Imagine there is one night each year when you can step through the gateway to another reality – a night that is not just celebrated but truly experienced. Shivaratri is exactly that night. It is considered the most powerful time to connect with Shiva, the universal consciousness.
But what happens when you truly surrender to it? When you touch the golden universe within you and see your life through this light? Maybe it changes your perception. Maybe it changes everything.
In this article, you will learn what Shivaratri means, how to prepare for it, and why the mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya can be the key to a deeper spiritual experience.
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What You Can Expect in This Article 🔱
- Shiva and the Golden Light – What if the universe is not somewhere out there but shines as a radiant consciousness within you?
- Shivaratri: The Night of Transformation – A night that dissolves time and space and brings you closer to the divine
- Tips for Preparing for Shivaratri – How to align your body and mind to experience the full potential of this night
- Mantra Meditation on Shiva’s Holy Night – The ancient practice that immerses your mind in golden light and helps you regain control over your thoughts
- YOUR Mantra Meditation Practice with Pranavi – ONLINE OR IN PERSON IN BERLIN
Shiva and the Golden Light – What if the universe is not somewhere out there but shines as a radiant consciousness within you?
Shiva, known as „the radiant one,“ represents universal consciousness and the golden light that permeates and illuminates everything. This light is perceptible in every cell of our being, and through spiritual practice, we can connect with it.
The Meaning of the Name “Shiva”
The Sanskrit word śiva (शिव) literally means “auspicious,” “beneficial,” or “gracious.” However, its meaning goes beyond that:
- The root śi (शि) means “to rest, to be still,” pointing to Shiva’s role as the highest stillness and pure consciousness.
- The root va (व) can mean “to illuminate, to shine,” linking Shiva to light and clarity.
Thus, śiva can also be interpreted as the highest, radiant consciousness that permeates everything. And this consciousness is particularly tangible on śivaratri.
🙏 Translating Sanskrit terms into German (or any other language) is not straightforward. Sanskrit words carry complex meanings that cannot be easily translated 1:1. Therefore, consider these explanations as a guide, and remain open to whatever reveals itself within you through the vibration of Sanskrit during meditation or chanting.
Connecting with the Light and Energy of śiva
Once we connect with this śiva light – this śiva energy – our perception of everyday life can change. When aligned with this universal energy as the primordial force of the cosmos, we may no longer feel lost in the world. Instead, we feel connected and embedded in a greater whole, standing in our lives with trust and self-confidence, feeling empowered in our true self! This connection can then manifest tangibly in everyday life as our thoughts, actions, and emotions are motivated by this higher consciousness.
💜 However, the path to connecting with this universal consciousness can be challenging at first. It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed or even intimidated by this infinity, as it does not align with our typical everyday perception. This can even lead to a certain kind of fear. But, like everything in life, it is a natural process.
Once we are connected to the light of the universe, our path can become increasingly clear. A feeling of “being guided” may arise, and with every small action taken from this connection, daily life transforms – moment by moment. Our lives can begin to resonate and flow in harmony with a cosmic order, allowing us to feel how we can truly live from this light.
Shivaratri: The Night of Transformation – A Night That Dissolves Time and Space and Brings You Closer to the Divine
śivaratri is a special night of devotion when we align ourselves with this divine energy of śiva, the universal consciousness. This night is celebrated monthly before the new moon. However, in the Vedic tradition, particular significance is given to the night before the new moon in February/March. Thus, every year on this new moon, mahā śivaratri – the great night of śiva – is celebrated.
The night of śiva is an opportunity to connect intensely with the cosmic light. It is a night of devotion and spiritual practice, where we can completely align ourselves with śiva and universal consciousness. Traditionally, śivaratri is observed from sunset to sunrise – truly throughout the night!
We can prepare for this night during the day or even establish a spiritual practice in our daily lives. This allows us to regularly connect with the spiritual energy of the universe – to listen to the divine and allow it to enter our lives. Mantra meditation is a wonderful practice for this, and one I am personally deeply connected to. In fact, my own yoga journey began with mantra meditation in 2010, and the mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya played a crucial role.
Tips for Your śivaratri Practice – How to Align Your Body and Mind to Experience the Full Potential of This Night
Aligning Your Mind in the Morning
To prepare for śivaratri, start your day with awareness and set the intention to celebrate śivaratri. As you lie in bed, direct your first thoughts to śivaratri and śiva energy – invite the cosmic light to yourself and feel it within you in the first moments of the day.
Meditative Eating and Walking During Work Breaks
Throughout the day, create an atmosphere that fosters connection with śiva. For example, instead of engaging in conversations during your meal break, try eating in silence while mentally repeating the mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya.
If you have time during the day, consider a short walking meditation with the mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya – a deeply harmonizing practice that engages your entire body.
Fasting or Light Eating with a WOW Effect
If you have the day off on śivaratri, you might consider fasting and breaking it at dawn the next day with a delicious meal – whatever that means to you. 😘
Fasting can create an intense energy experience and prepare you in a unique way for the night with śiva. If fasting entirely is not an option, try eating light meals that don’t require much digestive effort. You will likely notice a significant boost in energy!
Many people underestimate this connection, and the effect can be truly astonishing.
Mantra Meditation at Night – The Ancient Practice That Immerses Your Mind in the Golden Light and Helps You Regain Control Over Your Thoughts
You may not be able to meditate and align yourself with śiva from sunset to sunrise throughout the entire night. But then again, maybe you will! Perhaps it will be effortless for you, because on this night, you can experience how much you are supported and held by the divine cosmic energies – within the one great universal organism to which we all belong.
