Maha Shivratri is a pious Hindu festival that happens to honor the divine Lord Shiva every year. Devotees wait for this day to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva! Do you want to know when this festival will be celebrated or what are the rituals associated with it? Keep scrolling down to know!
One of the biggest Hindu festivals, Maha Shivratri, is observed in reverence to the divine Lord Shiva, known to be the Hindu God of destruction. Maha Shivratri is a significant festival of the convergence of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. Often denoted by various titles such as 'The great night of Shiva' and 'Padmarajarathi,' it is believed that on this particular festival, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati will fulfill every wish of the devotees.
Maha Shivratri is celebrated annually in honor of the divine Lord Shiva. The festival marks the remembrance of overcoming darkness in life. The auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in Phalguna as per the North Indian calendar (Purnimanta Calendar). On the other hand, as per the South Indian calendar (Amavasyant Calendar), Maha Shivratri is observed on the Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the Magha month. In both calendars, the naming convention of the month differs; the festival is celebrated in both North India and South India on the same day.
According to the Gregorian calendar, the occasion falls in February or March, before the arrival of spring. As per the position of the Moon, the festival falls before the occurrence of the New Moon.
The important Maha Shivratri 2023 date and timings are given below.
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One cannot deny that Mahashivratri is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. The festival of Shivratri is celebrated every month. But, it becomes even more symbolic when it falls in Phalguna or Magha as per the Hindu calendar. This sacred festival of Lord Shiva falls during the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna, and this holds great importance for the God of destruction. On this auspicious occasion, Lord Shiva promised to be the protector of the universe and blessed everyone that they'll be free from darkness.
It is commonly believed that Maha Shivratri marks the anniversary of the cosmic dance, i.e., 'Tandav Nritya,' done by Lord Shiva. Devotees believe that Lord Shiva performed the famous dance on the night of Maha Shivratri. This is believed to be a cosmic dance of destruction, preservation, and creation. As mentioned above, this pious Hindu festival celebrates the convergence of Lord Shiva and the divine Shakti, due to which the powers and energies of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti come together. The festival holds great significance for devotees who wait for this day to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Devotees also believe that the universe can more easily evoke spiritual energies on this day. This pious occasion also holds major significance for people on a spiritual journey. Some with worldly ambitions view this occasion as the day when Lord Shiva gained victory over all his enemies. This holy day celebrates this festival as Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary to the incarnation of Shakti, Goddess Parvati.
Additionally, for the ascetics, this is the day when Lord Shiva becomes a Yogi, i.e., becoming one or amalgamating with the majestic Mount Kailash. As per Yogic traditions, Lord Shiva is considered the Adi Guru, which means the first guru from whom Yoga originated. Therefore this festival of Maha Shivratri becomes significant as it is a great night of stillness for the ascetics.
Maha Shivratri honors Lord Shiva, and on this day, devotees observe a Shivratri fast and worship Lord Shiva. Unlike any other Hindu festival, Shivratri is one unique festival observed during the night. The devotees fast, pray, and revere the Lingam or Shivling, a symbol of Lord Shiva. People offer milk to the Shivling on this day and pray for salvation or Moksha. Many ardent followers and devotees of Lord Shiva also perform the special Maha Shivratri Puja alongside observing the fast. Maha Shivratri is marked by fasting, praying, meditating, and visiting the temples of Lord Shiva.
The Maha Shivratri Puja is performed during the Nishita Kaal Muhurat, which is considered quite auspicious. Devotees can worship Lord Shiva in any of the four Prahars of the night or perform it four times. Some even perform the Pujas during all four Prahars (the auspicious time) deemed ideal for the rituals. They observe a fast throughout the day and only break it the next day after taking a bath. Devotees performing the rituals should take a bath and wear clean clothes while doing so.
Let’s find out the rituals.
Apart from the rituals, you should know that there are some significant elements that should be used in the Maha Shivratri Puja as they are an indispensable part of the worship.
On this occasion, many devotees pray the whole night and chant mantras to impress and praise the divine Lord Shiva. It is commonly believed that the people who observe the fast, offer prayers, and perform the Maha Shivratri Puja, Lord Shiva blesses them with good luck. Many women devotees pray to Lord Shiva to be blessed with a good husband and a blissful married life. Many spiritual experts advise the devotees to practice meditation and chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' on this day. Even the temples are filled with 'Om Namah Shivaya' chants, and one can hear devotional songs sung in praise of Lord Shiva.
Check this out: Dos and Don’ts of Maha Shivratri That You Should Not Miss!
In India, 'the great night of Lord Shiva' or Maha Shivratri is celebrated differently in different regions. Cultural programs are a common sight in many temples on this occasion. Festivities, fairs, and various celebrations mark the day as one of the most auspicious occasions of the Hindus. Lord Shiva is worshiped with utmost reverence throughout India by the devotees. On this holy day, a massive crowd of devotees takes a dip in the sacred Ganges to purify their soul, body, and mind. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, offered prayers to repel evil that might befall her husband on this day. This is why this day is considered auspicious for women. Women devotees bathe the Shivling with milk and pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons.
There are many temples around India where the festival is celebrated with incredible zeal and gusto. Sri Shidlingappa's Mela is organized in Karnataka on this auspicious day to mark the festivities associated with this festival. Lord Shiva is worshiped in notable temples such as the Umananda Temple in Assam, Bhootnath Temple in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Tarakeswar Temple in West Bengal, etc., with reverence and throngs of devotees visit these temples to worship Lord Shiva.
Maha Shivratri is an occasion that is celebrated with a lot of pomp by devotees. There are many mythological beliefs and legends about this festival. One of the stories associated with Maha Shivratri is the marriage story of the two divine deities- Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to the Puranas, it has been claimed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married on Maha Shivratri.
According to the mythology, Goddess Parvati wanted to marry Lord Shiva. All the gods were also of the same opinion that Goddess Parvati should marry Lord Shiva. The gods sent the marriage proposal of Goddess Parvati with Kandarpa to Lord Shiva, but he destroyed him with his third eye. This didn't deter Goddess Parvati as she had already made up her mind to marry Lord Shiva, so she decided to do severe penance. Due to her penance, there was an outcry in the three worlds. This news reached Lord Shiva, and he was incredibly impressed with Goddess Parvati's tenacity. He appealed to Goddess Parvati to marry a prosperous prince, as living with him, an ascetic, won't be easy. But Goddess Parvati was adamant, and she made it clear that she would only marry Lord Shiva. Impressed by her insistence and infinite love, Lord Shiva decided to marry her.
According to the mythological legend, when Lord Shiva came to marry the Goddess, he was accompanied by ghosts, witches, Dakinis, etc. Seeing this unique procession, everyone was stunned. Being an ascetic, Lord Shiva was not aware of how to prepare for marriage. The witches adorned his body with ashes and made him wear a garland of bones for the marriage. Goddess Parvati's mother could not accept Lord Shiva's strange form and refused to give her daughter's hand. Fearing that the situation would deteriorate, Goddess Parvati urged him to come dressed as per the traditions and customs of marriage. Lord Shiva accepted this request and asked the other deities to help him get ready as the groom. After that, when Lord Shiva arrived in this divine form as the groom, Goddess Parvati's mother was immediately impressed and accepted him. The sacred marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva happened in the presence of Lord Brahma. According to mythology, this date is believed to be Maha Shivratri. This is why this occasion is celebrated as the anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Hands down, Maha Shivratri, is one of India's most sacred and pious festivals. On this day, the devotees' hearts are filled with reverence, devotion, and sanctity in honor and respect for Lord Shiva
Astroyogi wishes you a Happy Maha Shivratri!
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