Chapter 266 - Greatness of Śivarātri

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-2. Important holy places have been heard (described) and so also the origins of those shrines. It was made clear that a man who takes his holy bath there scrupulously obtains the benefit of all the Tīrthas.

Now, O highly esteemed one, describe to us all those Liṅgas, the important ones which, when seen (visited), grant the benefit of seeing all the Liṅgas.

Sūta said:

3-4. There is that highly auspicious Liṅga named Maṅkaṇa; so also, there is Siddheśvara along with Gautameśvara. A fourth Liṅga is glorified by the name Kapāleśvara. Each of these grants the benefit of all the Liṅgas. There is no doubt about it. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, (they should be visited and adored) in accordance with the injunctions laid down.

5. There I shall describe the benefit accruing from Maṅkaṇeśvara, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, that of the Liṅga containing the syllable MA.

6-7. O Brāhmaṇas, at the advent of Śiyarātri a man should observe fast and remain pure. He should also keep awake during the night. Hara himself says that there is no doubt that he will have the benefit resulting from a visit to all the Liṅgas.

The sages said:

8. O highly esteemed, one, when does Śivarātri occur? Describe to us in detail everything regarding the mode of worship and the greatness.

Sūta said:

9. The fourteenth lunar day of the dark half of the month of Māgha (is auspicious). The night thereof is termed Śivarātri.

10. On that night Hara always extends his presence over all the Liṅgas. Especially, the night at Maṅkaṇeśvara is well-known amongst all the meritorious (shrines).

The sages said:

11. How did Śivarātri come into being? By whom was this laid down? Why has it become a giver of many benefits? Describe everything to us in detail.

Sūta said:

12. In this context I shall narrate to you an event that occurred earlier, the dialogue between Bhartṛyajña and King Aśvasena.

13. Formerly, there was a monarch of Ānarta remembered by the name Aśvasena. He was pious and righteous always. He had mastered the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.

14. On seeing the (evil) period of Kali on the increase day be day, Aśvasena asked Bhartṛyajña thus in all earnestness:

Aśvasena said:

15. O excellent sage, suggest unto me some Vrata proper for the period of Kali. It should be highly meritorious and destructive of all sins, but should involve very little effort or strain.

16. O Brāhmaṇa, men have always been of short span of life formerly even in Kṛtayuga, Tretāyuga and Dvāpara and still more so at the advent of Kaliyuga.

17. Hence, exclude all the Vratas extending over a year. Tell me something covering only a single day.

18. One should carry out tomorrow’s work today itself, the work of afternoon in forenoon. The god of Death does not wait to see whether his (victim’s) work is completed or not.

19. On hearing his words Bhartṛyajña of exalted intellect and liberal mind, meditated for a long time and spoke after knowing it through his divine vision:

Bhartṛyajña said:

20. O great king, there is an auspicious Vrata called Śivarātri Vrata. It lasts for only one day; O king, it destroys all sins.

21. If anything is given as a gift on that day, if a Homa is performed, and if Japa is practised, all these shall have everlasting benefit. The devotee should keep awake during the night.

22. (As a result thereof) one without a son shall obtain sons, one without wealth shall get wealth, one of a short span of life will obtain longevity and also the destruction of his enemies.

23. A man shall obtain all desired objects in view of which he observes the Vrata. If he be desire-less, he attains Mokṣa (liberation from Saṃśāra).

24. If one observes the night vigil giving some money (even) in a niggardly spirit, one is undoubtedly rid of the sins committed during that year.

25. On that night, Lord Hara extends his presence unto all the Liṅgas, both mobile and immobile ones.

26. Therefore, it is called Śivarārti. It is a favourite of Hara. With a desire to bless all the worlds he was requested by all the Suras:

27-29. “O Lord, during this age of Kali full of all kinds of sins, do go for a day to the earth for the purification of the sins of the year, so that by. performing your worship mortals may attain purity.

Thereupon, what is given and what is offered as oblation to fire by them shall come unto us. If men offer Ucchiṣṭa (leavings of food), that entirely goes to waste.

