Mahashivratri: embracing the vast emptiness
In the rhythmic cycles of the Hindu calendar, Shivratri marks the darkest night of each month—a time when the moon's light recedes to its minimum, leaving us in near-complete darkness. While conventional wisdom might suggest we should fear or avoid darkness, Shivratri, and particularly Mahashivratri, invites us to do precisely the opposite: to celebrate and embrace this darkness as sacred.
This practice may seem counterintuitive. The logical mind naturally gravitates toward light and shuns darkness. Yet, this celebration of darkness holds profound wisdom when we understand what "Shiva" truly represents. The word "Shiva" literally translates to "that which is not." If "that which is" constitutes existence and creation, then "that which is not" represents the vast emptiness that cradles all existence.
When we look at the cosmos with conscious awareness, we cannot help but notice that the most dominant presence is not the celestial bodies themselves, but the boundless emptiness that contains them. Stars, planets, and galaxies—though magnificent—occupy infinitesimal space compared to the vast nothingness that holds them. This immense emptiness, this unbounded void, is what we refer to as Shiva. Modern science echoes this ancient understanding, revealing that everything in existence emerges from nothing and eventually returns to nothingness.
It is within this context that Shiva is revered as Mahadeva, the Great Lord. Throughout human history, spiritual traditions across the world have spoken of the divine as omnipresent and all-pervading. When we contemplate what could possibly be truly omnipresent, we realize it can only be emptiness, darkness, or nothingness. Unlike light, which always emanates from a specific source that eventually exhausts itself, darkness requires no source—it is the default state, the canvas upon which light temporarily plays.
Generally, when people are seeking well-being, we talk of the divine as light. When people are no longer seeking well-being, when they are looking beyond their life in terms of dissolving, if the object of their worship and their sadhana is dissolution, then we always refer to the divine as darkness.
— Sadhguru
Light invariably has limitations—a beginning and an end, coming from a finite source. Darkness, on the other hand, is boundless and eternal. It exists everywhere by its very nature. This is why Shiva, as the embodiment of this infinite emptiness, is considered the foundation of all existence. The entirety of creation unfolds within the embrace of this vast emptiness.
In the ancient Indian tradition, prayers were not centered on self-preservation or personal advancement. Instead, they expressed a profound longing: "Oh Lord, destroy me so that I can become like yourself." This seemingly paradoxical prayer reveals a deep understanding that our sense of separateness—our ego-bound identity—is what limits us. By dissolving this limitation, we experience our connection to the boundless nature of existence.
Shivratri, occurring on the darkest night of the month, offers a powerful opportunity to transcend our limited identities. The absence of moonlight symbolizes the potential dissolution of our boundaries, allowing us to experience the unbounded nature that is the seed within every human being. In celebrating darkness, we are not glorifying ignorance but acknowledging the vast potential that exists in emptiness—the same emptiness from which all creation springs forth.
In embracing Shivratri, we are not turning away from light but recognizing that both light and darkness are essential aspects of existence. We honor the void not as an absence but as the infinite potential from which all things arise. The darkness of Shivratri invites us to look beyond our limited perceptions and recognize our connection to the boundless source of creation that exists within and all around us.
Mahashivratri: A Gateway to Spiritual Awakening
Mahashivratri is considered the most significant of all Shivratris, as it is associated with Lord Shiva, the Adiyogi (the first yogi) and the ultimate symbol of transcendence. It is said that on this night, the planetary positions align in a way that enhances one's ability to access higher states of awareness.
For spiritual seekers, this night provides an opportunity to intensify their practices, be it meditation, chanting, or austerities. Many traditions emphasize staying awake through the night (jagaran), as the natural energies aid in spiritual upliftment. Yogic science also suggests that remaining in an upright posture on this night enables the energy to move freely through the spine, leading to enhanced spiritual experiences.
Moreover, Mahashivratri is not just about worshiping Shiva in an external form but embodying his qualities—detachment, inner strength, and wisdom. It is an occasion to break free from limitations, dissolve the ego, and move closer to His essence—the infinite, formless consciousness that pervades all existence. Thus, Mahashivratri is not just a festival but a doorway to inner enlightenment and transcendence.
