1999-02-14 Mahashivaratri Puja Talk Hindi English, New Delhi, India, [English translation from Hindi] First, I‘ll speak in Hindi language and then in English language. Today we have assembled here to worship Shri Maha Deva, Shri Shiva Shankar. In the name of Shankarji, many organizations have come up in this world. Because of Adi Shankaracharya’s emphasis, worshipping ShivJi became very popular among people. And in South India, two types of sects came up: one which were called Shaivites, and the others were called Vaishnavites. Now Shaivites are the worshippers of Lord Shiva, and the Vaishnavites worship Lord Vishnu. In our country we are experts in creating divisions. We divide the Deities as well; and when we try to integrate them, then things become even worse. For example, a new thing has come up, called Ayyappa. It is a very wrong thing. And in that it is shown, that when Lord Vishnu assumed the form of “Mohini”, then she got a child from Lord Shiva. How is it even possible? Such wrong ideas are created and widespread in our country, and then different beliefs groups are formed based on these ideas. When Indians find some or other reason to fight, they become very happy. If they have nothing to fight over, then, they create something from their own imaginations. Actually these two aspects are connected with each other as sun is with sun light, word with its meaning, moon with the moonlight. Meaning that the “Sopan Marga” which is there, which we Read More …