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Digitizing Tradition: This Mahashivratri, Temples deliver ‘prasad’ to devotees via mail

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Shiv Temple Kanchar City Jabalpur, India

Santa Clara, Calif. (Diya TV) ‘Mahashivratri’, a term derived from three words Maha, Shiva and Ratri which literally means “The Great night of Shiva”, is one the most important festivals celebrated on the new moon day in the month of ‘Phalgun’ according to Hindu Calendars.

Shiv Temple Kanchar City Jabalpur, India

Shiv Temple Kanchar City Jabalpur, India

 

Lord Shiva is one among the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) of Hinduism that form the holy trinity. Brahma represents creation, Vishu preservation & Shiva the destruction, and the trinity symbolizes the cycle of life. According to Hindu mythology, there are many reasons of celebrating this day but mostly symbolised for the famous ‘Shiva Tandava Nritya’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction on this propitious night. The night also represents the anniversary of day Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvathi.

Mahashivratri is celebrated in different ways all over India, but people most often perform their rituals by observing a strict fast throughout the day. They start their day taking a holy bath, visiting the temple where the holy prayers are performed by giving ‘Shiv Linga’ a bath with water, honey, milk, curd signifying in purification of the soul. Following this, The Linga is decorated with flowers, fruits and ends with offering prayers dedicated in the name of Shiva.

It is believed that the people who fast on this night and offer prayers to Lord Shiva bring good luck into their life. On the hand women tend to celebrate this day for the well-being of their husband and sons. Two of the most popular, Shiva temples are the Kashi Vishwanath Temple & the Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, believed to be the place of residence of Lord Shiva. Large processions are carried out throughout the city, with people thronging the streets to catch a glimpse of the revered idol of Lord Shiva.

Most festivals in are celebrated with enthusiastic fervor and when the entire nation is celebrating in a zeal- why would the celebrity clan be quiet about this?  From Politicians, cricketers to Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to send their wishes for the great night of Shiva. Let’s see what they have to say…

But with all these celebrations, if one cannot make their way to any of the ultra auspicious Shiva temples, The India Postal service is here to the rescue.

The Indian postal department has entered into two separate agreements with two temples of Lord Shiva, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust of Varanasi and Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling Mandir, Ujjain, so that ‘prasada’ (offering) from these temples can reach the devotees’ doorsteps.

The devotees will have to make a payment of a determined amount in the form of the postal orders to the temple(s) in order to avail the ‘holy’ scheme of the postal department.

While the devotees will get ‘bhabhuti’ (ash) from the temple, a rudraksha bead, laminated photo of Lord Shiva and Shiva Chalisa in the first case. In the second case, they will get prasada comprising 200 gm of dry fruits and 200 gm sweets, ‘bhabhuti’ (ash) and a photo of Lord Shri Mahakaleshwar through speed post.

“We have special envelopes for this delivery, which are water-proof and temper-proof, so that the sacrament retain its purity and sacredness, since this has direct bearing on the reverence and religious feelings of the devotees”, said Yadav.

Deepti Dawar contributed to this report.

Portions of this article first appeared in The Times of India.

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