On March 11th, Hindus all around the world will celebrate Mahashivratri,
"the Great Night of Shiva."
It is one of the largest and most significant among the sacred festivals of India.
During this all-night festival, devotees celebrate the Grace of Shiva, the Adi Guru or the First Guru from whom the Yogic tradition originates.
The planetary positions on this night are powerful, and potent energies can be experienced.
It is enormously beneficial for one's physical and spiritual wellbeing to stay awake and aware throughout the night, practising yoga, meditating, dancing and celebrating.
This night also referred to as the "bright night of the soul",
the planets' positions help us reach our own inner Shiva and reach a deep transcendental state. In this degree of consciousness, no objective experience takes place. The meditator transcends time, space and causation, reaching Shunya or Nirvana.
Participating in a fire ceremony to invoke Shiva,
chanting Mahamrityunjaya mantra,
Meditating and doing other Yogic disciplines,
practising devotional music are all of massive benefit to our well being and spiritual evolution.
Although every day is an excellent time for spiritual practice, some days have planetary alignments that are a springboard for evolution, an invitation for us to take it to the next level.
If you don't know how to chant Mahamrityunjaya mantra, you can find many versions on youtube or Spotify.
This is one of my favourites; https://youtu.be/XXRcHfrL7SQ
you can meditate while listening to it in the background and try to join.
During these times it is highly important to cultivate a sense of service and devotion towards others and also towards yourself. From this place of humility and love, you can access a place within yourself where you and Shiva are one. Where you and stillness are one. Where all boundaries merge.