αγκαθωτή (πού αγκυλώνει), είσαι ό κράτιστος· άκουσε την ίκετευτικήν φωνήν μας, καί είθε να μας στέλλης πάντοτε άψογον τέλος βίου ευτυχισμένου.

English translation of Ancient Greek chant of Saturn: “You who always flourish, and are the father of the blessed gods and men, resourceful, pure, mighty, strong Titan, you exhaust everything and, on the contrary, you yourself augment them; you have unbreakable bonds in the boundless world. Oh Kronos, father of time, Kronos of many names, you who are the offspring of Earth and the starry Heaven; you are the birth (the beginning) and the decay of Nature, the husband of Rhea. The venerable Prometheus, who dwells in all parts of the world, the leader of the race (of humans), whose mind is thorny (which pricks), you are the strongest. Hear our supplicating voice, and may you always send us a flawless end to a happy life.”