Friday - 12th Feb 2010 program

This Friday, Iskcon Scarborough will be celebrating Siva ratri.

The schedule is as follows:

6.45pm - Tulasi Arti

7pm - Abhisheka(bathing ceremony) for Lord Siva

7.30pm- class about Lord Siva

8pm- Arati

8.30pm- vegetarian feast(prasadam)

Quotes from Vaishnava smriti compilation Hari Bhakti Vilas of Srila Gopal Bhattar Goswami, and the Dikdarshini Tika of Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhupada.

SIVA RATRI VRTAM KRSNA CATUR-DASYANTU PHALGUNEVAISNAVER 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 Sri Krsna, a Vaisnava should always take a vow to fast. (It is called Siva Ratri, or the night of Lord Siva.)

PARAT PARATARAM YANTI NARAYANA PARAYANAHNATE TATRA GAMISYANTI YE DVISANTI MAHESVARAM(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/189 from KURMA PURANA the Supreme Lord speaks to BhrguMuni)

(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 Lord Sri Siva, he does not attain the spiritual world.

YANI KANY ATRA LINGANI STHAVARANI CARANI CATESU SANKRAMATE DEVAS TASYAM RATRAU YATO HARAHSIVARATRIS TATAH PROKTA TENA SA HARI VALLABHAH(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 14/200 from SKANDA PURANA, NAGARA KHANDA)

Whatever genital 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 Siva, who is a leading demigod, enters into them. For this reason, this day is called Siva Ratri. For this reason, this day is very dear to Lord Sri Hari.

SRI KRSNE VAISNAVANANTU PREMA BHAKTI VIVARDHATEKRSNA 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 Krsna, one's devotion to Krsna increases rapidly.