Shivarathri

A festival of Lord Shiva is celebrated all over India. Many people fast on this day and eat only fruits in the evening. And at my place in India, we used to wait for the evening as we would get to eat a wide variety of fruits. I especially waited to eat my favorite Water Melon. My mom used to finish the puja early so that we could break the fast at the dusk. We break the fast with a Date and Bellam/gur water. And after singing few bhajans, we all would sit together to eat the fruits. We all kids used to gather in our colony and would play some games all through the night, while Mothers used to prepare food to eat for the next day. You again break the fast in the morning with rice, dal, some fried bajjis, puris and halwa etc...That used to be a feast to remember with all festive food.

But, in US, that festive spirit is not seen much as there are not many people who observe the fast. In fact, Ravi started fasting with me to give me company; he actually started fasting even before we got married J to make me happy! We fast and go to the temple in the evening and get up early the next day and cook whatever we can, eat and get ready to go to work. I wish it comes on a weekend every year so that you would enjoy this festival more.

We sing Lingashtakam as one of the special songs for this day. Here are the lyrics for the song. I searched the lyrics on the web for long and finally found at Chennai Online.

Text One
brahma muraari suraarchita lingam

nirmala bhashita shobhita lingam

janmaja dukha vinaashaka lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is adored by Brahma, Vishnu and other Gods, which is praised by pure and holy speeches and which destroys the cycle of births and deaths.

Text Two
devamuni pravaraarchita lingam

kaamadaham karunaakara lingam

raavana darpa vinaashaka lingam

tat pranamaami sada shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is the destroyer of desires, which the Devas and the sages worship, which is infinitely compassionate and which subdued the pride of Raavana.

Text Three
sarva sugandha sulepitha lingam

buddhi vivardhana kaarana lingam

siddha suraasura vanditha lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is lavishly smeared with variegated perfumes and scents, which elevates the power of thought and enkindles the light of discrimination, and before which the Siddhas and Suras and Asuras prostrate.

Text Four
kanaka mahaamani bhushitha lingam

phanipathi veshtitha shobhitha lingam

daksha suyajna vinaashaka lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, the destroyer of Dakshas sacrifice, which is decorated with various ornaments, studded with different gems and rubies and which glows with the garland of the serpent Lord coiled around it.

Text Five
kumkuma chandana lepitha lingam

pankaja haara sushobhitha lingam

sanchitha paapa vinaashaka lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is smeared with saffron and sandal paste, which is decorated with lotus garlands and which wipes out all accumulated sins.

Text Six
devaganaarchitha sevitha lingam

bhaavair bhakti bhirevacha lingam

dinakara koti prabhakara lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga which is worshipped by the multitude of Gods with genuine thoughts full of faith and devotion and whose splendor is like that of a million suns.

Text Seven
ashta dalopari veshtitha lingam

sarva samudbhava kaarana lingam

ashta daridra vinaashaka lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, destroyer of all poverty and misery in its eight aspects, which is the cause of all creation and which stands on the eight petalled Lotus.

Text Eight
suraguru suravara pujitha lingam

suravana pushpa sadaarchitha lingam

paraatparam paramatmaka lingam

tat pranamaami sadaa shiva lingam

I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga which is the Transcendent Being and the Supreme Self, worshipped by all Suras and their preceptor (Brhaspathi), with innumerable flowers from the celestial gardens.

Text Nine
lingashtakamidam punyam

ya:pathaet sivasannidau

sivalokamavapnoti sivena saha modatae

Whoever recites these eight slokas, in praise of the Shivalinga with the presence of Lord Shiva, attains that Supreme abode of Shiva and enjoys everlasting bliss with Him.

Source: Indiadivine.org