Maha Shivarathri This festival falls on the 16th night of the dark half of the month, when just a little bit of the moon, which symbolises the mind, is visible. As the object of all spiritual effort is the complete dissolution of the mind (as a pre-requisite to self-realisation), the all-night vigil with Bhajans, japa (repeating a mantra or God's name) and dhyana (meditation), on Shivarathri night represents that extra effort of the spiritual aspirant needed to master the remaining bit of the mind symbolised by the streak of the moon. Such effort can result in the complete conquest of the mind, symbolised by the disappearance of even the little bit of the moon on the following New Moon Moon night. Back