MAHA SHIV RAATRI is a deeply spiritual occasion and is  celebrated on Chaturdasi or the 14th day in the Hindu month of Phalgun.  It is a day consecrated for the worship of Bhagwan Shiva.

President of the Sabha, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud  in explaining some of the features of Shiv Raatri said devotees will perform puja to Bhagwan Shankar beginning from 06:00hours and every prahar thereafter until the day is completed.  Shiv Raatri is not a birthday of anyone rather it is an opportunity for aspirants to do homage to Shankar Bhagwan both in His Sakaar and Nirakaar roop – personal and impersonal; form and formless.
A large number of devotees worship Shiva through the medium of the Murti and the Lingam.  The Lingam connotes Formlessness while the Murti has a Form and features symbolically many aspects of Shiva Shakti.  Shiva Bhagwan Trisul symbolises sovereignty and is used at the time of dissolution.
Shiva is unchanging consciousness.  He is the destructive aspect of the Trinity.  In destruction there is automatic re-creation.  He is the Supreme reality.  He is eternal, formless, omnipresent, one without a second.  He is not limited by time.  Shiva is infinite bliss and infinite intelligence.  Shiv Raatri emphasizes the omniscience of God and the Shiva Lingam or the shapeless stone used in His worship connotes his formlessness.  The Lingam unlike other images has neither head nor limb.  The symbol denotes something which has neither beginning nor end.  The symbol is used as an aid to bring together our mental comprehension of Shiva who is the motive power within.  This symbol like others used in our puja is simply the means not the end.  It will be recalled that Lord Rama consecrated the Lingam and did puja before He crossed to Lanka for the combat with Ravan.
He sits on a tiger’s skin,which is symbolic that he has conquered anger.The snake around his neck is a reflection of the Kundalini  Shakti (power).
From the Damaru Lord Shiva has produced the Sanskrit language.
The three-streamed chandan on his forehead reminds of  the Trimurti – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Devotees are absorbed during the day of Shiv Raatri in vigorous  fasting and Meditation.
In the Maha Shiv Puran the Panch Akshara Mantra are provided for chanting and it is done in the form a Akhand (incessant) Kirtan and thus all the devotees will be absorbed in the chanting of Om Namaha Shivaya.  Hinduism believes in the existence of one God and do not support multitude of Gods.  Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh constitute the Trinity – God’s creation, sustenance and dissolution.  Shri Ram in his seventh incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu and so as Shri Krishna both worshipped Shiva Bhagwan during their sojourn on this earth.
Shiva worship is prolific and worshippers of Shiva Shankar are profoundly committed in Puja to the great God on Shiv Raatri.
Maha Shiv Raatri will be observed on Sunday March 10, 2013.  The Guyana Hindu Sabha issued a call to all affiliates and mandirs to organise appropriate Satsanghs to commemorate the deeply spiritual day.
Satsanghs will be held at Dharmic Rama Krisha Mandir, Barr Street, Kitty at 8:00 a.m. and Shri Krishna Mandir, Campbellville at 7:00 p.m  Puja will be conducted by Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud who will be  by Pandit Jagmohan Persaud and Pandit Bramanad Prashad.
(GUYANA HINDU DHARMIC SABHA RELEASE)