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Maha Shivaratri 2023

Maha Shivaratri or the ‘Great Night of Shiva’ is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu calendar devotees of Mahadev or Lord of Lords Shiva celebrate this festival on the new moon day in the month of Maagha. The festival generally falls in the month of February or March and is observed for a day and following night.

Devotees of Mahadev believes that whoever worship Lord Shiva on this auspicious day with true devotion gets free from all sins, get blessed with Nirvana or Moksha. 

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Lord Shiva:

Lord Shiva is one of the most prominent deity of Hinduism. He along with Brahma and Vishnu forms Devine Trinity or famous Trimurti of Hindu culture. He is called as a destroyer who destroys the creation when the time comes or when it comes far from goodness to make it possible for the beginning of new creation.

According to Shaibasm (devotees of Lord Shiva) Lord Shiva is the supreme God Lord of lords that’s why they call him ‘Mahadev’. 

According to some old scripts, Shiva is the param Ishwar who is formless. They said everything generated from Shiva and everything ends in Shiva. Today’s modern science also says that everything comes from nothing and goes back to nothing and according to Hindu philosophy this nothing is Shiva.

 According to mythology he lives a simple life in Mount Kailash with his family and spends in maximum time in meditating for welfare of human beings. Old texts described him as a well-built man wearing a tiger skin, bids of Rudraksha as neckless, ambulate, wristlet and head gear. His hair is pulled in a Jata and adorn with half-moon. His body adorns with ashes and a snake in bluish neck. We always see him with a trident or Trishul and Domru.

But in maximum cases we worship him as his infinity form or Linga form.

Shiva is a yogi, destroyer of evil, but he has some other aspects also like the acentric performer of Dance (Nataraj), the epitome of truth and beauty and fearless warrior.

Other names of Lord Shiva:

According to Shiva Puran Lord Shiva has 108 names. These names along with their meaning are mentioned below.

