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Guyanese and other Hindus in New York (NY) observed the auspicious festival of Shivratri last weekend. Hundreds of people were observed streaming into the dozens of Guyanese temples on Saturday and Sunday evenings to propitiate Lord Shiva. Shivratri worshipping in N.Y is similar with that in Guyana with people making liquid and Prasad (fruit) offerings to the lingham, an emblem through which the lord is propitiated of the Shiva and some spending the night in the temples. Shivratri is one of the most important festivals of Hinduism
glorifying Lord Shiva, who is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu
Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector and Preserver), and Shiva. Shiva is known as the consort of Goddess Parvati (Mother of the Universe) and father of Lord Ganesh (who showers knowledge upon
devotees). Shiva’s abode is on Mount Kailash in north India bordering
China with his consort Parvati and his children Ganesh and Skanda and his vehicle the bull, called nandi.
Lord Shiva is propitiated through the medium of a lingham in which devotees offer jaal (specially prepared milk and or water) at midnight.
The pandits explained that Shiva is worshipped to ward off dangers and
evils assailing mankind. Devotees pray with utmost reverence (bhakti)
to the lord seeing God in everything around them and especially through
the lingham.
Shivratri is observed every year on an assigned day. This is not to
suggest that Shiva is worshipped only on this day. Shiva can be
worshipped on any day but an auspicious day has been set aside annually
for the exclusive worshipping of Shiva, the fountain of all cosmic
energy and power.
On Shivratri, people attempt to reach the pinnacle of divinity through meditation and concentration in their prayers on Shiva chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA. Anyone who fasts on Shivratri prostrating to the Lord
would gain salvation. Just by attending temple devotees are rewarded with blessings. Worshippers of Shiva gain longevity of life, success, and prosperity in all fields. And through bhakti, one learns to conquer evil traits such as laziness, restlessness and lust
which hinder human progress. Thus, many Guyanese Hindus fasted and
visited the temples to perform pooja.
In N.Y, thousands of Guyanese visited the temples and conducted ritualistic poojas, meditation, singing, and chanting of verses from the
scriptures. Bliss, piousness and peace pervaded as the pandit conducted
ceremonies.
People performed non-stop jaal and aartees on the Shiva Murthi and the
lingham. Incense burned continuously agarbati, gugul, cloves, camphor,
Kasturi) were burnt as offerings and havan was performed. Fire glowed
eternally in the havan kund as devotees made offerings of samagri and
other paraphernalia. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, as is the norm of all temple functions in NY, attendees were treated to sumptuous bhojan and prasad.
glorifying Lord Shiva, who is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu
Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector and Preserver), and Shiva. Shiva is known as the consort of Goddess Parvati (Mother of the Universe) and father of Lord Ganesh (who showers knowledge upon
devotees). Shiva’s abode is on Mount Kailash in north India bordering
China with his consort Parvati and his children Ganesh and Skanda and his vehicle the bull, called nandi.
Lord Shiva is propitiated through the medium of a lingham in which devotees offer jaal (specially prepared milk and or water) at midnight.
The pandits explained that Shiva is worshipped to ward off dangers and
evils assailing mankind. Devotees pray with utmost reverence (bhakti)
to the lord seeing God in everything around them and especially through
the lingham.
Shivratri is observed every year on an assigned day. This is not to
suggest that Shiva is worshipped only on this day. Shiva can be
worshipped on any day but an auspicious day has been set aside annually
for the exclusive worshipping of Shiva, the fountain of all cosmic
energy and power.
On Shivratri, people attempt to reach the pinnacle of divinity through meditation and concentration in their prayers on Shiva chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA. Anyone who fasts on Shivratri prostrating to the Lord
would gain salvation. Just by attending temple devotees are rewarded with blessings. Worshippers of Shiva gain longevity of life, success, and prosperity in all fields. And through bhakti, one learns to conquer evil traits such as laziness, restlessness and lust
which hinder human progress. Thus, many Guyanese Hindus fasted and
visited the temples to perform pooja.
In N.Y, thousands of Guyanese visited the temples and conducted ritualistic poojas, meditation, singing, and chanting of verses from the
scriptures. Bliss, piousness and peace pervaded as the pandit conducted
ceremonies.
People performed non-stop jaal and aartees on the Shiva Murthi and the
lingham. Incense burned continuously agarbati, gugul, cloves, camphor,
Kasturi) were burnt as offerings and havan was performed. Fire glowed
eternally in the havan kund as devotees made offerings of samagri and
other paraphernalia. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, as is the norm of all temple functions in NY, attendees were treated to sumptuous bhojan and prasad.
