Mahashivaratri Puja: Utpatti – Adi Shakti aur Shiva ka Swaroop

Extracted from the speech of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Founder, Sahaja Yoga Meditation

1. The discussion about Lord Shiva starts with creation as He is considered the beginning of everything, hence the importance of discussing origin first on the day of Shivratri.
2. When God Almighty’s first form manifests with Brahma, He is referred to as Sada Shiva, signifying His role as the commencement.
3. Before a tree is fully formed, it exists as a seed. Likewise, Lord Shiva is like the seed in its primal state.
4. After Lord Shiva’s manifestation, His energy, known as Adi Shakti, assumes form and subsequently enlightens the three forms of God Almighty – Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiv Shankar).
5. During ultimate destruction, when all creation dissolves back into Brahma, Sada Shiva remains unaffected.
6. Sada Shiva represents the part of God Almighty that never incarnates and always remains in a non-being state.
7. All powers of God that incarnate are from His being, whereas the non-incarnating powers are from the non-being that stays with Him.
8. Sada Shiva’s position remains consistent, much like a diamond that maintains its luster even when broken into smaller pieces.
9. Sada Shiva provides existence or ‘sthiti’. Without sthiti, creation cannot happen. This existence or identity is brought forth by the power of Sada Shiva.
10. Sada Shiva’s contribution to creation is analogous to a foundation of a house, which is unseen but without which no structure can stand.
11. Sada Shiva resides in our hearts as our Spirit, and as long as He resides there, our lives in this world continue.
12. The day Sada Shiva ceases to exist in our hearts, we cease to exist in this world and transition to the other world.
13. Lord Shiva resides in our Chandra Nadi (moon channel), maintaining its state and our life force. Our existence is not possible without Him.
14. These points are explored in a detailed manner in my book.
15. By nature, Lord Shiva is a great ascetic. He creates or destroys based on His whim and for His joy, without any specific reason.

I told you about origin first because on the day of Shivratri when we have to talk about Shiv ji, then it begins with creation therefore He is the beginning. When the first form of God Almighty manifests- when He becomes resplendent with Brahma, then He is called Sada Shiva. That’s why Shiv ji is considered to be the beginning. One can understand that before a tree takes its complete form, one has to look at it in its form as a seed. It is in the form of a seed. Therefore, Shiv ji has great importance. After His manifestation, His own Shakti [Energy] assumes its form and is then known as Adi Shakti. Then this Adi Shakti enlightens the three forms of Parmatma [God Almighty] separately, that you know of, they are Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh meaning Shiv Shankar. Adi Shakti sieves through the 3 aspects of the same diamond. During the time of ultimate destruction, when all the created creation, all the manifested world dissolves and incarnates as the Brahma, even then Sada Shiva remains unaffected. He is related to that part of God Almighty that never incarnates, that who is a non-being. All the powers of God that incarnate are from His being, the ones that don’t, are from the non-being that stay with Him. In all this, the position of Sada Shiv is the same as that of a diamond that even when broken into many small pieces, remains resplendent, whose sheen never diminishes. This is what Sada Shiv’s state is.

Sada Shiva gives the sthiti [state], and in the world, if there is no sthiti, there can be no creation. First, the sthiti has to be developed. Existence – identity has to be brought in. Identity exists because of the Shakti [Power] of Sada Shiv. Due to this, in the creation His contribution is the same as that of a foundation in a huge palace or house, which can’t be seen. The foundation doesn’t show but without it, no building can stand. In the same way, Sada Shiv resides in our heart in the form of our Spirit. Till He resides in our hearts as Spirit, only till then our lives continue in this world. The day He closes His eyes, that day we cease to exist. We leave this world and our state passes on to parlok [the other world].

Shiv ji, as you know resides in our Chandra Nadi [moon channel], and whilst sitting in our Chandra Nadi, He maintains Its sthiti within us. He also maintains the sthiti of our pran [life]. Our lives can’t continue without Shiv ji. These are all detailed conversations I have clarified in my book in a detailed way. By nature, Shiv ji is a great sanyasi [ascetic]. Like it is an aspect of the God Almighty, that from within, He is an ascetic. He doesn’t create for a reason. He has no reason. He does it from His whim, for His joy. If He wants, He creates, otherwise He destroys.

