UCP-Universal Collective Prayer: The Great Night of Shiv (Maha Shivratri) 2013!

It's been >5 years since the owner of the Meady's Musings production house started to idolize this picture of a murti of Shiv in Rishikesh taken by Jarmo Tuisk.


Since then the owner of the production house has been on a journey and today on the great night of Shiv 2013 the guys at the UCP desk who you would have thought had thrown away their laptops, tablets and electronic devices for lack of blogposts decided to come out of hibernation and share her journey with you!

In August 2008 the owner of the production house decided to take part in an event called candle4tibet. Participation in the event inspired the owner of the production house to open this here blog-UCP and hire the guys at the UCP desk!:) The first ever blogpost can be found here

During the period 2007 to 2009 the owner of the production house continually meditates on the form in the picture above and on the great night of Shiv 2009 she shared her experiences and interactions with the image in this blog. It is important to note then she was on the path of appreciating just how much in the art of dance, yoga and meditation that you needed no other guru than the form of Shiv. She had become so into his form that one night in dream she had the experience of a waterfall on her head...it was vivid in sight, sound and feel and what stood out for her was the coiling and the shape and form...she recalled it intensely when being aroused at 3:33AM!

The image still remains a great inspiration to her but she has since gone on to believe that really Shiv is formless...he is in the wind, the sun, the mountains...he is...he is not...he is all and he is nothing!

As a result Shiv is experienced by all who want to see him..everywhere! And so often the owner of the production house almost sees him meditating here, there and everywhere! However her favorite place to visualize his form is along the banks of the Mosquito creek in Trinidad...one of her favorite Shiv places as described in this blogpost. However the owner was enthused to go to the historical/traditionally fixed abode of Shiv according to stories in 2012 where she spent the great night in 2012. Below is a picture of her in the daylight period on that day in Nainital up in the Himalayas:


So it brings us to the great night of Shiv 2013 and the owner of the production house's perspective today in 2013:

"I think it is that the stories, songs, pilgrimages, murtis, TV shows, movies, Youtube mixes, blogs, pictures you name it...continue to enrich the experience of Shiv. Even if so much of it might be repeating the same message over and over but it is like how subtle 3D adds to the richness of a movie experience...it adds a very subtle layer each time...and yes Shiv must be also just formless...nameless...nothingness yet everythingness all in one...really never attainable by the human mind but everyday is an experience in Shiv and so in pursuit of him...the unattainable...you keep looking and in the process you get to learn just a little bit more about yourself daily...and you can do a big celebration and reflection on your yearly learnings on the great night of Shiv each year!"

So from the owner of the production house and all the guys from the UCP desk, the little mouse and Purple Elephant we wish you all a great night of reflection, meditation, blessings and prayer and good luck on your year ahead of becoming more Shiv like! Shivoham! Shivoham!

Festival of Shiv:Days 15, 16 & 17-Shiv's Things

First of all on UCP we apologize for not having individual blogs for each of the past two days of the festival and now having to lump all into one day as three! :) But as we from time to time remind readers the authors of UCP are hardly full time bloggers and as such sometimes our full time jobs and lives makes the UCP nearly impossible! Especially on a daily basis! And of course as we always remind readers if they want UCP's authors to become full time bloggers...hey start clicking on those Ads...LOL! Let's see how many cents would that be?

But now on with the festival...

I've blogged on Day 3 of the festival about rendering onto Shiva the things that are Shiva's and then went on to say that the things that are Shiva's are perhaps us-spirits and perhaps everything else spiritual...I think the whole metaphysical world is Shiva's.

However remember how I keep talking about how in Hinduism the big becomes the little bit and the little becomes big...i.e. it is marvelous a religion for looking at things from both the microscopic and macroscopic levels all at the same time! :)

So today I want to explore Shiv's things as in the things that adorn his 'murti' form. Let's use my beloved guru form picture as my illustration...and explain the things we see in this form which is just one form Shiv can be depicted in...


So now looking at the form let's go! I think this site gives a good explanation as below:

'Physical Attributes

Ganga: Sun is the focal point of the solar system and soul is the focal of the body. Similarly, Gan is the focal point of the divine consciousness of each object and also that of pavitrakas (pure particles). The source from which Gan flows is Gan gaha – Ganga. Gan flows from Shiva’s crown. Hence the notion, that Ganga has descended from Shiva’s crown.

The river Ganga on the earth contains a fraction of the principle of the spiritual Ganga; hence, it remains holy despite environment pollution. Thus, the water of the river Ganga is found to be the most pure, when compared to that of any other river in the world – a fact which is understood not only by those who understand the subtle dimension, but also by scientists.

Moon: Shiva adorns His forehead with the moon. Moon is considered to be the origin of the vibrations of affection, compassion and motherly love. This means that chandrama (lit. moon), represents a state in which these three types of vibrations are unified

The third eye

Shiva’s left eye is considered to be the first eye, the right eye to be the second and the eye (in subtle form) situated slightly above the midpoint between the eyebrows, is the third eye. The upward looking third eye represents the combined energy of both the eyes, the right and left. So also it is a seat of the divine energy. It is also known as Jyothirmath, vyaspith, etc.

Chandra (moon), Ark and Vaishvanar are the three eyes of the Shiva. Ark is the Sun of ajanajlok, whereas Vaishvanar is the Sun of karmadevlok.

Shiva is ‘three-eyed’, which means He can see all events of the past, present and the future.

According to the yogic sciences, the third eye represents the sushumna nadi (the central channel for the flow of kundalini in the body).

The Snake (Nag)

Bhujangapatihari is also one of the names of Shiva. Bhujanga means a snake, that is, pavitrak (pure particle). Pati refers to one who nurtures and Hari means one who wears garlands around his neck. The different types of the snakes represent a collection of pavitrakas. Superficially, these appear as snakes, but reality they are a kind of a ladder. For spiritual progress, one needs to hold on to their tails to rise.

There are nine snakes coiled around Shiva one on the head, one around the neck, one each around the arms, one each around the both the wrists, one around waist, one each around both thighs. In other words, His body is composed of pavitrakas themselves or snakes representing pavitrkas, which play around his body and arms, the form of the Universe.

The snake is also considered as Shiva’s weapon. The nine snakes in the Universe are also known as ‘Navanarayan’. Navanath too, have their origin in these nine snakes.

Kartikeya, Jotiba, Ravalnath and Sabbu are the deities, which manifest at times in the snake form.

The snake exists in some context or other in the form of any deity.

Our body has five snakes, one of which is female and is referred to as the kundalini. The five snakes move inside the body in the form of five internal airs or energies (vayus). The remaining four snakes are normally present in the body; they present only in those who are spiritually evolved.

The snakes represent the male principle. He is the deity, which bestows progeny.'