PDP leaders greet Kashmiri Hindus on Mahashivratri

20 February, 2012

Today, the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is being celebrated with devotion and fervour. The festival is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon during the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna and the day falls on February 20 this year.

KASHMIR VALLEY is considered an important seat of Shaivism and the Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Maha Shivratri with night-long vigil leading up to the day of the festival with special prayers and worship.

On the eve of Maha Shivratri, the Muslim leaders of Jammu and Kashmir greeted Hindus on the auspicious occasion of the festival. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti in their message said the festival symbolizes the ethos of devotion and amity which were needed to bring peace and prosperity in the state.

On this occasion, Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is recited in the temples which go like this: Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam / Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat (We meditate on the Three-Eyed Reality (Lord Shiva) which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance / May we be liberated from death and be liberated like a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper).

Here is an acrostic that describes SHIVA.

S: Symbol of cosmic soul for destruction of existence that is worshiped by

H: Hindus for achieving liberation by

I: I-working on the mind to purify it from the

V: Vices like worldly desires, greed, hatred, Infatuations and

A: Anger.