O Saṅkara, nothing offered by impure men during the period of Kali comes to us even if it be ample and plentiful.”

Śrī Bhagavān said:

30. O Lord of Suras, on the fourteenth lunar day in the dark half of Māgha, I will go to the earth in the Kali age during the night and not by the day.

31. Undoubtedly, I will move over to all the Liṅgas mobile and immobile for the purpose of purifying sins committed during the year.

32. On that night, O excellent one among Suras, a man who performs my worship by means of these Mantras shall be free from sins:

33. “Oṃ, obeisance to Sadyojāta. Oṃ, obeisance to Vāmadeva. Oṃ, obeisance to Ghora. Oṃ, obeisance to Tatpuruṣa. Oṃ, obeisance to Īśāna.” The devotee should worship these faces thus by means of scents, flowers and fragrant pastes as well as garments, lamps and food offerings.

Then Meditating on me as stationed in the mind he should offer Arghya after worshipping me with this Mantra:

34. “O Lord of Devas, O lover of Gaurī, O moon-crested one, O primordial one among all, may the Arghya be accepted for the purpose of purifying all the sins committed during the year.”

35. Then he should honour a Brāhmaṇa with food, garments etc. Without resorting to miserliness, monetary gift has to be made liberally.

36. There should be narration of religious stories along with dances of graceful as well as Tāṇḍava type.

37. O Sureśvara, if anyone observes the Vrata thus for the purification of sins committed during the year, it shall be the proper atonement.

38. On hearing this all the Devas bowed down to the Moon-crested Lord, O most excellent one among men. With great delight they went to their respective abodes.

39. In order to enlighten people always in regard to Śivarātri, they sent Nārada, the greatest sage, to the earth.

40. He too went to the earth and proclaimed everywhere the greatness of Śivarātri as narrated by the Trident-bearing One.

41. Ever since then there came into vogue on the earth, the meritorious Śivarātri that grants all the cherished desires and destroys all sins.

42. In this connection I shall relate unto you all, the story of an incident that happened long ago to a fowler in the Naimiṣa forest.

43. There was a fowler who was so only by birth and not through mere activities of his caste. His mind was overwhelmed by indulgences (in vice). He stole other’s wealth.

44. He was one who never observed a Vrata, practised charity or performed Japa. The only work he did was to take away other people’s money by fraudulent means.

45. Once it was the holy night of Śivarātri in the dark half of the month of Māgha-Śivarāri [Śivarātri?] that destroys all sins.

46. There was a holy shrine of the Trident-bearing Lord of Devas. Many people had just started the vigil at night.

47. O tiger among men, the place was filled by women adorned by excellent ornaments. Seeing that people were keeping awake, the thief thought thus:

48-49. ‘I shall go there and see if I can get at some woman well-adorned with ornaments coming out of that mansion. Then I shall kill her, snatch the ornaments and get away.’

50. After resolving thus mentally, he approached the shrine. Climbing up a Karṇikāra tree, he hid himself there.

51. He was watching the different quarters from where there was the possibility of some woman coming out. The fellow who was thus ready to commit robbery was very severely distressed due to cold.

52. He could not sleep even for a wink. Nor was there any sign of any woman coming out. There was a Liṅga beneath the tree. It had sprung up from the ground. He went up, plucked a few leaves and threw them over the Liṅga.

53. In the meantime, there rose up in the sky the sun of hot rays, who never causes happiness to unchaste women, thieves and lustful persons.

54. Then the men and women bowed down to Maheśvara. After rendering the services to the Lord, they became quiescent and went to their respective abodes.

55. Having lost all hope and becoming distressed due to hunger and cold the thief got down from the tree by some means.

56. After a long time he met with his death. He was reborn in the palace of the ruler of Daśārṇa. He could then remember the previous birth.

57. All this was due to the power of his fast and vigil kept under duress on the Śivarātri day as well as to the adoration of that Liṅga.

58. After inheriting the great kingdom of his father and grandfather, he got a great and splendid mansion erected over the Liṅga.