1.    Shiva: Always Pure

2.    Maheshwar: Lord of Gods

3.    Shambhu: One Who Bestows Prosperity

4.    Pinakin: One who has a bow in his hand

5.    Shashi Shekhara: The God Who Wears the Crescent Moon in His Hair

6.    Vamadeva: The God Who Is Pleasing and Auspicious in Every Way

7.    Virupaksha: God with Oblique Eyes

8.    Kapardi: The Lord with Thickly Matted Hair

9.    Nilalohita: The One With Red And Blue Colour

10. Shankara: One Who Gives Happiness And prosperity

11. Shulapani: The One Who Carries A Trident

12. Khatvangi: The God Who Carries A Knurled Club (Khatvanga)

13. Vishnuvallabha: The One Who Is Dear To Lord Vishnu

14. Shipivishta: The Lord Whose Form Emits Great Rays Of Light

15. Ambikanatha: Consort of Ambika (Parvati)

16. Shrikantha: Of Glorious Neck

17. Bhaktavatsala: The One Who Is Favourably Inclined Towards His Devotees

18. Bhava: The God Who Is Existence Itself

19. Sharva: Remover of All Troubles

20. Trilokesha: The Lord of All the Three Worlds

21. Shitikantha: The Lord Who Has White Neck

22. Shivapriya: Beloved of Parvati

23. Ugra: The One Who Has Extremely Fierce Nature

24. Kapali: One Who Wears A Necklace of Skulls

25. Kamari: Enemy of Kamadeva

26. Andhakasura Sudana: The Lord Who Killed the Asura Andhaka

27. Gangadhara: The God Who Holds the Ganges River in His Hair

28. Lalataksha: One Who Has an Eye in The Forehead

29. Kalakala: He Is the Death of Death

30. Kripanidhi: The God Who Is the Treasure of Compassion

31. Bheema: The One Who Has Fearful Form

32. Parshuhasta: The God Who Holds Axe in Hands

33. Mrigpaani: The God Who Possess Deer in Hands

34. Jattadhar: The God Who Keeps Tress (Jata)

35. Kailashavasi: Native of Kailasha

36. Kawachi: The God Who Possess Armour

37. Kathor: The God Who Has A Strong Body

38. Tripurantak: The God Who Killed Tripurasura

39. Vrishanka: The God Who Has A Flag with A Symbol of Bull

40. Vrishbharudh: The One Who Rides Bull

41. Bhasmodhulitavigrah: The One Who Applies Ashes All Over the Body

42. Samapriya: The One Who Loves with Equality

43. Swaramayi: The God Who Lives in All Seven Notes

44. Trayimurti: The One Who Possess Veda Form

45. Anishvara: The One Who Does Not Have Any Lord

46. Sarvagya: The One Who Knows Everything

47. Paramatma: Everyone's Own Soul

48. Somasuryaagnilochana: The One Who Has Eyes in The Form Of Sun, Moon And Fire

49. Havi: He Who Is Wealthy in The Form of Ahuti

50. Yagyamaya: The Architect of All Sacrificial Rites

51. Soma: The One Who Includes the Form of Uma

52. Panchavaktra: God of The Five Activities

53. Sadashiva: The One Who Is Eternally Auspicious

54. Vishveshwara: Lord of The Universe

55. Veerabhadra: Who Is Violent, Yet Peaceful

56. Gananatha: God of The Ganas

57. Prajapati: The One Who Is the Creator of Dynasty

58. Hiranyareta: The One Who Emanates Golden Souls

59. Durdharsha: The One who Is Unconquerable

60. Girisha: Lord of Mountains

61. Girisha: The God Who Sleeps on Kailash Mountain

62. Anagha: He Who Is Pure

63. Bujangabhushana: Lord Adorned with Golden Snakes

64. Bharga: Lord Who Ends All Sins

65. Giridhanva: God Whose Weapon Is A Mountain

66. Giripriya: Lord Who Is Fond of Mountains

67. Krittivasaa: God Who Wears Clothes of Elephant Skin

68. Purarati: Destroyer OF Town Or "Pur" Named Enemy

69. Bhagwaan: God of prosperity

70. Pramathadhipa: God Who Is Served by Goblins

71. Mrityunjaya: Victor of Death

72. Sukshamatanu: God Who Has A Subtle Body

73. Jagadvyapi: God Who Lives in The World

74. Jagadguru: Guru of All the Worlds

75. Vyomakesha: Whose Hair Spreads in The Sky

76. Mahasenajanaka: Father of Kartikya

77. Charuvikrama: The Guardian of Wandering Pilgrims

78. Rudra: The One Who Gets Sad by The Pain of Devotees

79. Bhootapati: Lord of Panchabhoota Or Bhootapreta

80. Sthanu: Firm and Immovable Deity

81. Ahirbhudhanya: The One Who Possess Kundalini

82. Digambara: The God Whose Robes Is the Cosmos

83. Ashtamurti: Lord Who Has Eight Forms

84. Anekatma: The God Who Possess Many Forms

85. Satvika: Lord of Boundless Energy

86. Shuddhavigraha: Lord of Pure Soul

87. Shashvata: Lord Who Is Eternal and Endless

88. Khandaparshu: Lord Who Wears Broken Axe

89. Aja: The One Who Is Boundless

90. Pashvimochana: Lord Who Releases All Fetters

91. Mrida: The Lord Who Shows Only Mercy

92. Pashupati: Lord of Animals

93. Deva: Lord of Devas

94. Mahadeva: Greatest of The Gods

95. Avayaya: The One Who Never Subject to Change

96. Nilkantha: one who’s throat is blue

97. Bhagnetrabhid: The Lord Who Damaged Bhaga's Eye

98. Avayayat: Shiva Who Is Unseen

99. Dakshadhwarahara: Destroyer of Daksha's Conceited Sacrifice (Yagya)

100. Har: The Lord Who Dissolves All Bondage and Sins

101. Pushadantabhit: One Who Punished Pushan

102. Avyagra: Lord Who Is Steady and Unwavering

103. Sahsraksha: One Who Has Limitless Forms

104. Sahasrapada: The Lord Who Is Standing and Walking Everywhere

105. Apavargaprada: Lord Who Gives and Takes All Things

106. Ananta: The One Who Is unending

107. Taraka: The Lord Who Is Great Liberator of Mankind

108.Parameshwara: The Great God

  

