It was a night of prayers and meditation. It was also a night of joyful singing and divine dance. In her message, Amma expressed that Shivaratri is the most auspicious of nights, on which we are called to rise into the Supreme Truth by living and experiencing it.
Since ancient times, it has been practised as the most sacred event to invoke Lord Shiva’s grace. He is the God who sits in a graveyard surrounded by ghouls. Why? Because that is the depth of His compassion—even those who have committed the worst of sins can be saved by His love.
In Amritapuri, thousands from across India and around the world gathered with Amma to observe the night’s traditional rites of pujas, meditation, and bhajans. Usually, Shivaratri is the most austere of Sanatana Dharma’s holy days. Devotees fast and stay awake until dawn with prayers for universal peace. In the Ashram, disciples led continuous chanting of sacred texts from 5am until 6am the following morning.
But as is her way, Amma inspires happiness as a key element to self-sacrifice. Shivaratri became a night of celebration for the eternal beauty that exists in all. Amidst this collective worship, the Ashram youth performed bhajans set to modern music, including guitar, and the children dressed in intricate costumes to share Shiva’s legends.
With an expression of love, devotees of many nations joined to reenact Shiva’s Tandava dance for His universal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. Their facial expressions ranged from strict austerity to joyful devotion, and their black costumes intertwined with brilliant shades of all other colours.
Deeply moved, Amma spontaneously rose to dance, as well, awakening an indescribable moment of divine bliss in everyone watching. Why? Because that is the depth of her compassion—to bring all hearts and all minds together in a world of universal peace and selfless love.
Excerpts from Amma’s Message
Śivarātri is the most auspicious of nights, on which we are called to rise into the Supreme Truth. However, more than for celebrating, its essence is in being practiced, lived and experienced. This holy night reminds us of the many values we must embrace in both our worldly journey as well as on our spiritual path. Above all, Śivarātri is a call to elevate ourselves towards the highest truth—the principle of Śiva.
Ordinarily, the human mind and senses are absorbed in worldly pursuits and material concerns. Our five senses constantly move outwards, while our mind is consumed with endless thoughts and desires. If, even for one single day, we can anchor the mind and senses completely in remembrance and devotion of the divine, that itself is a profound accomplishment. When we pray with a clear goal and sincere devotion, the peace and joy we experience will inspire us to live a God-centred life. This is the true spirit of Śivarātri.
God is always awake within us; it is only that we are in deep sleep. Therefore, we cannot feel His presence. Most of our life experiences are like dreams seen in this sleep. If this is to end, we must strive to stay awake for God, as a kind of sacrifice, at least for one day.
Staying awake doesn’t merely mean keeping the eyes open without sleeping. It means being aware of our thoughts, words and actions. When this awareness arises, ignorance disappears. Darkness is not something that can be removed as an object; when light comes, darkness vanishes. In the same way, when awareness awakens in us, the darkness of ignorance disappears.
May each of us be able to absorb the message of self-restraint, sacrifice and awakening that Śivarātri gives. May the divine grace bless us all to rise into that awakening, in which we behold, love, and serve the Lord who pervades the entire universe through the aṣṭa-mūrti—eight forms—in everything that is sentient and insentient.