59-60. Every year on the Śivarātri day he used to come there, observe fast and keep awake during the night singing and playing on musical instruments, listening to religious discourses and narration of pious stories. He used to adore reciting the Mantras cited before and offer Arghya in accordance with the injunctions. He then propitiated Brāhmaṇas by giving them whatever they desired. Thereafter, he used to return to his abode.

61. Once, on the Śivarātri day, Śāṇḍilya and other sages came to the mansion of that Liṅga.

62. They were Śāṇḍilya, Bharadvāja, Yavakrīta, Gālava, Pulastya, Pulaha, Gārgya and many others, O king.

63. King Bṛhatsena, son of the ruler of Daśārṇa, also came there for the observance of vigil in front of the Liṅga.

64. After adoring the Lord, and bowing down to the leading sages, he sat before the Liṅga with the permission of the excellent Brāhmaṇas.

65. Then, O king, they held various discourses and religious dialogues, and told and listened to especially the stories of ancient saintly kings and Brāhmaṇa-sages who had passed away.

66. Then at the conclusion of a certain discourse, he was asked by the expounders of the, Vedas whose curiosity had been aroused and whose eyes shone remarkably due to Wonder:

67. “O king, urged by curiosity, we are inclined to ask you something if only you will speak out the truth, as you are in the holy shrine.”

The king said:

68. O leading Brāhmaṇas, if I know I will undoubtedly speak it out. Now asked in the presence of the Lord, I take a solemn pledge to tell the truth.

The sages said:

69. Having refused to make a number of abundant religious gifts instead, merely for keeping a vigil, you have come over here from your native place.

70. This occurs every year. Indeed you know the purpose and reason thereof. O king, if it not be a closely guarded secret, do tell us about it.

Sūta said:

71-72. The king was rather moody. He vaguely smiled under chagrin and said: “O excellent Brāhmaṇas, indeed this is a great secret not to be divulged ordinarily. Still I shall tell it since I have been asked in the presence of the deity.”

73. Then he disclosed everything that happened in the previous birth of the thief on the night of Śivarātri.

74. He mentioned to them how he had to keep awake though with an intention of committing theft and how he had to refrain from taking food without the direct adoration of the Lord on the Śivarātri day.

75. He told them how he was reborn with the power of recollecting the previous birth. Thereupon, all the sages expressed the warmest appreciation in diverse ways.

76. After congratulating the saintly king, the most excellent king, they bestowed their benedictions on him. After keeping awake during the night, they went to their hermitages.

77. The king too duly worshipped the deity and honoured the excellent Brāhmaṇas. Afterwards he kept awake during the night and returned to his city.

Bhartṛyajña said:

78. It was thus, O king, that Śivarātri came into vogue on the earth. The greatness of it has been already described to you.

79. Hence, O excellent king, that should be observed with all efforts, particularly in Kali Age, by one who wishes for his own prosperity.

80-81. This was observed by Dilīpa, Nala, Nahuṣa, Māndhātṛ, Dhundhumāra, Sagara, Yuyutsu and others who entertained perfect faith. Of course they attained their cherished desires both divine and human.

82-83. Similarly, it was observed by goddesses Śrī, Sāvitrī, Sītā, Arundhatī, Sarasvatī, Menā, Raṃbhā, Indrāṇī, Dṛṣadvatī, Svadhā, Svāhā, Rati, Prīti, Prabhāvatī and Gāyatrī, O excellent king. All of them attained their cherished objects along with greatest conjugal felicity.

84. If anyone reads about this benefit in the presence of Śiva with devotional fervour, he shall undoubtedly get rid of the sin committed that day.

85. There is no Tīrtha on a par with Gaṅgā; there is no other Lord comparable to Śiva; there is no penance greater than Śivarātri. It is the truth that has been uttered by me.

86. Meru is full of all Ratnas (jewels); penance is full of all miracles. O king, Śivarātri has been glorified as being full of all righteousness (Dharma).

87. Just as Garuḍa is the most important one among birds, just as ocean is the chief of all rivers, so also the observance of Śivarātri is the most important one among all holy rites.