Chaturthi Vrat (Ganesh Puja)   16^th 

Maha Shiva Ratri ­­­                    26^th

Amawasya (New Moon)          27^th

                                                                Raffle-2006

The drawing date for our fundraising raffle is on Sunday, March 26th. Tickets are now available. 

Please see anyone from the Executive to purchase tickets if you haven’t done so yet.

                                                 Maha Shiva Ratri Greetings!!

Shiva Ratri Greetings to All!!

Maha Shiva Ratri will be celebrated on Sunday, February 26^th at 8:00 pm at Jai and Nan Sooklal’s residence.

May the blessings of Lord Shiva be with you and your families. We look forward to seeing you at the service.  Om Namah Shivaya!!!

                                                Prayer to Lord Shiva

Aum Karpur Gauram Karunavataram Sansar Asaram Bhuja Genda Haram

Sada Vasantam Hridayar Vinde Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami

I bow to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati.  O ocean of mercy, who is all pure, who shows the unreality of the world,

and who wears the serpent of destruction as a garland, always reside in my heart.

                                                                   Maha Shiva Ratri

      Maha Shiva Ratri means, “The Great Night of Lord Shiva.”  Both hindus and non-hindus throughout

the world celebrate Maha Shiva Ratri on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalgun. 

It is a night of fasting and prayer in honor of Lord Shiva in his aspect of destroying sins.  It is a night to

spend with thoughts of the great Lord.  As the Lord of the universe, he is full of compassion and it is on

this great night that Lord Shiva redeems the world.

He swallows poisons and impurities to save his devotees. During this holy night the devotees of

Lord Shiva fast, meditate, pray and sing the glories of Bhagawan Shiva. At this time, whatever is

offered with devotion is pleasing to both Bhagawan Shiva and his devotees. On this night he showers

blessings abundantly to all of his devotees. 

     There are many incidents told about the greatness of this day, Maha Shiva Ratri. Once a hunter

went hunting in the forest. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals and was later chased

by a tiger. Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day break. Perched amongst the

branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree and become a prey to the tiger waiting

under the tree. To stay awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it while

chanting the name of Lord Shiva. The fact that he had stayed awake all night and had dropped

unknowingly a thousand bael leaves onto a linga below has pleased Lord Shiva and by whose

grace the hunter was rewarded with divine bliss.

     It is believed that anyone who utters the name of Lord Shiva during Maha Shiva Ratri with pure

devotion is freed from all impurities. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of

birth and death.