This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
Today (24 february 2017) is the biggest Shiv festival of India-MAHASHIVRATRI. I, on this occasion, wish all our readers a very pious,happy and fulfilling day of Bhakti and celebration.
Shravan Somvar and Mahashivratri have been special days in my life. My father was a great Shiv-Bhakta and he had built a big Shiv Temple in the premises of our bungalow in Hyderabad. On every Shivratri day, there used to be a long queue of devotees for Darshan and Pooja. The temple was always open for the public. The temple was situated in the open area adjacent to our bungalow, so we had no problem with the crowd of devotees. Whole day bhajans were played on loudspeakers and a special pooja by 101 Bramhins was arranged. All this made a deep impact on my mind.
In addition, we had stayed in Banares for an year, in 1948. Our house was close to Vishweshwar mandir and the river Ganga. So, Shiv has been a part of my life since my childhood.Till my wife was alive, we used to celebrate Mahashivratri, with great enthusiasm and religious fervour, in our house.
Shiv literally means auspiciousness, welfare. He is the third god of the Hindu Trinity, representing darkness. Because he is often portrayed as the angry God and the God of destruction. Lord Shiv is one of the most feared and worshipped gods in Hinduism. He is said to play a complementary role to Brahma because he is protector of souls until they are ready for recreation by Lord Brahma. Shiv has eight forms: Rudra, Sharva, Bhava, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishana and Mahadeva; which, according to the Shiv Purana, correspond to the earth, water, fire, wind, sky, a yogi called Kshetragya, the sun, and the moon respectively.
Shiv symbolically represents the tamasic quality. This happens to be one of the gunas in Hinduism, symbolizing inactivity. His body color, which is white, denotes his purity and association with the snowy mountains. His three eyes represent the sun, the moon and the earth, the three paths of liberation and the triple nature of creation. The third eye is actually the eye of wisdom or occult knowledge. Epithets note his distinctive hairstyle; he has matted hair which holds the flowing Ganges River and a crescent moon. Shiva is said to be the essence of the Vedas and the creator of the Word. He is also the creator of Dance. Shiva’s dance of anger is called the Roudra Tandava and his dance of joy, the Ananda Tandava. He dances both the dance of destruction and the dance of creation. The rhythms he dances to are that of a world continuously forming, dissolving and re-forming.
The legend of marriage of Shiv and Shakti is one the most important legends related to the festival of Mahashivaratri. The story tells us how Lord Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort. According to legend of Shiv and Shakti, the day Lord Shiv got married to Parvati is celebrated as Shivaratri – the Night of Lord Shiva.
Legend goes that once Lord Shiv and his wife Sati or Shakti were returning from sage Agastya’s ashram after listening to Ram Katha or story of Ram. On their way through a forest, Shiva saw Lord Rama searching for his wife Sita who had been kidnapped by Ravana, the King of Lanka. Lord Shiv bowed his head in reverence to Lord Rama. Sati was surprised by Lord Shiv’s behavior and inquired why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal. Shiv informed Sati that Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sati, however, was not satisfied with the reply and Lord asked her to go and verify the truth for herself.
Using her power to change forms, Sati took the form of Sita appeared before Rama. Lord Rama immediately recognized the true identity of the Goddess and asked, “Devi, why are you alone, where’s Shiv ji ? ” At this, Sati realized the truth about Lord Ram. But, Sita was like a mother to Lord Shiv and since Sati took the form of Sita her status had changed. From that time, Shiva detached himself from her as a wife. Sati was sad with the change of attitude of Lord Shiv but she stayed on at Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiv.
Later, Sati’s father Daksha organised a yagna, but did not invite Sati or Shiv as he had an altercation with Shiva in the court of Brahma. But, Sati who wanted to attend the Yagna, went even though Lord Shiva did not appreciate the idea. To her great anguish, Daksha ignored her presence and did not even offer Prasad for Shiv. Sati felt humiliated and was struck with profound grief. She jumped into the yagna fire and immolated herself.
Lord Shiv became extremely furious when he heard the news of Sati’s immolation. Carrying the body of Sati, Shiv began to perform Raudra Tandava or the dance of destruction and wiped out the kingdom of Daksha. Everybody was terrified as Shiva’s Tandava had the power to destroy the entire universe. In order to calm Lord Shiv, Vishnu severed Sati’s body into 12 pieces and threw them on earth. It is said that wherever the pieces of Shakti’s body fell, there emerged a Shakti Peetha, including the Kamaroopa Kamakhya in Assam and the Vindhyavasini in UP.