Worshipping of Lord Shiva:

Lord Shiva is a God who can be pleased easily. To worship Lord Shiva a person doesn’t need a priest. Anyone with pure mind and true devotion can worship Shiva.  To worship Lord Shiva people can use some flower, bel patra or bel leaf, bibhuti and if possible Rudraksha.

People generally visit Shiva temple in Mondays after taking bath and prey to Lord with pure mind.

Many devotees chant Maha Mrityunjay Mantra as many time they can.

People generally abhishek Lord Shiva with water and milk and offer Bel leaf and flowers.

People chant ‘Om Namah Shibaya’ mantra to please Lord Shiva.

Worshipping the Shivalinga

In Sanskrit ‘Linga’ means symbol or sign. So, Shiva Linga stands for the sign or symbol of Shiva. According to some ancient texts Shiva is Adi and Ananta, he is formless. To mark this formless infinity deity of Hinduism people started to imagine as pillars and a Shivalinga is a form of Pillar.

In Post Vedic period scholars described Linga as cosmic egg or Shiva’s power of creation. For the shape of Linga they compare it with eggs, from where the Stristi took birth.

According to scholars a Shivalinga has three parts the lower one Bhrahma-pitha, middle one as Vishnu-Pitha and the top most part as Shiva-Pitha which represents the holy and divine Tridev of Hinduism.

We generally worship lord Shiva in his Lingaa form. The most famous and popular temples of Lord Shiva such as Kashi Biswswar, Somnath, Kedarnath we can find Mahadev in his Lingaa avtar.

Though we can find lots of Shiva Linga throughout the India, Nepal and Srilanka there are few prominent and special Shiva Linga which are considered as more powerful than others are

Jyotirlingas: there are 12 Jyotirlingas present in India. They are Kedarnath, Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Baijnath, Rameswar, Ghrusneswar, Bhimshankar, Mahakal, Mallikarjun, Amaleshwar, Nageshwar, and Tryambakeshwar.

Pancha-bhuta Lingas: there are 5 Pancha-bhuta Lingas. They are Kalahastishwar, Jambukeshwar, Arunachaleshwar, Ekambareshwar of Kanjivaram, and Nataraja of Chidambaram.

Mahashivaratri:

Mahashivaratri ot Shivaratri is celebrated in the 13^th night and 14^th day of month of Phalguna of Hindu Calendar. It is an annual festival which generally falls in English month February or March according to lunar-solar calendar.

History

It is difficult to tell actually from people started to celebrate this festival. Scholars find out that lots of mediaeval Indian texts and literature described about celebration of Shiva Ratri for various beliefs and basically to their devotion to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. So, though we can’t pin point the particular time from when the celebration of Shiva Ratri started but obviously can tell this is a age old culture and centuries old tradition of Hinduism.

Maha shivaratri Legends and beliefs

There are lots of stories and beliefs associated with Shiva Ratri. There are lots of folk lores and mythological beliefs behind the celebration of Shivaratri. We are discussing them one by one.

1.    Marriage of Shiva and Shakti:

One of the most popular belief regarding Shivaratri is that in this day Shiva married daughter of Himalaya devi Parvati who was recognition of Adi Sakti. After the divine consort of Shiva Sakti in form of Sati dies Shiva was in immense grief. First, he performed Tandava and then when the grief subsided, he Immersed himself in meditation forgetting everything.

