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Home Swami on Maha Shivaratri shivaratri/sivaratri/shivarathri/sivarathri Today we are celebrating Sivarathri. "Sivarathri" means "Auspicious darkness". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life. The lesson of Sivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course. Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless. Sivarathri has a variety of meanings. "Rathri" implies the darkness of night. But "Sivarathri" connotes not darkness but the special sacredness of this night. There is darkness in this night also, but this darkness is invested with auspiciousness. The reason is that on this l4th day after the Full Moon (Chathurdasi day), the moon, who is the presiding deity for the mind, has shed fifteen of his sixteen digits. This is an auspicious time for having proximity to God. The Upanishaths refer to the attributes of the Divine as Truth, Goodness, and Beauty (Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram). Plato regarded Truth, Goodness, and Beauty as the attributes of the Divine Goodness (Shivam) represents the principle of auspiciousness. It is associated with Truth on one side and beauty on the other. This is the primary message of Sivarathri. I am giving you three maxims that you have to bear in mind: Service, service, service (Seva, seva, seva). Never forget the duty to serve. For this you have to develop love. To develop love, you have to promote the spirit of sacrifice. Service will become meaningful when it manifests the love that issues from sacrifice. Consider service as conducive to your own spiritual development. Be good, do good. The day when man is able to experience the divine state of being-awareness-bliss (sath-chith-ananda) is really the holy day of Sivarathri. Till then, man is in perpetual darkness. Until a fruit ripens on a tree, its juice is not sweet. When the fruit is fully ripe, it drops from the tree. Attachment to the tree is gone. Likewise, when a man achieves spiritual maturity, he acquires detachment (vairagya) automatically. Man has to endeavour to reach this level of maturity by spiritual practices that transform his consciousness. Turn your minds toward the Divine. Repetition of the Lord's names has been prescribed as a spiritual discipline to turn your mind away from the things of the world. If you devote the whole of this night to thoughts about the Lord, your minds will be transformed, even if you are not able to reach the highest state of "Over-Mind". Ever bearing in mind the triple characteristics of the Divine --Truth, Wisdom, Eternal Brahman (Sathyam, Jnanam, Anantham Brahman)-- strive to achieve the supreme goal of Man. Sivarathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when the moon is waning and the sun is in the sign of Aquarius. However, the festival is related to the moon rather than the sun. Unlike other nights, this particular night is the night of consecration, of dedication, of illumination. The mind is intimately associated with the moon. Chandra, the deity of the moon, is the presiding deity of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of his brilliance every day after the full moon day and continues waning until, on this night, he is left with just one sixteenth of his power. The waned moon may be taken to stand for the mind with all its wild fancies and waywardness reduced after it has been conquered by spiritual discipline. On this night, there is just a minute part more to be conquered, and that can be done by keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God The vigil that is prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe, while the rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures for which they crave. The night-long devotional singing is significant of the life long consciousness of the Divine Presence that everyone should cultivate. The rites and vows laid down for Sivarathri being absent on other nights of the year, their observance on this day comes as a reminder that they are useful.
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[Skip to main content](https://www.sathyasai.org/festival/sivaratri#main-content) ![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/all/themes/ssio_theme/images/logo-border.png) [![Sarva Dharma Logo](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/all/themes/ssio_theme/images/logo-en.png)](https://www.sathyasai.org/) [![Sarva Dharma Logo](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/all/themes/ssio_theme/images/logo-en.png)](https://www.sathyasai.org/) Toggle navigation # Sri Sathya Sai International Organization - [Sri Sathya Sai](https://www.sathyasai.org/) - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/his-words) [His Words](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/his-words) Discourses and Writing by Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/discourses-and-writings) [Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Teachings](https://www.sathyasai.org/discourses-and-writings) Discourses and Writings by Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/study-aids) [Study Aids](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/study-aids) Study guides, devotional articles and resources for spiritual seekers - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/life-and-legacy) [His Life and Legacy](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/life-and-legacy) An introduction to the life of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. - [Worldwide Initiatives](https://www.sathyasai.org/) - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/adoption-of-communities/report) [Service: Adoption of Communities](https://www.sathyasai.org/adoption-of-communities/report) For the occasion of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 95th Birthday, the SSSIO adopted around 160 communities in 40 countries. