Maha Shivratri

Maha Shiv Ratri

Maha Shiv Ratri means the night of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon of month Phalguna (Feb / March). It is believed that this day is very dear to Lord Shiva so devotees takes fast and open it the next morning, after the whole night vigil (jagran). According to the Shiv Maha Puran, Shivaratri is the auspicious day of Lord Shiva and blessed with Moksha and past sins all those people who takes fast and worship on this day.

There are many stories related to the Maha Shiv Ratri.

1.According to the some believers, in the beginning when Lord Shiva made the universe, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove their self more powerful. To stop their war Lord Shiva appear as a Linga between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma and asked them to search the end of the Linga. Then both started to find out the end of the Linga but after walking thousands of miles they could not find the end. After many years when Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma met Brahma said lie that he find the end of the Linga. Due to the lie of Brahma Lord Shiva gave him a curse that no one would ever pray to him

2. Lord Shiva was emerged in the form of Ling at midnight on Maha Shivratri. Thus, all devotees of Lord Shiva take fast for the entire day, stay vigil during the night and open their fast on the next morning.

3. According to the other legend, on the day of Shivratri Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati. Therefore all devotees celebrate this day by taking fast and worship Lord Shiva by Panchamrit (the mixture of Milk, Pure Water or Gangajal, Honey, Ghee and Yoghurt).

4. Another myth is related with Samudramanthan (churning of ocean). By the process of Samudramanthan the Gods and the demons or Asurs want to get Amrut (nectar) for immortality from the deepness of the ocean. For this both Gods and Asurs using a mountain and a snake as a rope to churn the ocean. In this process many things was came out that are divided into both Gods and Asurs but when a jar of poison came out of the ocean both are rejected to accept the poison pot. This poison was so strong and was capable to demolish the whole universe. The dilemma was risen because the Halahal or poison could not be discarded so gods requested to the Lord Shiva to accept that poision to save the whole universe. On the request of both Asur and Gods, Lord Shiva drank that deadly poison and kept into his neck because of the effect of poision his throat was changed into blue colour. This is the reason that Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkantham. So Shivratri is also a day or method of giving thanks to Lord Shiva for protecting this universe from annihilation.

Worship Rituals: To please Lord Shiva devotees do abhisheka of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas, each dravya blesses a unique quality.

·         Milk blesses purity and piousness.

·         Yogurt purges Gangajal prosperity and progeny.

·         Honey sanctifies sweet speech.

·         Ghee consecrate victory.

              Sugar hallow happiness.

·                                  Water blesses purity.

Apart from this, Belpatri, dhatura and flowers are also pleasing Lord Shiva.