The Great Night of Lord Siva , Siva Ratri

Siva Ratri occurs in the Lunar Month of Maagha, during the 14th Lunation ( Chaturdasi ), when the Moon is in between 156 degrees and 168 degrees from the Sun in the Dark Fortnight or the Waning Moon Phase. It was the Day when the Male Component of the Ultimate, Purusha or Lord Shiva, weds  the Female Component or  Prakriti ( Parvathy ), according to one legend.      

Siva Ratri = Maagha Krishna Chaturdasi

The word Myth derives from the Sanskrit Mithya. Great Wisdom is contained in Mythology, as it is replete with many scientific and esoteric secrets ! 

Magha is the Lunar Month when a Solar Ingress into sidereal Aquarius, Kumbha takes place, Maghe cha Kumbha Sankranti.

It is Lust or Kama which binds man to the sublunar world and in order to achieve Self Actualisation or Atma Sakshatkara, one has to erase the First Deadly Sin ! So the Lord destroyed Kama Deva ( Lust ), conferring Eternal Bliss on the Yogi !  This is the esoteric meaning behind Lord Shiva burning Kama Deva ( Cupid ) to ashes !

In Alwaye, there is a glorious Lord Siva Temple on the banks of the Periyar River and the Siva Ratri here is famous, as millions flock to this place on that day ! Here we provide photos from Alwaye Siva Temple.

Api Kriyartham Sulabham Samilkusham
Jalanyapi snana Vidhikshamani the
Api Swashaktya Tapasi Pravarthathe
Sareeram Adyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam

Kalidasa - Kumara Sambhava, the Birth of the Prince 

Siva Ratri is one of the festivals wherein Renunciation of sensory enjoyments play a large part. The devotee observes Truth, lack of jealousy, non injury, kindness, forgiveness and continence. 

Another myth has it that it was the Day when the Lord danced with joy ( The Thandava Dance, the Cosmic Dance is the Dance of subatomic matter - Capra ). 

Another legend has it that it was the day the Lord drank poison, during the Churning of the Milky Ocean, by the positive and negative elements in the Mind  and saved the world !

One can worship the Lord on this glorious Night, chant the Moola Mantra Om Nama Sivaya, fast, keep awake 

at night and visit Siva temples !

Today is the Great Night of the Lord
Who graces Vaikom and Thrissur !
Fasting Day for the Lord
And for his Beloved Consort
Also for His infant son, Ganesh !

Having taken bath in heavenly Ganges
And wearing golden Koovala leaves 
It is said that the Lord gives Vision 
At his huge Temple at Thrissur !

With Fire in His Third Eye
And with Snakes in His Hair
It is said that the Lord indulges in Cosmic Dance
At His Temple at Ettumanoor !

That Glorious Day
Without knowledge of the parents
In the kitchen of the Temple
The baby Ganesh devours Payasam !

Sambho Maha Deva Sambho
Siva Sambho Maha Deva Sambho !