Lord Shiv was now alone, undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. Sati took a re-birth as Parvati in the family of God Himalaya. She performed penance to break Shiva? meditation and win his attention. It is said that Parvati, who found it hard to break Shiv’s meditation sought help of Kamadeva – the God of Love and Passion. Kaamadeva asked Parvati to dance in front of Shiv. When Parvati danced, Kaamadeva shot his arrow of passion at Shiv breaking his penance. Shiv became extremely infuriated and opening his third eye that reduced Kaamadeva to ashes. It was only after Kamadeva? wife Rati? pleading that Lord Shiv agreed to revive Kaamadeva.
Later, Parvati undertook severe penance to win over Shiv. Through her devotion and persuasion by sages and devas, Parvati, also known as Uma, was finally able to lure Shiv into marriage and away from asceticism. Their marriage was solemnized a day before Amavasya in the month of Phalgun. This day of union of God Shiv and Parvati is celebrated as Mahashivratri every year.
According to another version of the legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiv, who is considered to be the ideal husband.
Today’s bhajan is from film Mahashivratri-72. I have not seen this film, because by 1970, I was busy in Career building and family raising etc, and I had practically stopped seeing films. In any case, films made after 1970,according to my opinion, were not as good quality- wise as earlier movies,especially the music part, which further discouraged me. Also by the 80s, VCR and VCPs were in vogue, so homes had become theatres of convenience.
The song/bhajan is written by Bhagwat Mishra aka B.D.Mishra or Bhagwat Datt Mishra. He entered the film world in as far back as 1948 with Wadia’s film “Shri Rambhakta Hanuman”. He was brought in by Homi Wadia himself. After this film Mishra was closely associated with S.N.Tripathi and wrote songs for as many as 26 of his films, out of 45 films for which he wrote about 200 songs. unfortunately he wrote for only Action, stunt and Mythological films. Though his lyrics were of good quality, he never came to limelight as his field remained B and C grade films only.
The film was directed by Shantilal Soni, who started his directorial career with ‘Sinhaldweep ki Sundarei-60’and went on to direct 30 films. His last film was ‘Mahima kaali maa ki-2000’. Most of his films were Mythologicals( 20 out of 30). Some of his well known films were Mr.X in Bombay-64, Shreeman Funtoosh-65, and Professor ki Padosan-93.
Let us now listen and enjoy this Bhajan from Film “Mahashivratri”-72, on this holy occasion of Mahashivratri. Jai Mahadev !
With this song, Maha Shivratri(1972) makes its debut in the blog.
Song-Aayi mahaa shivraatri siddhi ki daatri (Maha Shivratri)(1972) Singers-Mahendra Kapoor, Lyrics-B D Mishra, MD-S N Tripathi
Mahenda Kapoor + Laxmi Nayampalli
Chorus
Lyrics
aayi maha shivraatri
aayi maha shivraatri
siddhi ki daatri
sakal bhav bhay haari
jai mahaadev mangalkaari
aayi maha shivraatri
siddhi ki daatri
sakal bhav bhay haari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
jai ho
shambhu jai ho
shambhu
jai hove tumhaari
har har mahadev
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
sagaar manthan se jab nikli
kaal koot ki jwaala
nikli kaal koot ki jwaala
sabki raksha karne ko
tumne wo vish pee daala
tumne saara vish pi daala
neelkanth tum huye
sabhi ke liye
sarv sankat haari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
aayi maha shivraatri
siddhi ki daatri
sakal bhav bhay haari
jai mahadev mangalkari
jai ho
shambhu jai ho
shambhu
jai hove tumhaari
har har
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
aane lagi jab swarg se ganga aa aa
aa aa
aane lagi jab swarg se ganga
apna veg badhaaye
ganga apna veg badhaaye
baandh jataaon mein ganga ko
ganga dhar kahlaaye
prabhu tum ganga dhar kahlaaye
sheesh suhaaye
gang uma hai sang tumhaari chhabinaari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
aayi maha shivraatri
siddhi ki daatri
sakal bhav bhay haari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
jai ho
shambhu jai ho
shambhu
jai hove tumhaari
har har mahadev
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
tumhe digaane ko jab manmathh ne
pushp baan jab maare
tum par pushp baan jab maare
khol teesra lochan
khol teesra lochan
tumne barsaaye angaare
tumne barsaaye angaare
jala kaam ka ang
hua wo anang
rahe tum adhikaari
jai mahadev mangalkari
aayi maha shivratri
siddhi ki daatri
sakal bhav bhay haari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
jai ho
shambhu
jai ho
shambhu
jai hove tumhaari
har har mahadev
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
tumhe pooj kar hi raghav ne
om namah shivaay
tumhe pooj kar hi raghav ne
raavan par jai paayi
raam ne raavan par jai paayi
sakal bhav bhayhari
jai mahadev mangalkaari
jai ho
shambhu jai ho
shambhu
jai hove tumhaari
har har mahadev
har har mahadev
har har mahadev
har har mahadev
