An invocation to Lord Ganesha marked the beginning of the auspicious celebration of Shivaratri on Thursday March 6th at the Ashram. The main feature in the hall was the altar. Placed in the centre was a magnificent picture of Lord Shiva, adorned with decorations. In front of the picture, a large brass tray had been placed to hold the Shiva Lingas brought there by a number of attendees. As the agitation and excitement of the day was calmed and our minds brought in tune with the Lord, Niveditaji started the puja.

The Shiva Lingas soon became the main focus of the puja as the bathing began. Everyone was given the blessed opportunity to bathe the Shiva Lingas with milk. Gautamji chanted the Rudram and Chamakam, creating a feeling of serenity and humility. I approached the altar and took up the large jug of milk. Slowly, with purposeful patience, I poured the milk in a constant stream over the largest of the Lingas first, followed by the others, and eventually coming to the small but much loved Lingas placed right in the front. I watched as the milk cascaded over the rounded tops of the Lingas and journeyed slowly to a carefully placed bowl on one side of the brass tray. This experience was the highlight of the evening for me.

The puja continued with the chanting of the 108 names of Lord Shiva led by Kailash. We then paused to watch a well-researched and informative talk on the twelve Jyotirlingas scattered throughout India. This presentation by Gautamji was full of interesting facts and pictures and couched with humor and enthusiasm. The evening was interspersed with energetic and devotional bhajans dedicated to the great Lord Shiva as well as chanting of the Linga-ashtakam and other stotrams. Midnight was proudly announced with the divine sound of the conch and we all stood to perform the Aarti. Then, the puja was concluded and the crowd dispersed to do pranams to the Lord and collect their delicious Prasad, which for many was the first food for the day. Prasad included the auspicious milk collected from the bathing of the Shiva Lingas.

Shivaratri 2008 was a devotionally charged event, purifying the minds of all the attendees and leaving us with great insight into the twelve Jyortilingas.