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-public-outreach) [SSSIO Public Outreach](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-public-outreach) An outreach initiative of the SSSIO that spreads the human values taught by Sri Sathya Sai Baba all over the world. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/environmental-sustainability "The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) promotes spiritual solutions to our present day environmental crises.") [Environmental Sustainability](https://www.sathyasai.org/environmental-sustainability "The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) promotes spiritual solutions to our present day environmental crises.") Promoting spiritual solutions to our present day environmental crises. - [Organization](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/organisation) - [Activities](https://www.sathyasai.org/) - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/ya) [Young Adults](https://www.sathyasai.org/ya) The future of the country depends on the skill and the sincerity of the youth. YAs have enthusiastically shared their ideas, creativity, skills, and knowledge. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/healthcare "Healthcare") [Healthcare](https://www.sathyasai.org/healthcare "Healthcare") Core Values, Global Impact, and Significance of Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/education) [Sathya Sai Education](https://www.sathyasai.org/education) Ideal education that brings out latent human values and develops character. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/sai-centres) [Sri Sathya Sai Centres](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/sai-centres) Discussion of Organisation and Purpose of Sai Centres - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/humanitarian-relief) [Humanitarian Relief](https://www.sathyasai.org/humanitarian-relief) Selfless and loving service to those affected by natural disasters - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/community-service) [Community Service](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/community-service) Community service activities of the Sathya Sai Centres - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/interfaith) [Interfaith Activities](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/interfaith) Interfaith activities from around the world - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/media) [Digital Media](https://www.sathyasai.org/media) Media Team's Resources & Activities. - [Events](https://www.sathyasai.org/events-and-activities) - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/world-wide) [World Wide Events](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/world-wide) Upcoming International, Zonal, Regional and National events including e-events - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/2026-calendar) [2026 Calendar](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/2026-calendar) Events & Festivals - [Resources](https://www.sathyasai.org/) - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/videos) [Videos](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/videos) Collection of inspiring videos - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/ebooks "Writings of Sathya Sai Baba in eBook Formats") [Vahinis](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/ebooks "Writings of Sathya Sai Baba in eBook Formats") A collection of essays penned by Sri Sathya Sai Baba and published in the monthly magazine, Sanathana Sarathi. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/the-eternal-companion) [Sathya Sai - The Eternal Companion](https://www.sathyasai.org/the-eternal-companion) Monthly magazine sharing Sri Sathya Sai Baba's love, teachings, and humanitarian services undertaken around the world. