{"id":773,"date":"2012-02-21T13:05:14","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T18:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/omsweetom\/?p=773"},"modified":"2012-02-21T13:05:14","modified_gmt":"2012-02-21T18:05:14","slug":"hindus-worldwide-celebrate-shivaratri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/omsweetom\/2012\/02\/hindus-worldwide-celebrate-shivaratri.html","title":{"rendered":"Hindus worldwide celebrate Shivaratri"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Hindus around the world just celebrated Shivaratri, a night dedicated to the worship and celebration of Lord Shiva. \u00a0The festivities and worship go on all night, as this is the night – according to some – that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, the dance of primal creation, preservation, and destruction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As a child, my mother told me fascinating stories of Lord Shiva, who simultaneously embodies the qualities of being short-tempered, yet quickly\u00a0pacified\u00a0and pleased. \u00a0Hindu epics and stories\u00a0make countless references to devotees praying to Lord Shiva, above all other manifestations of the Divine, in order to be granted a specific boon. \u00a0From Ravana, who abducted Sita in the Ramayana, to the famous Queen Draupadi in the Mahabharata, worshippers have for millenia turned to Lord Shiva.
\nThe story of Draupadi and Lord Shiva is my favorite, and perhaps explains that while for many, He represents destruction and death (both which are integral to the workings of our universe), to me, he is the embodiment of pure love that cannot turn away a true devotee. \u00a0Draupadi was married to the five Pandava brothers, and the reason for that unusual arrangement was the result of a boon from Lord Shiva. \u00a0According to one version of the Mahabharata, in Draupadi’s past life, she prayed devoutly to Lord Shiva to grant her a husband with five qualities: the wisdom of dharma, strength, amazing archery skills, patience, and exceedingly good looks. \u00a0Lord Shiva told her that it was impossible for any one man to have all five qualities, but Draupadi insisted, saying that nothing is impossible for God. \u00a0Never one to turn down a devotee, Lord Shiva granted her the boon. \u00a0And so, Draupadi ended up marrying the wise Yudhishthira, the strong Bhima, the best archer Arjuna, the handsome Nakul, and the ever patient Sahadeva. \u00a0It was in this way, Lord Shiva’s fulfilled his promise to Draupadi.<\/p>\n

\n

Happy Shivaratri!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hindus around the world just celebrated Shivaratri, a night dedicated to the worship and celebration of Lord Shiva. \u00a0The festivities and worship go on all night, as this is the night – according to some – that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, the dance of primal creation, preservation, and destruction. As a child, my mother…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":390,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gods-and-goddesses","category-hinduism-101","category-holidays-festivals"],"yoast_head":"\nHindus worldwide celebrate Shivaratri - Om Sweet Om<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/omsweetom\/2012\/02\/hindus-worldwide-celebrate-shivaratri.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hindus worldwide celebrate Shivaratri - Om Sweet Om\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hindus around the world just celebrated Shivaratri, a night dedicated to the worship and celebration of Lord Shiva. \u00a0The festivities and worship go on all night, as this is the night – according to some – that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, the dance of primal creation, preservation, and destruction. 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