1. Lord Shiva is symbolic of many ascetic individuals in the world, but asceticism is not understood in its conventional sense.
2. True asceticism is reaching a state of self-realization where one becomes a ‘sakshi’ or witness.
3. An ascetic lives in the world but remains detached, demonstrating external participation but internal detachment.
4. There is no need for one to proclaim, “I am a sanyasi” or “I have taken sanyaas”. This state of asceticism is an internal realization.
5. When the mind embodies internal asceticism, this form manifests as Shri Shiv.
6. In our world, enjoyment comes from the Vishnu form of God Almighty. Hence, in the form of Vishnu, He is the enjoyer.
7. In the form of Shiv, God Almighty is an ascetic, and in the form of Brahma, He is the creator.
8. The blue body of Shiva signifies His position on the line of the moon (‘Chandrama’).
9. The snakes around Shiva’s neck and arms signify peace and coolness, as snakes are known to absorb heat.
10. The snakes on Shiva’s body also symbolize the wicked, destructive forces of the world. Shiva holds them within Him, representing His power to contain and neutralize evil.
11. Shiva has consumed all the poison of the world, contributing to the cooling and joy of creation.
12. All that perishes and gets destroyed finds rest in Shiva’s kingdom.
13. The dust from Shiva’s feet closes the prisons of all the evil and useless beings, controlling them through His divine grace.

He is symbolic of many ascetic people who live in this world. I do not mean asceticism to be the way it’s considered in the world. You all know asceticism should be where a man, after being self-realised has reached a state where he is a sakshi [in a witness state]. He is an ascetic from within. From outside, he lives in the world, but from within he is a great ascetic. He doesn’t have to say that, “I am a sanyasi [an ascetic], I have taken sanyaas [ascetism]” but he has taken sanyaas from within. Then when our mind observes sanyaas from within, that form is a manifestation of Shri Shiv. The world we live in and work in, the world that we enjoy, that enjoyment comes from the Vishnu form of the God Almighty, that’s why in the form of Vishnu, He is the enjoyer; in the form of Shiv, He is the ascetic, and in the form of Brahma, He is the creator that creates.

Looking at this ascetic, one sees this strange thing that His body is blue in colour. That is because He is sitting on the line of ‘Chandrama’ (moon). There are snakes around His neck and arms. His whole decoration is with snakes. Snakes are cooling and peaceful. They drink away any heat. He keeps all these snakes on His body symbolising that all the wicked, horrible, poisonous and powerful things that are trying to destroy this world, He is holding them all on His being. He has drunk all the poison of the world. You know He has already drunk the poison in the beginning. He drinks all the poison that is in the world to keep the world cool and give joy to the creation. All that dies, gets destroyed, goes and settles down in His kingdom. By the dust of His feet, the prisons of all the useless people, evil people get shut down. By Shiv ji’s grace, they are kept in control.

1. Lord Shiva is depicted with the moon (Chandrama), the brother of Goddess Lakshmi, on His head.
2. Poets have portrayed Him in various ways, sometimes eccentric, sometimes beautifully.
3. Shiva bears the burden of the Ganga river on His head, signifying His power to subdue the pride of all beings.
4. His tremendous dreadlocks tie the proud Ganga, indicating His ability to absorb human ego and protect people from egoistic individuals.
5. Shiva is incomparable and indescribable, possessing a unique power – the power of forgiveness.
6. He can forgive even the most unforgivable sins, those that cannot be pardoned by deities like Shri Ganesh or Jesus Christ.
7. Therefore, when seeking forgiveness, one must appeal to Shiva, especially for sins like those against the mother which Shri Ganesh can never pardon.
8. Similarly, Jesus Christ cannot forgive certain sins. Only Lord Shiva, or Mahadev, has the capability to forgive such transgressions.
9. Fasting on Shivratri, the day Shiva drank poison, is a puzzling custom. The origin of this practice is unclear and possibly misrepresented in old religious texts.
10. This day should be a celebration, commemorating when Shiva consumed all the world’s poison to emerge victorious.
11. It’s not a day for starvation but for feasting, given the joyous nature of the occasion.
12. The widespread practice of fasting on Shivratri seems to displease Shiva, as it goes against the spirit of celebration.
13. Therefore, it is suggested that devout followers of Shiva often suffer from heart issues, possibly as a repercussion of this misplaced devotion.

