WISDOM Newsletter March 4, 2008

Dear WISDOM Subscribers:



1) Good News!! WISDOM now has its own post office box. Our new “snail mail” address is:



WISDOM

PO Box 525

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303



However, if you are planning on registering for our March 30th event at Congregation Beth Shalom called “A Day of Learning – Women in Judaism” please continue to send your $18.00 checks to Judy Satterthwaite, 1250 Dutton Road, Rochester, MI 48306. We will officially start using this mailbox for all of our future WISDOM events.



2) Below is information about an interesting event at Allen Park Presbyterian Church called “A Shared Future” – a presentation and video clips about the history of Northern Ireland’s troubles and an evening of coffee, conversation and questions.


Allen Park Presbyterian Church
In conjunction with St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church presents:

“A Shared Future”
A presentation and video clips about the history of Northern Ireland’s troubles and an evening of coffee, conversation, and questions.

Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sanctuary/Parlor

Steve Pointon and Joe McKeown are two youth workers from Northern Ireland who grew up on opposite sides of the 40 year conflict. They have spent the last six years working in conflict transformation and trying to bring both sides of the community back together.

Joe is employed by the Catholic Church in Ireland and Steve works at Allen Park Presbyterian Church in Allen Park, Michigan

Presentation/Clips at 5:30 p.m. - Coffee House opens at 7 p.m.
Steve and Joe will host Q & A at 7:30 p.m.

Allen Park Presbyterian Church (USA)
7101 Park Avenue - Allen Park, MI 48101
R.S.V.P. or questions, please contact: Steve Pointon

(313) 383-0100 or e-mail: steve@appc.us

3) This Thursday, March 6, 2008 is the Hindu holiday of Maha Shivratri. Please read below for information on how our Hindu WISDOM sisters and their families will celebrate this holiday.



Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the 13th night /14th day of the new moon during Krishna Paksha during the month of Phalguna. It falls on the day before a moonless February/March night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivratri (Sanskrit 'ratri' = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is observed for one day and one night only.

Origin Of Shivratri


There are many stories about the origins of Shivaratri. One is the story of the churning of the ocean. During the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he, in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as Nilkantha, the blue-throated one. Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world. Another story is how Shiva appeared as the endless linga made of fire, and Lord Vishnu (the Preserver) and Lord Brahma (the Creator) searched fruitlessly, and prayed to Lord Shiva on Shivaratri. A third story is related to this one. While traveling upwards, Brahma spotted a ketaki flower falling from the top of the linga and made it promise to support his tale of reaching the top. When he met Lord Vishnu, he claimed to have taken the flower from the top, and the flower agreed. Lord Shiva then became enraged and cursed the flower that it shouldn't be used in Shiva worship. He also banished Brahma, cursing him that he would never have any temples built in his name. And to this day, there are no known Brahma temples. Another story is that of a hunter who could travel no more and was forced to sleep in a Bilva tree in a dangerous forest. All night, he lay awake, plucking leaves, dropping them, and repeating "OM NAMAH SHIVAYA". In the morning, he discovered a linga right where he had been dropping the leaves. It is said that Lord Shiva saved him. Finally, it is also said that Parvati and Shiva were united on this day, which is most likely why Shivaratri may be considered auspicious for women.

A Festival Especially For Women


Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Shiva Rituals


On the day of Shivratri, people often fast throughout the whole day, and take a bath in holy waters if possible. Then they head to the temple to witness or perform the traditional abhishekam, or bathing a linga in a liquid mixture formed from milk, honey, sugar water, ghee (clarified butter) and yogurt. The meaning of these ingredients is basically this:

Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness.
Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny.
Honey is for sweet speech.
Ghee is for victory.
Sugar is for happiness.
Water is for purity.
Then vermilion (red orange pigment) is applied to the linga. According to the Shiva Purana, these six items have a special symbolic meaning.

Bathing of Shivalinga with milk, honey, sugar, water, and yogurt, along with wood apple or betel leaves added to it, represents purification of the soul.
The vermilion paste applied on the linga after the ritual bath represents virtue.
Offering of fruits symbolizes longevity and gratification of desires.
Burning of incense sticks yields wealth.
The lighting of the lamp symbolizes attainment of knowledge.
Offering of betel leaves marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures.
Throughout the night, devotees sing bhajans (short hymns) and chant "OM NAMAH SHIVAYA"

.

The murti or physical representation of Shiva is called the lingam and is usually made of granite, soapstone, quartz, marble or metal. Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship it throughout the night.

"Om Namah Shivaya!"


All through the day the devotees keep a severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya", make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship. In Kashmir, the festival is held for 15 days. The 13th day is observed as a day of fast followed by a family feast.