**** All bonafide gaudiya-vaisnavas should follow the Siva Ratri Vrata. The conclusion is that all gaudiya-vaisnavas should:
1. Fast all day.
2. 6-8:36 am : Read Rudra Gita Fourth Canto ch. 24.
3. Worship a Siva Linga on the night of Caturdasi.
4. Observe Jagarana (stay up all night).
5. Break fast next morning after sunrise after giving prasadam and daksina to brahmanas.
HBV: “In the evening the worshipper goes to the Siva Temple and takes a vow before Lord Siva before commencing his worship.
PUJA: Chant the 5-syllable mantra (Om Namah Sivaya) and bathe Lord Siva with milk, honey and ghee. Offer bilva patra, bael leaves, (upside down on top of linga). Then offer sesame seeds, perfumes, flowers, ghee lamps, incense, and arghya in a conchshell.”
ARGHYA MANTRA (Chant following mantra while offering arghya)
gauri-ballabha devesa, sarpadhya sasisekhara;
varsa papa visuddhartham, arghyam me pratigrhyatam
acaryam paripujyatha, dattva tasmai ca daksinam,
vidhivaj jagaram krtva, pratah paranam acaret
“O Lord of the Gods, the beloved of Gauri who is beautified by snakes and the crescent moon! I am now offering you arghya to purify myself from the sins of the last year. Please accept it. After arghya, one should worship his spiritual master and offer him daksina. Then one observe jagarana, remaining awake all night.” Gaudiya vaisnavas state one should stay up all night chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra and dancing; reading Srimad Bhagavatam and hearing about Siva Tattva.
THE GLORIES OF OBSERVING SIVA RATRI VRATA AND JAGARANA (HBV)
Skanda Purana: “Whoever performs Siva Puja on Caturdasi will never again take birth. Another sastra says: “One who does not fast but observes the vigil will become an associate of Lord Siva. Any vaisnava who observes the Siva vrata will increase his prema-bhakti towards Sri Krsna , by the grace of Rudra, who showers the essence of the rasa of Krsna bhakti.”
‘Such glorification of the Siva vrata is well known everywhere. Even sinful hunters are liberated by worshipping the Linga and observing the vigil.”
The Nagara Khanda says: “A candala once worshiped a Siva Linga, fasted and did jagarana without knowing it. (Story on MS TD CD). He was freed from sin and became an associate of Lord Siva.”
Bom Bom Bole! Om Namo Sivaya!
Kundesvara Mahadeva ki Jai! Gopesvara Mahadeva ki Ji!
