SIS Maasi Newsletter
21st February 2021
   

Dear Patrons,

We are into the month of Maasi which is the 11th month in the Tamil calendar.

Maha Shivaratri is the most important festival in Maasi and is celebrated on the Krishna Chaturdashi of the month (fourteenth day of the waning Lunar phase) which is on March 11th this year.

In the Shiva temples, Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great fervour and reverence. The temples are open throughout the night and Pujas are performed in all 4 kaalas with Linga Abhishekams, Rudra Japam, and special prayers.

The Shiva Linga is nishkala tattva / nirguna roopam of Parameshwara. Kanchi Mahaperiyava says that, it is stated in the Sri Rudram that all the 'Brhmaanda', or cosmic egg, is Shiva Linga and everything in the universe, good and bad, is the form of Shiva. Why is the Lingam spherical? For a sphere, there is no head or tail; no start or end. Lingam shows that Shiva is without an origin or finish. Instead of being a perfect sphere, it is ellipsoidal matching the shape of the universe, the shape of the solar system, and the shape of the planets within them. When the sloka says 'Brhmaanda aavispurath', it is borne out to be true, by modern science of Astronomy.

The Linga is a symbol of the beginningless, the endless, the limitless – the all-pervasive, the all-knowing, and the all-powerful. However, while the evolved / Gnanis can understand this formless Nirguna Swaroopam, a regular person striving to seek the Almighty would find it easier to worship God in some recognisable form. For this reason,instead of being the shapeless form of Shiva Linga, He shows the ‘Lingodbhava Murthy’, within the Linga. Out of his formlessness, Iswara emerged in a beautiful form for the benefit of the devotees. Shivaratri is the midnight when the all pervasive formless Parameshwara took this Vishwaroopam as Lingodbhava. On Maha Shivaratri, the most auspicious Lingodbhava puja is performed at Nishita Kala/midnight in temples to celebrate this divine manifestation.

In whichever form or manner He is worshipped, Lord Shiva is easily pleased hence called by the name 'Ashutosh. May we meditate upon the highly compassionate and merciful Parameshwara and seek his blessings. We wish all our patrons a divine and blissful Mahashivaratri.

Important days this month:

Ekadashi: 23rd Feb & 9th March
Maasi Magam: 26th Feb
Maha Shivaratri: 11th March
Amavasai: 13th March
Karadaiyan Nombu: 14th March

SIS March Satsang

Time: Sat, Mar 6th at 3:00 PM

Zoom meeting details: Please join the Satsang
by clicking this link: March 2021 Satsang
or,
by using Zoom meeting id: 841 9340 8871 and passcode 1234

In keeping with the tradition of monthly Satsangs, March 2021 Satsang will be conducted online.

The Satsang will include reciting

  • Vishnu Sahasranaman and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
  • Lalitha Sahasranaman
  • Bhajans
  • Hanuman Chalisa
  • Short spiritual talk

Please attend with your family and importantly involve the next generation.

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SIS WhatsApp group

In addition to continuing with our email communication, we have started a WhatsApp group as a broadcast only group to communicate information regarding SIS events and updates. If you would like to join, please open this email on your phone and click on SIS WhatsApp group invitation link. Alternatively, you may email sisnambalava@gmail.com with your mobile number and we will add you to the group.

The Website

We trust that the articles that we are publishing on the website are interesting and useful. We are encouraged by the number of hits that have gone up multi-fold. Please visit www.sisnambalava.org.uk, read the articles and let us know your views. We are very keen to receive your feedbacks and views and will be uploading more interesting articles. We welcome articles written by our members that are relevant to the objectives of SIS, ie., South Indian arts, culture and vedic religion and these will be uploaded after review by the editorial panel. Please feel free to ask for detailed guidelines.

Your Participation

South Indian Society as an organisation has come to shape with lots of hard work and contribution from several veterans of our community in this country over the years. We sincerely thank each and every one who has contributed towards the growth of this organisation. This organisation runs for YOU and without YOUR involvement, contribution and participation it cannot succeed.

SIS Trustees







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