Why Did We Fast and Stay Up All Night for Shiva Ratri? + Shiva Puja Walkthrough Artwork

For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

The world of Yoga is wide and varied. In this podcast, yogi Nish the Fish shares the deeper dimensions of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra, asking the big questions: why do we practice? What is meditation? What is the purpose of a human life? What is Beauty? What is Death? Nishanth Selvalingam studied various South Asian philosophies with his Shaivite grandfather in an ashram in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and moved to Los Angeles to study philosophy, teach yoga and play guitar in a rock band. Join him and special guests as they explore Yoga, in all its splendours. For more episodes and instruction, and to support this humble offering of the heart, visit me on Patreon: patreon.com/yogawithnish

All Episodes

For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

Why Did We Fast and Stay Up All Night for Shiva Ratri? + Shiva Puja Walkthrough

March 03, 2025 • Nishanth Selvalingam • Season 8 • Episode 128

On the very auspicious day of Shiva Ratri this year, we got together on zoom in the morning to say a few things about the "art of tapasya", that is, the art of austerities in the name of spirituality. If done too excessively, the body and mind are weakened. But if not done at all, the body and mind are similarly weakened! Compassionate and artful tapasya is the doorway to strength and self-control, which is a pre-requisite in many cases for not only meditation, but devotion. After all, if the self doesn't even belong to you, how can you surrender it to God?

After our discussion of tapasya, we then take up the topic of "How To Perform Shiva Puja", along the lines of this video. We do a little walk-through of the puja together to prepare for the evening's festivities.

Jai Bhole!

PS: Here is our playlist on all things Shiva!

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Support the show