It has been described as Bhairavotsava in Tantric texts as on this occasion Bhairava and Bhairavi, His Shakti or cosmic energy, are propitiated through Tantric worship. The reason for it is that this long drawn festival that is celebrated for one full fortnight as an elaborate ritual is associated with the appearance of Bhairava (Shiva) as a jwala-linga or a linga of flame. Shivaratri, regarded as the most important festival of the community, for instance, is celebrated by them on trayodashi or the thirteenth of the dark half of the month of Phalguna (FebruaryâMarch) and not on chaturdashi or the fourteenth as in the rest of the country. In Kashmir Shaivism, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated by the Brahmins of Kashmir and is called, 'Herath' in Kashmiri, a word derived from the Sanskrit word 'Hararatri' the 'Night of Hara' (another name of Shiva).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |