Members of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness will celebrate Maha Shiva Ratri, or the Night of Lord Shiva, in Spanish Fork Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004.
For Krishnas everywhere, the holiday is one of the most important dates on the Hindu calendar. But for temple presidents Caru Das and Vaibhavi Devi, Maha Shiva Ratri is an opportunity to share their culture with the larger LDS community.
"Shiva is often seen as the god of destruction," said Caru Das, 58, who has managed the Krishna temple with his wife Vaibhavi Devi, 58, since its groundbreaking in 1996. "But he's more than that because after destruction, there is renewal."
On the night of Maha Shiva Ratri, Krishnas participate in the sacred bathing ceremony of Lord Shiva and chant his 108 names. Each member of the congregation pours consecrated water from a conch shell on a small shrine of Shiva. After the ceremony, Das said people are allowed to drink the bathing water because it has a purifying quality.
There will also be music, dancing, storytelling and a vegetarian feast.
Das said Shiva is an austere deity who "does not care for opulence." Krishnas offer their food to Shiva before they eat it because the sacrifice teaches them to deny the pleasures of the body.
The Krishnas' belief in reincarnation guides their day-to-day living. Because they believe the soul's desire is to be separated from the body and reach the spiritual state of nirvana, Krishnas view their bodies as a material prison.
"Shiva is often seen with snakes around him," Das said. "Snakes shed their skins as we shed the material body. We are spiritual beings."
Krishnas are required to follow a moral lifestyle, renouncing illicit sexual acts, gambling, intoxicants and meat.
"Devotees don't go out and see movies, and they don't go out to the discotheque," he said. "And that doesn't bother them. It's not just a matter of faith -- it's a lifestyle."
Gyani, 22, from Reno, Nevada, is of one of six volunteers who live and work in the Krishna temple. He said he moved to Spanish Fork last year because he was attracted to the Krishna philosophy.
"It's a qualification for being here that you're serious about living a spiritual life," he said. "We get up at 5 a.m. and have prayers for two hours at 6 a.m. We chant and meditate on beads."
Gyani and other live-in volunteers spend a majority of their time preparing vegetarian meals, cleaning and taking care of 40 llamas that live on the temple grounds.
Both Das and Devi said they want to share their beliefs with temple visitors, but will not force anyone to learn about Krishna theology.
"We're not trying to convert people," said Devi. "We just want people to be more spiritual, even within their own religions."
Das said he often gives tours to school groups.
"We're a tourist spot too," he said. "If people don't want any of the theology, we can give them just the facts and figures. A lot of people come just for the food."
Devi said she and her husband chose the Spanish Fork temple location because they enjoy living among Mormons.
"I feel safe and secure here," she said. "We're not struggling with discussing our philosophy because people are already leading pure lives. What counts to us is making spiritual progress, not what religion people are."
Devi said Krishnas and Mormons live harmoniously in their community because both groups try to avoid materialism.
There are 600 people on the Spanish Fork Hare Krishna membership list, Devi said. Another 3,000 people have signed a mailing list to learn about upcoming temple events.
Maha Shiva Ratri begins at 5 p.m. Sunday and admission is free. Additional information is available at www.utahkrishnas.com.
Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Feb 2004
