Importance of
 Sivarathri Virutham


All of us  know about Sivarathri,famous for Lord Siva.In Hindu religion this is observed as a fast day and one used to wake up all  throughout night on that day.Many episodes are there.Here is a story that I read recently which I would like to share.

There was a learned Pandit in a village.He had a son  named Vedanidhi who was of a bad virtue and habit. The Pandit tried his level best to correct him. All in vain.

One day Vedanidhi  stole a golden ring of his father whom the king had presented him for his loyal duty.He gave that to a dancing girl in the king"s court as his present.The king happened to see the ring and got wild on the pandit.

This made the pandit more annoyed and chased him out of the house.His friends did not entertain him any more.So he walked a long distance and because of fatigue fainted.When he woke up he saw some people singing the Praise of Siva and going to a near by temple of Lord Siva.He came to know that was a Sivarathri day.He joined them.

In the temple he saw many fruits coins near the shrine.He wanted to get some so he entered the inner shrine.The light was not sufficent for him to steal.So he tore his dhothi made wick and made the lamp still brighter than before and stole.But poor boy he was caught and beaten.He lost his life.

When Yama came he took him to deva loka,though he had committed so many sins.But Yama said though Vedanidhi did sins he also did a virtuous act by lighting the lamp of the Lord and starved the whole day and died on sivarathri day.All these good acts made him to attain heaven.

So if an bad virtued boy attained heaven without knowing the real importance of Sivarathri
 Lord siva will surely bless his devotees who take up this virtutham on Sivarathri day.

                                               Om Nama Sivaya