One of the biggest Hindu festivals in the calendar is Maha Shivratri, where throngs of devotees seek the grace of Lord Shiva. To make the most of this festival and worship Lord Shiva properly, you must know the do's and don'ts. So, ahead of the festival, check out below!
Dedicated to worshiping Lord Shiva, Maha Shivratri is an occasion that many Hindus across the globe wait for. Within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity, which includes Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva is known as "The Destroyer." He is worshiped as one of the paramount deities of Hinduism. He is the slayer of all evil and can safeguard the world from damnation.
Maha Shivratri, also famously known as the great night of Shiva, marks the holy union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On Maha Shivratri, the devotees observe a day-long fast, perform the Puja during the Nishita Kaal (midnight), and remain awake all night. Thousands of devotees visit their local Shiva temples to please Lord Shiva. They pray for his guidance and blessings.
To seek the blessings of Lord Shiva, let us look into what should be done during Mahashivratri 2024.
Maha Shivratri is observed on the Chaturdashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the Phalguna or Magha month, depending on the Purnimant or Amavasyant calendar, respectively. As Maha Shivratri is known to have great spiritual significance and is highly auspicious, it is of utmost importance to celebrate it in the right way.
Here are a few dos and don'ts of Maha Shivratri that you must know to celebrate Maha Shivratri correctly and get the grace and blessings of Lord Shiva in abundance.
List of Dos to Keep in Mind
Here are some of them.
On the day of the Puja, devotees should wake up early in the morning and take a bath. Starting this auspicious day with a pure body and mind is crucial. You shouldn't begin your prayers without taking a bath. Moreover, after that, wear clean clothes as they ensure purity. Then you must take a Sankalp (resolution) to align your thoughts with the divine occasion, observe the Puja, and a day-long fast with dedication and devotion.
On Maha Shivratri, mantras should be chanted. The mantras are said to possess certain powers and energy vibrations that can impact your life. People are advised to chant "Om Namah Shivay" several times. You are also advised to listen to stories of Lord Shiva, sing devotional songs, and meditate along with chanting mantras.
Devotees observe a fast on this day. While some people don't even consume water the whole time, consuming fast-specific food is allowed. While fasting, you can consume fruits throughout the day and special dishes with fast-compliant ingredients like Sabudana. Milk and milk products can also be consumed. However, you should refrain from consuming anything after sunset.
It is commonly believed that Lord Shiva is fond of milk and other milk products; hence, if you want to offer milk-made items like Kheer or any other milk-based sweets to Lord Shiva, you can do so. Devotees should also perform the Abhishek of the Shiva Lingam by bathing it in milk, honey, ghee, curd, and Gangajal (water from the Ganges). To worship Lord Shiva, you can visit the nearest temple or worship the Shiva Lingam at home.
Try to observe a vigil throughout the night on this particular occasion. Instead of sleeping throughout the night, you can spend the night contemplating spirituality, chanting mantras, and singing devotional songs for Lord Shiva. You can visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, as nightly prayers are done throughout the night, and you can participate in them. Devotees who practice meditation with full dedication on the Maha Shivratri night will feel a sense of calmness.
There are some things that should be avoided during the auspicious Maha Shivratri 2024. Here are some of them.
Black is a color that must be avoided on Maha Shivratri, so devotees should refrain from being dressed in black. Wearing black for Hindu rituals is forbidden as it is considered inauspicious. Therefore, if you are visiting Lord Shiva's temple or fasting, avoid this color and pick other colors such as pink, green, red, yellow, and white.
You shouldn't consume non-vegetarian food, onions, and garlic. You must also abstain from alcohol, tobacco, or any other kind of addictive stuff. Additionally, you must also stay away from food items made of wheat, rice, and pulses, as they are strictly prohibited during the fast.
Coconut water should not be offered to Lord Shiva during the occasion.
According to the Shastras and Puranas, you must not do a full Parikrama of the Shiva Lingam while performing the rituals. It should always be a semi-circle, and then you should return to where you had begun from.
As per the ancient Hindu scriptures, you must never offer Tulsi (holy Basil) to Lord Shiva while worshiping him. This is because it is considered that using Tulsi can cause the Puja to remain incomplete. Tulsi is also considered a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Tulsi is regarded as an auspicious offering made to Lord Vishnu. Therefore, it must be avoided during Lord Shiva's Pujas.
The Ketaki and Champa flowers must be avoided, as Lord Shiva had cursed these flowers. Hence, they shouldn’t be offered to Lord Shiva or used when offering him prayers.
Devotees should offer Bael leaves, water from the Ganges, Datura flowers, milk, and sandalwood paste to Lord Shiva, as it is considered auspicious. Bael is one of the holy trees. When you offer it to the divine Lord Shiva, make sure the leaves you offer are not cut, scratched, or insect-eaten from anywhere. They should be clean and without any damage. Damaged leaves could denote an insult to the supreme deity.
Even though Haldi (Turmeric) is often offered to Hindu deities, it is never offered to Lord Shiva or the Shiva Lingam. Turmeric is believed to be an ingredient related to women and helps enhance their beauty. And, as the Shiva Lingam is a symbol of masculinity or male essence, it is forbidden to offer Haldi to Lord Shiva. Moreover, as this ingredient helps enhance one's beauty and Lord Shiva is an ascetic who has given up on worldly pleasures, turmeric is not offered to him. Offering turmeric to the divine God will not bear you any fruits of worship. Sandalwood paste can be used instead of turmeric.
Also, You should abstain from indulgence on this day; instead, you should devote your time to spiritual activities and worshiping Lord Shiva with full devotion.
Summing Up
A traditional Hindu calendar is full of significant festivals, amongst which Maha Shivratri holds a lot of importance. The festival is hugely popular amongst the devotees. It is believed that anyone who observes a fast and prays to Lord Shiva on this day will be blessed abundantly. This is why observing Maha Shivratri should be celebrated in the right ways.
By following the dos and don'ts of Maha Shivratri 2024, given above, you can worship Lord Shiva properly and attain his blessings for a graceful and prosperous life ahead.
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