Sri M said...

There are many reasons why Shivaratri is celebrated and night vigils are kept. Since Shiva is considered to be the Maha Yogi and since yogis - according to the description of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita - are those who stay awake when others sleep and sleep when others are awake, night vigils are observed. This also means that what we are attracted to in this world is not very attractive to the yogi and what we are not attracted to is very attractive to the yogi. Our attraction is usually in the outward world; the yogi’s attraction is to the inward. Therefore, this night is a symbol of turning inwards.