On His head, resides Chandrama. Chandrama Himself is the brother, is Lakshmi’s, that’s why it’s said that He is got his brother-in-law on His head. The poets have described Him in a weird way, and some time very beautifully. He has got the load of Ganga on His head as if He removes the pride of all beings. He has tied even the proud Ganga in His dreadlocks. His dreadlocks are so tremendous. He sucks away all the ego from human beings, and this way He protects the people from egoistical people. He is incomparable, He can’t be described in words. But He has a very remarkable, extraordinary power which no other god has- the power of forgiveness. He can forgive even the most evil. Those who can’t be forgiven even by Shri Ganesh or Yeshu Masih [Jesus Christ] can’t forgive, Sada Shiva can forgive even them. That’s why, when one has to ask for forgiveness, one has to ask Him because there are some things that Ganesh cannot forgive at all such as sin against the Mother. Shri Ganesh can never forgive all sex related sins. It’s very difficult to pacify Him. Jesus Christ also can’t forgive, ever. Only Mahadev, Shiv Shankar is capable of forgiving such sins. Even these two can’t understand Him, therefore He must be worshipped.

It’s a strange thing that people fast on this day. I don’t understand on what basis this custom was made. May be some crooked people have written this in the shastras [old religious texts]. On this day, He drank the poison. Today you are allowed to eat anything, even if you drink poison. You have started fasting on this day. I can feel such a strain on my heart chakra today. Any Sahaj Yogi who has fasted today, is straining my heart chakra today. Sahaj Yogis should not act blindly. One should understand that this is a day of celebration when Shiv ji drank all the poison to become victorious in this world. It is a such a grand occasion today. Who said one has to starve to death on this day? When a person is happy, he eats more on such a day. Today is a day to eat two extra chapatis and everyone’s fasting! That’s why Shiv ji is cross with everyone as He can also not forgive such a thing. So now you people will be emancipated. That’s why all these big devotees of Shiva, get heart attacks first.

1. Shivratri should be a day of celebration, as it marks the occasion when Lord Shiva consumed all the world’s evil and sins.
2. Fasting on such a joyous day is considered inauspicious. It’s questioned whether people would feast on a day of mourning if they fast on a day of birth.
3. The practice of fasting during celebratory times and feasting during times of sorrow seems contradictory and is not based on logical religious scriptures.
4. Some have distorted religious texts, leading to misconceptions like the need to fast on festive days.
5. On Shivratri, people should indulge in sweets, as it is a common custom to offer sweets in temples.
6. Many people consume bhang or charas (intoxicating substances) on Shivratri, misguidedly following the belief that Lord Shiva did the same.
7. Lord Shiva is capable of consuming any substance without harm, including bhang, as he is a divine being. This doesn’t mean humans should replicate this.
8. To pilot an airplane, one must first become a pilot. Similarly, consuming intoxicants does not make one Lord Shiva.
9. Lord Shiva consumed the world’s poison and bhang as a way to contain and neutralize the world’s evil. This doesn’t mean these substances should be consumed recreationally.
10. Copying Lord Shiva’s actions without understanding the divine context and purpose behind them is misguided. Being worthy of Lord Shiva’s greatness involves more than just mimicking his actions.
11. Lord Shiva agreed to consume the world’s poison, signifying his willingness to bear the burden of worldly evils for the greater good.
12. Those who misuse substances like charas and bhang in Lord Shiva’s name are misguided and lack understanding of his divine nature and purpose.

Today is a day of rejoicing. He drank all the poison of the world. All that was not benevolent, all the sins, all the evil that was spread in the world, he sucked it all. On this day of this great festival, we should not do something so inauspicious. If we fast on the day of someone’s birthday, so will we eat on the day he dies? All this reverse business happens here. When someone dies, all the brahmins sit down and eat. When someone is born, all the family sit down and fast. How can this be explained? Which shastra says so? And even in the shastras, the idiotic people have filled in such things. Wherever you see, they have filled all the religious texts with all sorts of wrong stuff. One must keep some sense. What is the sense in fasting today?

