HAR-RATRI  (HEIRAT IN KASHMIRI)!!

The Har ratri popularly known as Heirat is not a Fast (Vrat). It is utsav ie celebration of emergence of shiv. 

Revealing himself in form of Fire Piller(Agni Stambh-Because it has no Pranali like Shiv LINGA) This fire Piller being limitless could not be even measured by the prime gods.

That is why this fire pillar is known as Sonie Potul (Shunya Putla) the piller having unlimited Depths & Heights. After finding themselves unable to understand the Mahima of Lord Shiv

(Mahimna paramte Parm Avidusha yet asdrishi-tuti brahma deenam apitat vasanta toye gire) - From Mahimnaparam 1st Shalok Means -Oh, Great lord Shiva your Significance is such a great that even Brahma & Vishnu are not able to dwell upon.

They Propitiate the fire Pillar for revealing its true nature. At that point Lord Shiv Emerges in Form of Swachandh Bhairav, five heads of shiv represents-Trustee, Sithiti, Samhar, Anugreh & Laya, 5 into 3-15 eyes before Mata Parvati and latter on in the form of infinite Prakaash Jwala ling in front of Mata Parvati, thus first time the secret form of Shiva is revealed. The mother goddess with her two sons (Iccha Putra) known as Vatuk Nath Bhairaw and Raman Bhairaw along with other Yognies performs the Yaagh (yagya) for celebrating the emergence of Swachhand Bhirav in form of Sonie Potul or Shunya Patul. on 13th or Triyudashi his Shaant form on the same day. Hence some people worship the Lord at Pradosh kaal before sunset in his fearful form while others worship him at midnight (Ard Ratri ) in his Shaant form. Being a Bhairav-Bhairavi day,

kashmiri people worship Devi Putra Vatuknath and Raman Bhairov who were given Vardaan by MataParvati being her Iccha Putras, that you shall both be worshipped by my devotees on the day of Har ratri The philosophical meaning and message of this divine Leela of Mahadev, is that his devotees should dissolve and transcend their Moha or attachment towards their name and form and concentrate on his Sound and light Nature, which Some people call Naad Bindu Roop.

Respected All, we have been initiated & ordered by our gotra Rishis to perform this Bhairav Yaag so that we too could celebrate & behold the emergence of this Secret form of Lord Shiva by invoking him & His family along with the Bhairavas.

Here all creatures (Animated & Non Animated) are invited and offered the special food for being a special occasion of emergence of shiv through the process known as Agni Vishwa Deva.

This festival is celebrated either on Dwadashi or Tryadashi, subject to the amount of effect (Saparsh) of trayodasi on Dwadashi.

It is pertinent to mention here that this is not a pradosh Vrat. Pradosa Vrat is a separate subject, that has nothing to do with Har Ratri Celebrations. Here we are not observing a vrat.

In fact the Har ratri vrat is observed only till the offerings are offered to Lord Shiva in Bhairav Form. After the special puja is done, even the pujan too becomes a part of the celebration.

Shiv ratri (Chaturdashi) is Celebrated on Chaturdasi, whereas Hari Ratri is Celebrated on Either on Dwadashi / Trayodashi. Shiv Ratri is Celebrated on every monthly of Chaturdashi, Hari Ratri is Celebrated only in the month of Falgun Krishnapaksh. 

The Shiv ratri as per the Kashmir traditions is observed in the month of Maagh and is known as Shiv Chaturdashi (10TH,11TH,& 12th,—— Daham, Kaah and Baah). Har- ratri or Hairath is Observed only when the Kumbh Rasi in the month of Falgun.

shiv ratri is three day Affair whereas Hari- Ratri is 15 day affair starting from Okdoh.

WISH YOU ALL HAPPY HARI RATRI. 

Vikas Nagar Sarwal Jammu 180005 INDIA.

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Courtesy: Moti Lal Raina and Koshur Samachar 2023, March