Shivaratri is a reminder to all mankind of the goal of mind-control. The Moon is the presiding deity of the mind, according to the sages, and even modern science has discovered a subtle relationship between the vagaries of the mind and the phases of the Moon. In the dark half of the month, the Moon is seen less and less as the days move forward, and symbolically it may be inferred that the mind too is undergoing a process of decline. This day is the 14th night and there is very little left of the Moon to influence the earth or the mind of man. A spurt of spiritual effort by way of the vigil, bhajan (congregational chant) and fasting done on this ratri (night) or period of ignorance, will result in the extinction of the mind and therewith the conquest of all the tendencies and attitudes which it has entangled man in. Thus this ratri can be sublimated into the heavenly splendour of Shiva.(Divine Discourse, Feb 16,1977)