Then all gods preyed to Devi Adi shakti and she reburned as Parvati. She worshiped Lord shiva for many years with the wish to marry him. After passing so many hurdles finally they got married and that day is celebrated as Mahashivaratri.

2.    Samudra Manthan:

People belief that on this day Lord Shiva saved the world from most dangerous poison named as Halahal emerged from the ocean as a result of Samudra Manthan by swallowing in and holding it in his throat. For swallowing this poison his throat turned blue and the Devatas gave Lord Shiva a new name ‘Nilakantha’ meaning ‘one who’s throat is blue’

3.    Legend of Shiva Lingaa:

According to Shiva Puran once on the topic of supremacy there was a huge fight between Brahma and Vishnu two prominent Gods of Hindu mythology. To see the intensity of this fight other gods asked Lord Shiva to intervein and solve this problem. To show them the reality Lord Shiva took form of huge never-ending column of fire and asked them to find the end of the fiery column. While Brahma went upwards Vishnu went downwards to find its end.  None of them find the end but while Lord Vishnu said it truthfully Brahma told a lie that he found the end and been punished for the lie with a curse that people will not worship him. According to belief the day Shiva took the form of Linga to show that he is the never-ending source of energy that day is celebrated as Mahashivaratri.

4.    Dance of Shiva:

There is one more popular legend regarding Shivaratri. People of Souther India believes that on the night of Mahashivaratri Lord Shiva performed his heavenly cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction. In many states of South India people showed their devotion to Lord of Dance Nataraj by performing Shiva’s famous tandava and lasya dances.

Mahashivaratri Stories

There is a popular story associated with Mahashivaratri and why it is celebrated at night.

According to folk story once upon a time there was a tribal man who was a grate devotee of Lord Shiva went to forest for hunting birds. He didn’t notice when sun sets and then he couldn’t find his way back to home. When at night he heard roars of wild animals he got scared and climbed up a nearby tree. He was so terrified of the growls of animals that he decided not to sleep that night. 

To keep himself awake he pluck a leaf from the tree and put it down while he chanted name of Lord Shiva. At sunrise he realized that he was on a bell tree and he has dropped thousands of bell leaf or bell Patra on a Shiva Lingaa. Lord Shiva was pleased with this whole night long worship and blessed the tribal man with divine bliss. Priests tell this story to the devotees in fast on Maha Shivaratri. 

Benefits of Worshipping Lord Shiva On Mahashivratri

According to sacred literature of Hindusm Purana Lord Shiva himself declaired that worshiping him and goddess Parvati on the occasion of Shivaratri while fasting will bless that person with salvation from his Karma.

It is also been said that as Shiva is Lord of our body so worshiping him on this night frees people from Raja guna and Tama guna. Whoever completes the vrat of Shivaratri with complete devotion get rid of negative feelings such as jealousy, lust, anger and evil thoughts.

It is believed that if a married woman observes Shivaratri Vrat mata Gouri and lord Shiva blessed her with blissful married life while any unmarried girl who observed the vrat get blessed with a good husband.

Mahashivaratri and Tantra

Shiva is considered as Adiguru or Mahayogi who has mastered all kinds of Siddi and Yogas. He thought humankind the way of meditation and Yog.

Mahashivaratri is Shiva’s great spiritual night. All the saints and Yogis believes that this is the holiest night and they can achieve Nirvana by practicing Yoga at this night as Shiva himself will bless them on this night.

Aghories and Tantrics practice Tantra and Yoga this night to get blessings of Lord shiva, to get free from all kinds of Moh maya (materialistic things and relations), to get Nirvana or Moksh.

Shivratri celebration

Celebration of Shivaratri starts from the morning. People takes ceremonial bath in Holy river Ganga and then went to a temple for morning wearing new cloths. They offer their prayer with   milk, water, bel leaves, white crown flower, dhutura flower, akanda flower, ganneru flower, fruits, incense stick, oil lamp etc.

