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Maha Shivratri

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ॐ नमो शिवाय।

Lord Shiva is the supreme God. HE is considered to be one of the most powerful bodies in the Hindu religion. 

Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha is observed as Masik Shivaratri or Masa Shivaratri and staunch devotees of Lord Shiva observe fast and worship Shiva Linga on all Shivaratris in the year. In a year there are usually twelve Shivaratri days.

Maha Shivratri in 2018 falls on 13th February. 

However, the most significant Shivaratri which is known as Maha Shivaratri falls during February or March which corresponds to Phalguna month according to North Indian calendar.

Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in reverence of the God Shiva. It is the day Shiva was married to the goddess Parvati . The Maha Shivratri festival, also popularly known as 'Shivratri' (spelt as Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivarathri) or 'Great Night of Shiva', marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti . Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Maagha as per Amavasya-ant month calculation. As per Poornima-ant month calculation, the day is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Phalguna which falls in February Or March as per the Gregorian calendar. Of the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the Maha Shivarathri is the most holy.


The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael leaves to Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-vigil (Jagran). All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namoh Shivay", the sacred Mantra of Shiva. Penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach life's highest good steadily and swiftly. On this day, the planetary positions in the Northern hemisphere act as potent catalysts to help a person raise his or her spiritual energy more easily. The benefits of powerful ancient Sanskrit mantras such as Maha Mrintujanjay mantra increase greatly on this night.

In Nepal, millions of Hindus attend Shivaratri together from different part of the world at the famous Pashupatinath Temple. Thousands of devotees also attend Mahasivaratri at the famous Shiva Shakti Peetham of Nepal.

In Trinidad & Tobago , thousands of Hindus spend the auspicious night in over 400 temples across the country, offering special jhalls to Lord Shiva.

On Maha Shivratri, Nishita Kala is the ideal time to observe Shiva Pooja. Nishita Kala celebrates when Lord Shiva appeared on the Earth in the form of Linga. On this day, in all Shiva temples, the most auspicious Lingodbhava Puja is performed.

Lord Shiva


Legends

Maha Shivratri is associated with the marriage of Shiva and Shakti.

The legends signify that this day is the favorite of Lord Shiva and also throws light on his greatness and the supremacy of Lord Shiva over all other Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Maha Shivaratri also celebrates the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava", the cosmic dance.

 

According to another legend of Samnudra Manthan , Shiva saved the world from the disastrous effects of a poison that emerged as a by product of the churning of the sea (Samudra manthan), by consuming the whole of the poison. Shiva could arrest the poison in his throat by his Yogic powers and it didn't go down his throat. His neck turned blue due to the effect of the poison on his throat and henceforth he is also known as Neela Kantha or The Blue Throated.

Pralaya (the Deluge)

 

Pralaya the "great Flood," which was connected with the sinking of an entire continent. Another version of the tale relates that the world was facing destruction and Goddess Parvati prayed to her husband Shiva to rescue it. She prayed for the Jivas (living souls) that remained in seed-like particles of gold dust in lumps of wax, since Pralaya is brought about by Lord Shiva. 

Rituals of Maha Shivratri

Very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship (puja) and hence hope for favours from the God. Devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water source (like the Shiv Sagartank at Khajurao). This is a rite of purification, which is an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing clean clothing after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. Women and men both offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of “Shankerji ki Jai” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circulate the lingam three or seven times, and then pour water over it. Some also pour milk over it.

According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:

Bathing the Shiva Linga with water, milk and honey. Woodapple or bel leaves are added to, which represents purification of the soul;

 

Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiva Linga after bathing it. This represents virtue;
Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
Burning incense, yielding wealth;
The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
And Betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Tripundra refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead by worshipers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge, purity and penance (spiritual practice of Yoga). They also represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.

Wearing a mala (rosary) made from the rudraksha seeds of the rudraksha tree (said to have sprung from the tears of Lord Shiva) when worshiping Lord Shiva is ideal. A rudraksha seed is mahogany-like color, or could sometimes be black. They might also have traces of sacred sandal wood powder, turmeric, kumkum, or holy ash if the rosary is used in worship ceremonies or annointations.

Sawan Shivaratri

Shivaratri which falls during Shravana month is known as Sawan Shivaratri. As whole Shravana month is dedicated to perform Shiva Puja, Masa Shivaratri during Sawan month is considered highly auspicious. This Shivaratri is a pious festival which is wholly devoted to Lord Shiva. If the purnimant calendars which are followed in the states of North India are to be believed, Masa Shivaratri festival happens to be a part of the Sawan month. Whereas, the amavasyant calendar states that this particular festival has its way in the sacred month of Ashaadha.

The Kashi Vishwanath and also the Badrinath Dham are the famous temples in the region of North India which are popular to organise specific pujas and also the Darshan of the Shiva Linga during the pure and pious month of Sawan.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand-these are a few of the North Indian states where the Sawan Shivaratri is relatively more prevalent as well as popular.

Devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kānvarias performs The Kānvar Yatrā or Kavad Yatra (Devanagari: कांवड़ यात्रा), to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch holy waters of Holy Ganges River(गंगा जल) which is later offered at their local Shiva temples (specific temples include Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, and Devghar). गंगा जल taken from Sultanganj is poured on Baba Baidyanath at Devghar by Kanwariyas.

These states have a high degree of people who favor this because of the Purnimant Lunar Calendar being followed. In the other states like those of Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, the people generally follow the Amavasyant Lunar Calendar follow the principle that the Shivaratri which falls in the month of Sawan match up with the Ashadha Shivaratri.

जय जय भोले भंडारी जय जय भोले भंडारी।

Always Indebted & Grateful to my Parents (GOD)

Disclaimer:

This is a work of providing general information. While trying everything to ensure accuracy, this information is purely based on personal opinion and experiences. One may use this information as per his own wish. The Author is not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the use of the information presented in this post.

 




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Maha Shivratri

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Updated on February 13, 2018

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