HINDUS around the world will observe Maha Shivratri today. Maha Shivratri is observed every year on Chaturdasi in the dark half of the Hindu month of Phalgun.Shivratri is not Shiva’s birthday as some may believe, it is the night specially consecrated for his worship. The important features of this religious function are rigid fasting for 24 hours and vigil during the night, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha stated in a special message.

The worship of Lord Shiva consists of flowers, bael leave and other offerings on the Shiva Lingam. Ling in Sanskrit means mark. It is the symbol which points to an inference. When you see smoke you infer there is fire. When you look at the Ling your mind is at once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord.
Shiva is both Sagun and Nirgun. Those two words mean form and formless. In simple, he can be meditated upon as the all-pervasive force, God Almighty, without knowledge of any image of him or an image itself.
This perception gives a wide scope for worshipping Shiva and provides innumerable modes through which he can be reached.
Consequently, the evolved yogi will retreat in deep contemplation from the early hour of Shivratri and remain in incessant dhyaan on both Triodasi and Chaturdasi. Other devotees will take part in akhand – unbroken recital of Om NamahShivaya, while a high percentage will invoke His Sagunroop and do puja before Shiva’s murti and yet an equally large number will offer arghya or dhaar to the Shiva Lingam. All these formulae done with deep affection and sincerity will yield equal results.
The Puranas proclaim Shiva as Mahadev or the Great God. In the Hindu Trimurti, he is described as Mahesha – the destructive power. The concept of the Trimurti point to the integrated entity of creation, preservation and destruction.
Though identified by the names of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, the absolute is really one in three. That Shiva is the destructive aspect of Trimurti should incur no fear or make you dread Shiva since he destroys evil, vices and what may be considered obsolete.
In Hinduism, it must be remembered that destruction implies reproduction. Shiva is the reproductive power which has been rapidly restoring that which has been destroyed. Shiva literally means auspicious. Shiva exists in us all but so many are unaware of it because of the predominance of negative tendencies.
Hinduism says that which is negative must first crumble before the positive, in which there is the full opportunity of human expression and satisfaction, can be established.
Maha Shivratri is probably the deepest spiritual occasion on the Hindu calendar. Maha Shivratri, according to the Maha Shiv Puran, was decreed by Lord Shiva himself. It is seen as a day for divesting oneself of all negative tendencies and worshipping Shiva for the removal of impediments to a blissful life.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hopes that Hindus throughout the country will be given time from work and studies to attend their mandirs on this very auspicious and sacred day to engage in moments of devotion and prayer.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is inviting persons today to join Pandit Jagmohan Persaud for special Maha Shivratri Satsangh at the Dharmic Rama Krishna Mandir, Barr St. Kitty at 5:30pm and Shri Krishna Mandir, Campbellville at 7:00pm.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha encourages all Hindus to observe this day with faith and devotion and to attend their mandirs and pray that Bhagawan Shiva will shower his blessings on all.