Everyone should eat sweets. Because in the temples all the people want to eat sweets, so sweets should be offered. Now throughout the night, they will consume bhang [an intoxicating drink] and charas and then they will say, “Shiv ji used to consume it, so we are having charas and bhang.” Shiv ji used to have charas and bhang, because if one has to go into the sub-conscious, one has to eat it. He can eat anything; it doesn’t mean anything to Him. You can understand if there is an aeroplane and you have to go somewhere, then you have to be a pilot first. Those that have consumed bhang or charas, can’t become Shiv ji. It is only Shiv ji, who has drunk the poison from the world, bhang from all over the world and is consuming it. Otherwise, where else can it dumped? All these things were filled inside Him, because you are verily the sthiti [state], you can drink bhang. Now everyone is trying to copy Him by drinking bhang. You think you are becoming Shiv ji by drinking bhang? How many of you here are even worth the dust of Shiv ji’s feet? He drinks it because it is all stored inside Him. There is bhang in this world. There are rakshasas [demons] and evil people. Where can they be kept? Inside the house? If you have something like this, then you also have to make arrangements to store it. Shiv ji said, “Alright bring me, I will drink the poison of the world.” That’s why these things are stored inside Him. You people, who are consuming charas and bhang in His name, there are no greater morons in this world than yourselves.

1. Sahaj Yogis should introspect and realize the new, tremendous, and remarkable internal power that is flowing within them.
2. With this realization, their thought processes and habits should change accordingly.
3. It’s vital to understand the contradiction in some practices and beliefs, as it can lead to misunderstanding entities like Lord Shiva.
4. Be aware that Lord Shiva’s presence is vital, as his absence from this world might lead to his taandav or dance of destruction.
5. Lord Shiva’s unpredictability should be respected and thoughtfully considered.
6. His special day, Shivratri, should be celebrated grandly. A commitment to make the next Shivratri a grand celebration is recommended.
7. Unlike Lord Vishnu who appreciates ornaments, Lord Shiva prefers different offerings such as ash (babhoot).
8. There is no evidence that Lord Shiva prefers fasting as an offering.
9. The meaning of ‘vrat’ has morphed into fasting. Fasting might be appropriate during times of repentance, such as when Lord Ram went into exile.
10. Shivratri is a day of celebration, as it is the day when Lord Shiva consumed all the poison and turmoil of the world, hence the term ‘Maha Shivratri’ (the great night of Shiva).
11. He embodies the darkness of the world, absorbing it within himself.
12. It’s a suggestion, not a command, to refrain from fasting during the next Maha Shivratri and see how it influences the flow of vibrations.
13. On this day, forgiveness should also be sought.

Sahaj Yogis should think that you haven’t felt vibrations yet. You don’t know what this thing is? What is this flowing from inside you? What is the thing inside you? It is something very new, tremendous and remarkable. Then the thoughts should change, habits should change. I don’t understand why we make everything the opposite of what it should be and with every such thing. Shiv ji will leave this world and then it will be very difficult to make Him settle down and if He stays standing for too long, He will start His taandav [dance of destruction]. He is unpredictable. So you should be thoughtful of this.

Today is His very great day. You must promise me today that the next Shiv Ratri will be a huge celebration. He will be praised. He doesn’t like ornaments like Vishnu ji. He has different decorations. Get babhoot [ash] for Him. You can offer Him ashes from across the world. He is ready for all this. But if He’s mentioned fasting, then I am not aware of this. The word ‘vrat’ has changed. It now has become ‘fasting’. You should fast when, for example, Shri Ram Chandra ji went into exile in the forests. When there is repentance, then it’s understandable. Are you repenting that He has drunk poison? One must think. All the hardships of the world, all the turmoil’s, all the poison of the world, He drank on this great day, that’s why it’s called Maha Shiv Ratri. He took the whole dark night into Himself. He has absorbed all the darkness of the world inside Him.

I can’t force you, but you should try it out. You should decide that at the next Maha Shiv Ratri, we will not fast and see how strongly the vibrations flow. And ask for forgiveness.

February 29th, 1976