Maha Shiva Ratri Celebration in India

Maha Shiva Rathri 2009 with Swamiji in Bidadi Ashram - February 23: On a cool sunny morning the devotees welcomed Swamiji at the Temple with full honor and lot of enthusiasm. The day was filled with a variety of activities including a multi-specialty medical camp that offered medical care to all free of cost. Medicines were also given free of charge.

The morning saw Swamiji hoisting the festival flag and beginning the celebration. Arathi was performed to Sri Anandeshwar and Anandeshwari. Devotees did milk abishekam to the Jothir Linga.

Click on this link for some pictures taken during the celebrations.

Bilva Leaves - Bael Tree

Ever wonder what a bilva leaf looks like, the one that is used in Shiva worship?

According to Wikepedia, the Bael (Aegle marmelos) is a fruit-bearing tree found in dry forests on hills and plains of central and southern India, and many other places in the East. It is also popularly known as Bilva, Bilwa, Bel, Kuvalam, Koovalam, Madtoum, or Beli fruit, Bengal quince, stone apple, and wood apple. The tree grows up to 18 meters tall and bears thorns, fragrant flowers and fruit.

In India, the tree is often found in temple gardens and its leaves are used in religious celebrations.

Check out the full article at Wikipedia.

108 Names of Lord Shiva (Anandeshwara)

Wonderful chanting of Lord Shiva's (Anandeshwara) 108 names during Maha Shiva Ratri:

OM shivAya namaH
OM maheshwarAya namaH
OM shaMbhave namaH
OM pinAkine namaH
OM shashishekharAya namaH
OM vAmadevAya namaH
OM virUpAxAya namaH
OM kapardine namaH
OM nIlalohitAya namaH
OM sha.nkarAye namaH
OM shulapANaye namaH
OM khaTvA.ngine namaH
OM vishhNuvallabhAya namaH
OM shipivishhTAye namaH
OM aMbikAnAthAya namaH
OM shrIkaNThAya namaH
OM bhaktavatsalAya namaH
OM bhavAya namaH
OM sharvAya namaH
OM tro;plesjAua namaH
OM shitikanThAya namaH
OM shivApriyAya namaH
OM ugrAya namaH
OM kapAline namaH
OM kAmAraye namaH
OM andhakAsura sUdanAya namaH
OM gaN^gAdharAya namaH
OM lalAtAxAya namaH
OM kAlakAlAya namaH
OM kr^ipAnidhaye namaH
OM bhImAya namaH
OM parashuhastAya namaH
OM mR^igapANaye namaH
OM jaTAdharAya namaH
OM kailAsavAsine namaH
OM kavachine namaH
OM kaThorAya namaH
OM tripurAntakAya namaH
OM vR^ishhA.nkAya namaH
OM vR^ishhabhArUDhaya namaH
OM bhasmoddhulita vigrahAya namaH
OM sAmapriyAya namaH
OM svaramayAya namaH
OM trayImUrtaye namaH
OM anIshvarAya namaH
OM sarvaGYAya namaH
OM paramAtmane namaH
OM somasUryAgnilochanAya namaH
OM havishhe namaH
OM yaGYamayAya namaH
OM somAya namaH
OM pa.nchavaktrAya namaH
OM sadAshivAya namaH
OM vishveshvarAya namaH
OM vIrabhadrAya namaH
OM gaNanAthAya namaH
OM prajApataye namaH
OM hiraNyaretase namaH
OM durdharshhAya namaH
OM girIshAya namaH
OM girishAya namaH
OM anaghAya namaH
OM bhujaN^gabhUshhaNAya
OM bhargAya namaH
OM giridhanvane namaH
OM giripriyAya namaH
OM kR^ittivAsase namaH
OM purArAtaye namaH
OM bhagavate namaH
OM pramathAdhipAya namaH
OM mr^ityu.njayAya namaH
OM sUxmatanave namaH
OM jagadvyApine namaH
OM jagadgurave namaH
OM vyomakeshAya namaH
OM mahAsenajanakAya namaH
OM chAruvikramAya namaH
OM rudrAya namaH
OM bhUtapataye namaH
OM sthANave namaH
OM ahirbudhnyAya namaH
OM digaMbarAya namaH
OM ashhTamUrtaye namaH
OM anekAtmane namaH
OM sAtvikAya namaH
OM shuddavigrahAya namaH
OM shAshvatAya namaH
OM khaNDaparashave namaH
OM ajAya namaH
OM pAshavimochakAya namaH
OM mR^iDAya namaH
OM pashupataye namaH
OM devAya namaH
OM mahAdevAya namaH
OM avyayAya namaH
OM haraye namaH
OM bhaganetrabhide namaH
OM avyaktAya namaH
OM daxAdhvaraharAya namaH
OM harAya namaH
OM pUshhadantabhide namaH
OM avyagrAya namaH
OM sahasrAxAya namaH
OM sahasrapade namaH
OM apavargapradAya namaH
OM anantAya namaH
OM tArakAya namaH
OM parameshvarAya namaH