Join the entire Agama community for a powerful all-night ritual of homage to Shiva
Contemplate living representations of Shiva through offerings, meditations, and bhajans
Experience the divine mystery of existence and cultivate a spirit deep devotion
“Homage to Shiva, who assumes wonderful and diverse aspects:
Although Magician, You are nevertheless true;
although transcendent, You are active;
although subtle, You assume the appearance of the Universe!” – Utpaladeva
This event is free and open to the community!
In India, Maha Shivaratri is a traditional day of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva, or God, literally meaning “the Great Night of Shiva.”
As Shiva is the “Great Guru of the Yogis,” especially in the Kashmiri Shaivist tradition that is such an important part of the teachings in the Agama system, on Koh Phangan we celebrate this event with a gathering of the entire community featuring an all-night vigil, a ritual of homage to Shiva, meditations, and bhajans.
In the Tantric tradition, Shiva is the name given both to the inexpressible consciousness, the transcendent, as well as to the personal manifestation of the divine in its masculine aspect.
The date changes year by year, always corresponding to the new moon and falling sometime in late winter or early spring. 21 days before the event, dedicated Shaktis (the name for the feminine aspect of the divine as well as the title given to women in a Tantric tradition) within the school prepare for the ritual by purifying themselves and the collective energy of the community with certain Yogic practices. On the eve of the vigil they gather, en masse, wearing red, to hold the space for the rest of the community. In addition, eight Viras (meaning heroes in Sanskrit – the title given to men in the Tantric tradition) from the community are chosen to represent the aspects of Shiva, dressing the part in costume to fully channel specific manifestations of Shiva (for example, Shiva Nataraja, “the Cosmic Dancer,” or Dakshinamurti, the “Supreme Guru of Yoga” ). Swami Vivekananda Saraswati leads the ritual, supported by Ananda Maha, Muktananda, and Agama’s most advanced Yogis and Yoginis.
Although the gathering continues until dawn, all are invited to join at any point and leave when necessary. All participants are asked to wear white and arrive in silence, with respect for the space and those nearby them in the hall. And of course, it’s said that the real magic of the evening happens late into the night, when only the most dedicated ones with the strongest aspiration remain.
Men who feel inspired to perform the role of one of the Shivas have to contact the email vira@agamayoga.com, and attend a mandatory meeting with Swami on the 4th Feb.
Women who feel inspired to join the special women-only practice and rituals have to contact the email shakti@agamayoga.com before the 21th Jan (open for lev 1+ students). There is a must attend info and start-up meeting on the 23rd Jan. All participants have to give a small symbolic donation of 200 bath.
See you there!