FREMONT, CA: Maha Shivaratri festival that glorifies Hindu god Shiva was celebrated as a week long grand celebration from February 26 to March 3 at Fremont Hindu Temple. The festival is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon during the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna.
The celebration of Maha Shivaratri began with Pradosha Puja and Kalasa Sthapana on Wednesday Feb 26. Kalasha Sthapana means installing a pot filled with water and is meant to represent Lord Shiva by a process of Avahana. It is believed that the formless God appeared in the form of “Lingodbhav Moorti” at midnight on Maha Shivratri. This is said to be the reason as to why Shiva devotees keep vigil at night and offer prayers to the Lord.
Chants, mantras, pujas, offerings, meditations, every possible means to propitiate the Lord was on evidence on the auspicious day, ahead of the grand culmination of the aarti. According to popular legend, described in Linga Purana, it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga for the first time. Since then, the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by the devotees of Shiva and they celebrate it as Maha Shivaratri, the grand night of Shiva.
Fremont Hindu temple had organized for the special Sahasra Spatula Lingaarchana with 1008 Shiv Lingas and it was the first time all over Bay area, says, Govind Pasumarthi, Chair. Over 3000 devotees offered their prayers on this holy day at the Fremont Hindu temple.
The temple management had made elaborate arrangements for Shiva Parvathi Kalyana Mahotsavam. On Saturday, the Kalyanam of Sri Parvathi and Sri Shiva Kalyanam was attended by over thousand devotees from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed Tandava, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction on this auspicious night of Shivaratri. On Sunday, March 2, Maha Rudra Yagam was offered by Holiness Sri Karunamayi Ma from 9 am to 2 pm. SMVA Trust promotes world peace through interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
The temple management thanked the priests, volunteers, committee members and others associated with the temple proceedings for their valuable time and for bringing the best religious events to the Bay area devotees.
India Post News Service