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/node/1692) [SSSIO Annual Report for 2024](https://www.sathyasai.org/node/1692) Worldwide Educational, Service, and Spiritual Activities of the SSSIO in 2024 - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/organisation/guidelines "SSIO Guidelines.") [Guidelines](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/organisation/guidelines "SSIO Guidelines.") This is a collection of SSIO guidelines and manuals from various committees and task force teams. - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-logo) [Official Logo](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-logo) SSSIO Logo with the five human values that form the foundation of Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathyasai/internationalarchive) [Sri Sathya Sai International Archive](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathyasai/internationalarchive) A global effort focused on documenting the mission and legacy of Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/devotional-songs/search "A tool to search devotional songs.") [Devotional Songs Search - Bhajans](https://www.sathyasai.org/devotional-songs/search "A tool to search devotional songs.") A tool for devotional coordinators and members to search devotional songs and prepare presentations for centre programmes. - [Search](https://www.sathyasai.org/search) 1. [Home](https://www.sathyasai.org/) 2. Swami on Maha Shivaratri I have a "Task": To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them lives full of ananda (bliss). I have a "Vow": To lead all who stray away from the straight path again into goodness and save them. I am attached to a "work" that I love: To remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack. I have a "reason to be proud", for I rescue all who worship and adore me, aright. I have my definition of the "devotion" I expect: Those devoted to me have to treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude. This means that I will never give up those who attach themselves to me. Sri Sathya Sai Baba ## Swami on Maha Shivaratri shivaratri/sivaratri/shivarathri/sivarathri ![]() Today we are celebrating Sivarathri. "Sivarathri" means "Auspicious darkness". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life. [**Sri Sathya Sai Baba**](https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/power-lords-name-0#:~:text=Today%20we,sanctifies%20one%27s%20life.), February 25, 1998 The lesson of Sivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course. Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless. [**Sri Sathya Sai Baba**](https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/message-sakkubais-devotion#:~:text=The%20lesson,desires%20are%20worthless.), February 26, 1998 Sivarathri has a variety of meanings. "Rathri" implies the darkness of night. But "Sivarathri" connotes not darkness but the special sacredness of this night. There is darkness in this night also, but this darkness is invested with auspiciousness. The reason is that on this l4th day after the Full Moon (Chathurdasi day), the moon, who is the presiding deity for the mind, has shed fifteen of his sixteen digits. This is an auspicious time for having proximity to God. The Upanishaths refer to the attributes of the Divine as Truth, Goodness, and Beauty (Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram). Plato regarded Truth, Goodness, and Beauty as the attributes of the Divine Goodness (Shivam) represents the principle of auspiciousness. It is associated with Truth on one side and beauty on the other. This is the primary message of Sivarathri. I am giving you three maxims that you have to bear in mind: Service, service, service (Seva, seva, seva). Never forget the duty to serve. For this you have to develop love. To develop love, you have to promote the spirit of sacrifice. Service will become meaningful when it manifests the love that issues from sacrifice. Consider service as conducive to your own spiritual development. Be good, do good. [**Sri Sathya Sai Baba**](https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/service-love-and-sacrifice), March 07, 1997 ![]() The day when man is able to experience the divine state of being-awareness-bliss (sath-chith-ananda) is really the holy day of Sivarathri. Till then, man is in perpetual darkness. Until a fruit ripens on a tree, its juice is not sweet. When the fruit is fully ripe, it drops from the tree. Attachment to the tree is gone. Likewise, when a man achieves spiritual maturity, he acquires detachment (vairagya) automatically. Man has to endeavour to reach this level of maturity by spiritual practices that transform his consciousness. Turn your minds toward the Divine. Repetition of the Lord's names has been prescribed as a spiritual discipline to turn your mind away from the things of the world. If you devote the whole of this night to thoughts about the Lord, your minds will be transformed, even if you are not able to reach the highest state of "Over-Mind". Ever bearing in mind the triple characteristics of the Divine --Truth, Wisdom, Eternal Brahman (Sathyam, Jnanam, Anantham Brahman)-- strive to achieve the supreme goal of Man. [**Sri Sathya Sai Baba**](https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/ascent-divine), February 16, 1988 Sivarathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when the moon is waning and the sun is in the sign of Aquarius. However, the festival is related to the moon rather than the sun. Unlike other nights, this particular night is the night of consecration, of dedication, of illumination. The mind is intimately associated with the moon. Chandra, the deity of the moon, is the presiding deity of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of his brilliance every day after the full moon day and continues waning until, on this night, he is left with just one sixteenth of his power. The waned moon may be taken