MahaShivratri also known as “The Great Night of Shiva” is a significant Hindu festival celebrating the celestial union of Shiv and Parvati. It is the night of the divine consciousness of Shiv. The fourteenth day of every lunar month is celebrated as ShivRatri. Out of the twelve Shivratis celebrated in a year, MahaShivrati, the one that occurs in February or March, is considered the most powerful because it is believed to be the night when Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction, (Tandav) signifying a peak of cosmic energy. On this night, there is a natural upsurge if energy in a human being. Devotees of Lord Shiva immerse themselves in fasting, mediation, prayers, yoga and other ceremonial practices to invoke divine blessings, purifytheir body, mind and soul.
Stories associated with MahaShivratri:
Marriage of Maa Parvati and Lord Shiva:
One of the most captivating and popular stories related to MahaShivratri is the celestial union of Maa Parvati (Goddess Shakti) and Lord Shiva, the feminine and masculine energies that balances the cosmos. The day they got married is commemorated as MahaShivratri.
The clash between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu:
Another legend states that in the Shiva Purana, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were clashing with each other for supremacy. The other Gods were fearful that a war between the two would cause irreparable damage and requested Lord Shiva to intervene. Between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva took the form a massive column of fire. Both the Gods decided to locate the apex of the fire column. Lord Brahma searched the skies by taking the form of a swan, while Lord Vishnu searched the Earth in the form of Varaha (form of a boar). Both the Gods could not find the end or the beginning of the column of fire, as light is infinite. Lord Brahma found a Ketaki flower floating down slowly. Upon being questioned on where she was coming from, the flower lied and said she came from the top of the fire column. To claim superiority over Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma asked the flower to testify about his success in finding the apex. Lord Shiva was enraged with the lie and cursed Lord Brahma that nobody would pray to him and even cursed the Ketaki flower for her deceit. The flower can never be used as an offering for worship. MahaShivratri is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shiva ending the dispute between the two Gods.
Neelkanth:
During the Samundra Manthan, the churning of the ocean by Devas (Gods) and Asuras (demons), to find the nectar of immortality (Amrit) , a highly toxic poison emerged from the ocean that could destroy everything. The Gods approached and prayed to Lord Shiva to protect life by consuming the poison. Lord Shiva drank the poison, held it in his throat and bound the poison with the snake. The poison turned his throat blue but Lord Shiva remained unharmed. That’s how he got the name “NeelKanth”. This act of immense compassion and sacrifice by Lord Shiva is also considered one of the reasons we celebrate MahaShivratri in his honor.
Celebrating MahaShivratri:
Lord Shiva’s devotees celebrate this festival with a lot of love and devotion. The devotees observe bathing early in the morning and complex or partial fasting, eating only fruits on MahaShivratri to detoxify their bodies.
The devotees observe bathing early in the morning and complex or partial fasting, eating only fruits on MahaShivratri to detoxify their bodies.
Devotees also donate food (annadaanam) to the less fortunate as an auspicious act of devotion toward Lord Shiva signifying offering nourishment and serving the community.
The temples of Lord Shiva and homes of the devotees are decorated and adorned with vibrant flowers, incense sticks and lights. Devotees perform Rudra Puja and worship the Shivlinga by bathing it with milk, honey, water and bel patra .
Worship of Lord Shiva continues throughout the night of MahaShivratri, singing hymns, and chants like “Om Namah Shivaya” to purify the environment, dispel negative energy and bring positivity.
MahaShivratri is believed to be the night of heightened spiritual energy. It offers an opportunity to deeply connect with the divine through self- reflection and meditation. Devotees meditate in honor of Lord Shiva to find inner peace and calm their restlessness achieving clarity of mind and spiritual insight.
MahaShivratri is a day of deep spiritual enlightenment, unity and devotion. May Lord Shiva’s blessings impart us with happiness, compassion, a deeper connection with ourselves and the people around us.
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