Spiritual Practice on the Night of śivaratri
Traditionally, you could recite a variety of complex mantras in a specific sequence, perform multiple worship rituals – known as pujas – throughout the night, sing śiva kirtan, chant the 1008 names of śiva, and then, at midnight, begin meditating with a śiva mantra as the culmination of the practice.
Some of these practices may be feasible for you – especially when engaging in spiritual practice with others. However, organizing an elaborate śivaratri celebration may not be so easy for you – and that is completely fine. Please do not be overwhelmed by the many traditions regarding how this special night is celebrated. There are numerous ways, each with its own legitimacy and unique beauty. If you have access to a community that celebrates śivaratri in a special way, that is wonderful.
For now, let’s take a loving look at how you can celebrate śivaratri personally at home.
Keep It Simple – and Doable, So You Can Enjoy Your Practice and śiva!
At sunset, you could create a special atmosphere in your home. You can light candles, and if you have an image of śiva at home, place it at the center of the candles and the light.
If you do not have a śiva image, you can also focus on the light of a candle – as a symbol or connection to the one light of the universe.
Mantra Meditation with oṁ namaḥ śivāya
Once you have created a focal point for your attention, choose a comfortable sitting position and open yourself inwardly to the mantra meditation with oṁ namaḥ śivāya.
The mūla mantra oṁ namaḥ śivāya is a very powerful mantra and can be traced back to the Rigveda, dating to approximately 10,000 BCE.
It is considered a central mantra that connects the mind with the highest divine energy. The term “mūla” means “root,” indicating that this mantra is seen as the foundation and origin of all spiritual practices. In a metaphorical sense, this mantra can carry us to our deepest root – the source of the universe.
The Meaning of the Mantra Is Profound and Multidimensional
- oṁ represents universal, unmanifested consciousness, the source of all vibration and creation.
- namaḥ means “reverence” or “salutation,” symbolizing the surrender of the ego and devotion to the divine.
- śivāya refers to śiva, the principle of transformation as the consciousness of the universal essence. It means “to the divine śiva,” signifying that through the mantra, we connect with the infinite consciousness of śiva.
When we recite oṁ namaḥ śivāya, we open ourselves to śiva’s universal energy. This mantra has the power to calm the mind, activate inner wisdom, and lead the practitioner to a state of peace and unity with divine consciousness. It is understood as a direct connection to the highest self.
The Traditional Steps of Mantra Meditation
Traditional mantra meditation follows several essential steps to align the mind and prepare for practice:
- Begin by chanting the mantra oṁ namaḥ śivāya out loud. Feel the sound within your body. Let the resonance of the mantra vibrate within you. Notice what it evokes within you!
- When the time feels right, gradually lower your voice until you are whispering the mantra. Surrender to the process of “becoming quieter.” Let it take time! Enjoy it and remain open to what arises within you.
- When your voice becomes so soft that you can no longer hear it, focus on mentally repeating the mantra. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the mantra.
- Over time, the mental repetition may become automatic. You may no longer need to consciously repeat it – it simply resonates within you. You may feel enveloped by the sound of the mantra. You might even begin to sense the vibrational body of the mantra within your cells, and at the same time, feel it resonating around you. In this perceivable sound, everything is ONE. You have arrived at the transcendental experience of the mantra and the universal light. Stay open to whatever the universe wishes to reveal to you in this state.
- Allow yourself ample time for this process and for returning from the experience. If you wish to set a time limit for your meditation, you can set an alarm. Choose a duration that feels right for you – for example, 30 minutes.
- After the meditation, take a moment to be present. Reflect on what you have experienced and what it means to you. Consider how this experience with the divine integrates into your life. What does it mean for your daily life, friendships, family, and work? How does the divine connect with your concrete reality?
Mantra Meditation as a Deep Spiritual Experience
Mantra meditation can lead to profound existential experiences that may trigger immense joy or even ecstasy within you. At the same time, meditation might also invoke a sense of awe – a reverence for the infinite power and energy to which you can connect. It is said that the opportunity for such experiences is particularly favorable on the night of śivaratri!
I have personally experienced both of these emotional directions, along with many other facets, through mantra meditation. And every single experience has ultimately supported me on my spiritual path. I truly believe that it is about how we integrate spiritual experiences into our everyday lives. Aligning our daily existence with these experiences – that is where the key lies. This allows us to let this universal radiance truly shine in our lives and experience unity in our daily existence. ✨
YOUR Mantra Meditation Practice with Pranavi – online or in person in Berlin
If you wish to delve deeper into the practice of mantra meditation, join me by listening to my FREE audio mantra meditation or participate in my weekly mantrayoga class in Berlin that guides you to a structured mantra meditation in a group setting including the practice of basic asanas.
FREE Audio Mantra Meditation
Download your FREE MANTRA MEDITATION now to connect your heart with universal consciousness—perfect for your personal mantra meditation practice whenever it is good, right and beautiful for you.
The audio meditation is 11 minutes long—perfect for centering yourself in the morning, on your way to work, during your lunch break, or unwinding at the end of the day. Try and find out for yourself which gift mantra meditation is offering you.
Weekly Mantrayoga Class in Berlin
If you have the chance, join me for my weekly Mantrayoga class in Berlin every Tuesday. In the class we practice a condensed series of basic asanas to prepare our being for the mantra meditation. Note that the class is teached in German language and that I also co-host monthly Mantrayoga Workshops.
👉 Never heard of Mantrayoga before and feeling curious? Cool! Check out my blog article Mantrayoga – The Underrated Key to Clear Mind, Harmonious Emotions, and Life-Changing Insights