to stand for the mind with all its wild fancies and waywardness reduced after it has been conquered by spiritual discipline. On this night, there is just a minute part more to be conquered, and that can be done by keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God The vigil that is prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe, while the rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures for which they crave. The night-long devotional singing is significant of the life long consciousness of the Divine Presence that everyone should cultivate. The rites and vows laid down for Sivarathri being absent on other nights of the year, their observance on this day comes as a reminder that they are useful. [**Sri Sathya Sai Baba**](https://saispeaks.sathyasai.org/discourse/god-source-good#:~:text=SHIVARAATHRI%20is,they%20are%20useful.), March 07, 1978 ### Related Links [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/festival/mahashivarathri-self-realization) #### [Maha Shivaratri - Path towards Self-Realization](https://www.sathyasai.org/festival/mahashivarathri-self-realization) Supreme Sacredness-Realizing oneness with divinity [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/festivals/mahashivaratri/2024/study-guide) #### [Maha Shivaratri Study Guide 2024](https://www.sathyasai.org/festivals/mahashivaratri/2024/study-guide) Excerpts from a divine discourse given by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 29th May 1990, for the purposes of reducing the identification with the mind and intensifying the unity with God. [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/festival/mahasivarathri-inner-significance) #### [Maha Shivaratri - The Inner Significance](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/festival/mahasivarathri-inner-significance) The sages believed that the Divine principle was present in and outside of everything and that it could be experienced directly as well as indirectly. [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/organization/million-steps-to-swami) #### [1 Million Steps To Swami](https://www.sathyasai.org/organization/million-steps-to-swami) A ‘New’ Sadhana Based on the Eternal Concepts of Love and Service [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/spiritual/quotes-for-global-sadhana-march-2021) #### [Global Sadhana Quotes - March 2021](https://www.sathyasai.org/spiritual/quotes-for-global-sadhana-march-2021) [![]()](https://www.sathyasai.org/study-guide/108-mirrors-part-5) #### [108 Mirrors to Know Thyself - Part 5](https://www.sathyasai.org/study-guide/108-mirrors-part-5) A Study Guide for Deep Contemplation of 108 Names of Sri Sathya Sai Baba - Part 5 of 6 (Names 73 through 90) [SHOW MORE](https://www.sathyasai.org/related-links/ajax/212/ssio_search_custom_0/6) ### Our Other Websites - [Sri Sathya Sai Universe](http://saiuniverse.sathyasai.org/) - [Sri Sathya Sai Humanitarian Relief](http://sathyasaihumanitarianrelief.org/) - [SaiCast](http://www.saicast.org/) - [Legacy sathyasai.org](https://www.sathyasai.org/default.htm) ### Zone and Country Websites ### Connect With Us - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/whatsapp-logo.png) WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DXmloRQp1mJCXC9EHZuC21 "Follow us on WhatsApp") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/fb-logo-512.png) Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sathyasaiorg/ "Follow us on Facebook") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/insta.png) Instagram](https://instagram.com/sathyasaiorg/ "Follow us on Instagram") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/logo-black.png) X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/sathyasai_org/ "Follow us on (X) Twitter") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/yt.png) YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-utAMgGxJVomfglWt_XWiQ "Watch on YouTube") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/telegram-logo.png) Telegram](https://t.me/sathyasaiorg "Follow on Telegram") - [![](https://www.sathyasai.org/sites/default/files/pages/icons/spotify-logo.png) Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/070bUPQHGIPTaEhrS73gkB?si=MsFiB1i5SCOS0bTNaGS5sw "Follow us on Spotify") #### Sathya Sai - [Life and Legacy](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/life-and-legacy) - [His Words](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/his-words) - [Study Aids](https://www.sathyasai.org/sathya-sai/study-aids) #### About us - [About the Organization](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/organisation) - [Healthcare](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/service/healthcare) - [Young Adults](https://www.sathyasai.org/ya) - [Sri Sathya Sai Centers](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/sai-centres) - [Sri Sathya Sai Education](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/education) - [Humanitarian Relief](https://www.sathyasai.org/humanitarian-relief) - [Community Service](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/community-service) - [Interfaith Activities](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/interfaith) #### Events & Activities - [2024 