When fire is ablaze we can also experience the presence of Rudra, and when there is an inundation over the earth we can understand that this is also the representation of Rudra. When the sky is overcast with dense clouds and roars in anger, and when the wind blows very fiercely, the Rudra principle is manifested, and so also when the sea water is infuriated by the wind it appears in a gloomy feature of Rudra, which is very fearful to the common man. When a man is angry he breathes very rapidly, and thus Rudra is represented in the air of life, or in the activities of breathing. This exhibition of the Rudra principle is the proof of Rudra’s presence in such places. When a man is angry he expresses such anger with red-hot eyes and sometimes makes a display of clenching his fists or kicking his legs. This anger develops in the heart and is further manifested through various senses, like the eyes, hands and legs. The egocentric attitude is a manifestation of the Rudra principle in the heart, wherein anger is generated. Immediately after his manifestation, Rudra demanded to have a name and residency and Brahma gave him eleven names and designated the following places as his dwellings: He is manifested from between the eyebrows of Lord Brahma. Hence many present festivities can be traced back to Lord Shiva though Shiva himself remains an enigma. In modern times this celebration was changed St.
This Bacchus is often depicted consuming drinks reminding one of Lord Shiva drinking the poison produced after the churning of the milk ocean. It is interesting to mention that this day is even celebrated in accordance to Greek and Thracian mythology and later was transferred into the tradition of the Roman Empire as the day of the fanciful god of nature and wine (soma-rasa) Dionysus or Bacchus. The observance of this very auspicious day shows that jyotish has been used since time immemorial for calculating favorable dates and observing special occasions.
Shivaratri falls on the 13th day of krishna paksha of Magh month or Shravana nakshatra. In fact it is Lord Shiva’s favorite day since it was then that he wed Goddess Parvati. Some mistakenly think that Shivaratri is the birthday of Lord Shiva. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala the birth of Lord Shiva is celebrated on shukla chaturdashi in the month of Paush, which falls on Ardra nakshatra. However, Shiva (being the greatest mystic) his place of appearance and the details of his appearance remain a matter of debate. For many, Pashupatinath of Kathmandu, Nepal is the place of Lord Shiva’s appearance.