Title: Fast on Shivaratri

User: Swami Gaurangapada Date: 2007-03-13 20:08:26

 

 

shud we fast on shiv ratri?shiva is first vaishnav and we always fast on appearance and disappearance days of great vaishnavas please guide - Rhea.

 

 

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Yes, all devotees should fast on Shivaratri day. The fasting of the devotees (Vaishnavas) is different from the fasting of the followers of Shiva. The devotees fast to beg Shiva's mercy to get pure love for his master Lord Gauranga-Krishna whereas the exclusive followers of Shiva fast mistakenly thinking that Shiva is God Himself.

 

YANI KANY ATRA LINGANI STHAVARANI CARANI CA

TESU SANKRAMATE DEVAS TASYAM RATRAU YATO HARAH

SIVARATRIS TATAH PROKTA TENA SA HARI VALLABHAH

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/200 from SKANDA PURANA, NAGARA KHANDA)

 

Whatever linga deities of Lord Siva that can be found on this earthly planet, on the night of this fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna, Lord Shiva, who is a pure devotee and the leader of all demigods, enters into them. For this reason, this day is called Shiva Ratri. For this reason, this day is very dear to Lord Shri Hari, who is master of Shiva.

 

SIVA RATRI VRTAM KRSNA CATUR-DASYANTU PHALGUNE

VAISNAVER API TAT KARYAM SRI KRSNA PRITAYE SADA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/187 from GAUTAMIYA TANTRA)

 

On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March), for the pleasure of Lord Shri Krishna, a Vaisnava devotee should always take a vow to fast. (It is called Siva Ratri, or the night of Lord Siva.)

 

PARAT PARATARAM YANTI NARAYANA PARAYANAH

NATE TATRA GAMISYANTI YE DVISANTI MAHESVARAM

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/189 from KURMA PURANA the Supreme Lord speaks to Bhrgu Muni)

 

One who avoids fasting on Siva Ratri or the "night of Lord Siva", he becomes very offensive. Whatever offenses one accumulates by not fasting on Siva Ratri day is explained here. The destination of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Narayana, is certainly in the spiritual world. But if one is envious of Shiva, one does not attain the spiritual world of Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

 

SRI KRSNE VAISNAVANANTU PREMA BHAKTI VIVARDHATE

KRSNA BHAKTI RASA SARA VARSI RUDRA ANUKAMPAYA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/221 from SKANDA PURANA)

 

Being a Vaisnava, if somebody fasts on Lord Siva's night (Siva Ratri day), by the mercy of him (Lord Siva) who is diving in the ocean of the mellow of devotion to Gauranga Krishna, one's devotion to the Lord increases rapidly.