Calendar](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/2024-calendar) - [Worldwide Events](https://www.sathyasai.org/events/world-wide) #### Resources - [Videos](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/videos) - [eBooks](https://www.sathyasai.org/media/ebooks) - [Sathya Sai - The Eternal Companion](https://www.sathyasai.org/the-eternal-companion) - [Guidelines](https://www.sathyasai.org/about-us/organisation/guidelines) - [Official Logo](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-logo) - [Devotional Songs Search](https://www.sathyasai.org/devotional-songs/search) - [Annual Report](https://www.sathyasai.org/organisation/2019-annual-report) - [SSSIO Public Outreach](https://www.sathyasai.org/ssio-public-outreach) #### Worldwide Initiatives - [Adoption of Communities Worldwide](https://www.sathyasai.org/95communities) - [Environmental Sustainability](https://www.sathyasai.org/environmental-sustainability) #### Contact Us - [info@sathyasai.org](mailto:info@sathyasai.org) © 2025 Sri Sathya Sai International Organization. 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1. [Home](https://www.sathyasai.org/) 2. Swami on Maha Shivaratri shivaratri/sivaratri/shivarathri/sivarathri ![]() Today we are celebrating Sivarathri. "Sivarathri" means "Auspicious darkness". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life. The lesson of Sivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course. Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless. Sivarathri has a variety of meanings. "Rathri" implies the darkness of night. But "Sivarathri" connotes not darkness but the special sacredness of this night. There is darkness in this night also, but this darkness is invested with auspiciousness. The reason is that on this l4th day after the Full Moon (Chathurdasi day), the moon, who is the presiding deity for the mind, has shed fifteen of his sixteen digits. This is an auspicious time for having proximity to God. The Upanishaths refer to the attributes of the Divine as Truth, Goodness, and Beauty (Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram). Plato regarded Truth, Goodness, and Beauty as the attributes of the Divine Goodness (Shivam) represents the principle of auspiciousness. It is associated with Truth on one side and beauty on the other. This is the primary message of Sivarathri. I am giving you three maxims that you have to bear in mind: Service, service, service (Seva, seva, seva). Never forget the duty to serve. For this you have to develop love. To develop love, you have to promote the spirit of sacrifice. Service will become meaningful when it manifests the love that issues from sacrifice. Consider service as conducive to your own spiritual development. Be good, do good. ![]() The day when man is able to experience the divine state of being-awareness-bliss (sath-chith-ananda) is really the holy day of Sivarathri. Till then, man is in perpetual darkness. Until a fruit ripens on a tree, its juice is not sweet. When the fruit is fully ripe, it drops from the tree. Attachment to the tree is gone. Likewise, when a man achieves spiritual maturity, he acquires detachment (vairagya) automatically. Man has to endeavour to reach this level of maturity by spiritual practices that transform his consciousness. Turn your minds toward the Divine. Repetition of the Lord's names has been prescribed as a spiritual discipline to turn your mind away from the things of the world. If you devote the whole of this night to thoughts about the Lord, your minds will be transformed, even if you are not able to reach the highest state of "Over-Mind". Ever bearing in mind the triple characteristics of the Divine --Truth, Wisdom, Eternal Brahman (Sathyam, Jnanam, Anantham Brahman)-- strive to achieve the supreme goal of Man. Sivarathri is a very auspicious day for all. It is the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when the moon is waning and the sun is in the sign of Aquarius. However, the festival is related to the moon rather than the sun. Unlike other nights, this particular night is the night of consecration, of dedication, of illumination. The mind is intimately associated with the moon. Chandra, the deity of the moon, is the presiding deity of the mind. He loses one sixteenth of his brilliance every day after the full moon day and continues waning until, on this night, he is left with just one sixteenth of his power. The waned moon may be taken to stand for the mind with all its wild fancies and waywardness reduced after it has been conquered by spiritual discipline. On this night, there is just a minute part more to be conquered, and that can be done by keeping vigil and dwelling on the glory of God The vigil that is prescribed is symbolic of the eternal vigil one has to observe, while the rite of fasting is symbolic of divesting the senses of the pleasures for which they crave. The night-long devotional singing is significant of the life long consciousness of the Divine Presence that everyone should cultivate. The rites and vows laid down for Sivarathri being absent on other nights of the year, their observance on this day comes as a reminder that they are useful.
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