Meenakshi Temple in Pearland Celebrates Mahashivarathri

By Dr. S. Chellaiah

PEARLAND: Mahashivarathri, every year, is celebrated on the 14th day of Phalguna month when Chathurdasi falls at night and due to the alignment of celestial bodies, there is a natural flow of high energy among living beings. There are many legends behind the significance of Mahashivarathri.

One legend mentions that this is the night that Shiva married Parvathi. Another one mentions that on this day, Shiva performed the cosmic dance, Tandava, symbolizing the creation, preservation and destruction of the entire infinite universe. Some believe that on Mahashivarathri, Shiva swallowed the poison produced due to the churning of the ocean and kept it in his neck giving it a blue color and hence the name, Neelakandan.

Yet others consider that on this day, Shiva became one with Mount Kailash as an Adiyogi. Whatever be one’s belief, devotees spend the day fasting, meditating, chanting prayers and visiting Shiva temples. Some fast for 24 hours (Nirjala Virat) without eating or drinking anything and break the fast only after sunrise, the next day.

Here at The Meenakshi Temple (MTS) in Pearland, Houston, MahaShivarathri was celebrated on 25th February in a grand, divine, and sublime way. Pradosham called Mahapradosham was also celebrated on the same evening, and abhishekam for Nandi (the vahanam of Lord Shiva) and Lord Shiva were performed first, with the devotees circumambulating the temple carrying Shiva and his consort Parvathi, in a procession on a palanquin. A ankaram for Nandi that day consisted of fruit garlands, made with black, red, and pink grapes, cherry tomatoes, mandarins, oranges, lemons, guava, and apples, a special alankaram indeed, for this night. What a beautiful sight it was!

Then Shivaratri pujas began with the first of the four Kala poojas at 9 pm. For each Kalam, Shivalingam was anointed and abhishekams performed with milk, yogurt, sacred ash, rose water, honey, and Panchamirtham. After the abhishekam, Shivalingam was adorned with new Vatsaram and flower garlands of various hues and colors, imported fresh from Madurai, India. The other poojas were at 11.30 pm, 2 am and 4.30 am. Each alankaram was unique and breathtaking.

Prasadams prepared by both MTS and the devotees were distributed after each pooja. Coffee, tea and other light snacks were supplied by MTS throughout the night. The devotees recited songs from the holy texts in many languages. Though the crowd, a microcosm of India, was the largest for the first kala pooja, it was still sizable and a vibrant one even for the pooja at 4.30 am.

Dances portraying many of Shiva’s thiruvilaiyadals (leelas or playful miracles) were performed by a team of 22 people headed by Dr. Obuli Karthik. Working men and women, housewives, and moms all worked tirelessly to make the decorations, sew the costumes, choreograph, and practice to perfection. The program lasted for nearly two hours. It brought back childhood memories and emotions. Dances were performed by children of all ages from different Bharatanatyam dance schools in the area. There were also Carnatic music concerts. It was a divine and spiritual night, and the cultural program added to the grandeur.

It was a night of entertainment, edutainment, and excitement. A large bedecked Shivalingam model, a replica of Lord Annamalai of Thiruvannamalai, with colorful lights, kept near the Dwajasthambam in the outer mandapam, was the cynosure of all. It invoked the sublime and serene within our souls and became the ‘photo booth’ for most devotees.

What a feast it was to the eyes! All devotees were allowed to perform Aathmalinga Pooja through abhishekam of milk on Shivalingam kept at the center of the main hall. It is said that one attains immortality through this Pooja. Even in India, such opportunities are limited. In the holy text, Thirumanthiram, it is said that if one offers even a mere leaf but with sincerity, faith, and devotion, God accepts it with joy. So, performing this abhishekam was a privilege and exhilarating to all devotees.

The Chairman of the temple Board, Mr. Sundar Arun, in his speech, said that he was overwhelmed with the divine celebration, the increased number of devotees this year, the amazing cultural programs, the many spiritual bhajans all night, and thanked the silpis, priests, administrators and volunteers, the kitchen staff, coordinators, the executive and Board members for their commendable support and contributions.

As the first rays of Sun cleared the darkness, devotees received the Prasadams, quietly praying for their inner darkness to be cleared too, for nescience to be replaced by cognizance, the Maya by the Truth, the bonds by emancipation, and the turmoil by tranquility. All in all, the devotees left the temple with eyes, sleepy and moist with devotion, hearts filled with joy, souls enriched, and minds quieted. Was anyone tired? The answer was “No”. All those present were full of energy and excitement as they left the temple. An experience only to be experienced to savor it fully. As for me, I am eagerly looking forward to next year’s celebration of a very divine, spiritual and a fulfilling night of Shivarathri Celebration. Om Namasivaya!