The science of Mahashivaratri

Mahashivaratri is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fornight of the magh month as per the hindu calendar. Literally means the ‘the night of of the supreme god principle(shiva)’. Many legends and stories are associated with this festival but there is also a scientific reasoning supporting this festival.

Our ancestors understood the influence and effects of climatic and astronomical changes on the human physiology. The waxing and waning of the moon , the transition of seasons had an impact in the cells of humans. Based on this changes, our wise elders designed festivals, coded customs, traditions ,rituals and stories to help us to adapt to these changes naturally. Of course, some of them may not be relevant in today’s techno age.

According to Indian Knowledge system academy, Mahasivaratri is one such festival celebrated when winter transits to spring. The hibernating flora and fauna during winter start sprouting during spring. We humans are susceptible to lung and respiratory infections. To gradually adjust the body’s physiology to these changes festivals were celebrated/observed.

During Mahasivarathri, pious people fast, assemble in shiva temples, perform abhishekam and offer bilva patra (leaves) to god and chant the panchakshara mantra.

The idol of shiva is made with a special granite and precious metals in a specific design called lingam. This specific architecture is supposed to have a property of resonating cosmic vibrations. Water having a colloidal property, abhishekam is done on the granite structure to yield a powerful medicine.

According to ayurveda, the bilva leaves are powerful preventive medicine for respiratory diseases and cardiac problems. Coming in contact with the leaves by offering to god and inhaling the smell involves aroma therapy.

On this day, the tilt of moon at an angle with the earth has profound influence on the vital organs like brain, digestive tracts, kidney etc. To keep the organs intact and ensure smooth functioning, fasting is prescribed.

Temples are built on the basis of agama shastra ( temple architecture) and hence accumulate the cosmic energy and geo-magnetic energy. This energy is dissipated to the devotees who throng the temple.

So, going to a temple and staying the whole night of Mahashivrathri and inhaling the bilwa leaves helps in charging yourself with all these energies and acts as an antidote to all those imbalances that occur during the seasonal changes.

Powerful vedic mantras like Rudram, chamakam are recited on these days. The vibrations of these mantras are picked by the acu points and radiate infrared band of energies. These energies are distributed to all the systems of the body for their imbalances caused due to the seasonal changes.