People who observes the Vrat keeps a strict fast without water also and chant hymes and mantras of Shiva. 
They keep whole night vigil or jagarana and spends the night by chanting mantras, singing devotional songs and hymes and performing classical dance forms like Tandava and Lasya of Shiva.

Priests perform ritual Abhishek of Shivalinga and ceremonial Puja in every 3 hours throughout the day and night followed.

In big and popular temples of Shiva a huge number of devotees assemble to prey and pay their respect and devotion to Lord Shiva.

Shivaratri Puja

 According to Hindu mythology Shivaratri Puja has great significance and importance. They believe that the ceremonial worship and fast in Shivaratri please Lord shiva and whoever please Lord Shiva with his true devotion and worship gets free from all past sins and gets Moksha or salvation. 

According to Shiva Puran Shivaratri Puja helps people to get free from materialistic world and help their spiritual growth.

Shivaratri puja rituals

According to Shiva Purana on the day and followed night of Mahashivaratri people should start the puja by performing abhisheka or ceremonial bath of Shiva Lingaa. It also said about the 6 essential elements need to perform the ritual. Each of this dravya or elements have their own significance.

Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness, Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny, Honey is for sweet speech, Ghee is for victory, Sugar is for happiness, Water is for purity.

After this ceremonial Abhishek which should be done in every three-hour priest generally apply vermilion paste and then put bilwa patra or bell leaf which have three stalks together put on the top of the Linga. After that they garland the Lingaa and burn incense sticks and light lamps.

During the puja devotees constantly chants “om Namaha Shivaya”

Shivaratri fast

According to the Shaibas or devotees of Lord Shiva, Shivaratri Fast is considered to be the most important fast for them. Shiva Purana says that if anyone observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure mind, devotion and love then he/she will be blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Every year devotees observe Maha Shivaratri fast.

Devotees observe a strict fast on Shivaratri, some of them even do not consume even a drop of water all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival which is called as Nirjala vrat. After the whole night of worship they break their fast at down with prasad.

 
Shivaratri mantra

On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri people chant Maha Mrityunjoy Mantra to drive away fear and negativity from their life, Shivastuti to please Lord Shiva.

शिवस्तुती

कैलासराणा शिव चंद्रमौळी ।

फणींद्र माथा मुकुटीं झळाळी ॥

कारुण्यसिंधू भवदुःखहारी ।

तुजवीण शंभो मज कोण तारी ॥

महामृत्युंजय मंत्र

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग स्तुति

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्‌।

उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोंकारं ममलेश्वरम्‌ ॥१॥

परल्यां वैजनाथं च डाकियन्यां भीमशंकरम्‌।

सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥२॥

वारणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमी तटे।

हिमालये तु केदारं ध्रुष्णेशं च शिवालये ॥३॥

एतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः।

सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरेण विनश्यति ॥४॥

शिव मानस पूजा

रत्नैः कल्पितमानसं हिमजलैः स्नानं च दिव्याम्बरं।

नाना रत्न विभूषितम्‌ मृग मदामोदांकितम्‌ चंदनम॥

जाती चम्पक बिल्वपत्र रचितं पुष्पं च धूपं तथा।

दीपं देव दयानिधे पशुपते हृत्कल्पितम्‌ गृह्यताम्‌॥१॥

सौवर्णे नवरत्न खंडरचिते पात्र घृतं पायसं।

भक्ष्मं पंचविधं पयोदधि युतं रम्भाफलं पानकम्‌॥

शाका नाम युतं जलं रुचिकरं कर्पूर खंडौज्ज्वलं।

ताम्बूलं मनसा मया विरचितं भक्त्या प्रभो स्वीकुरु॥२॥

छत्रं चामर योर्युगं व्यंजनकं चादर्शकं निर्मलं।

वीणा भेरि मृदंग काहलकला गीतं च नृत्यं तथा॥

साष्टांग प्रणतिः स्तुति-र्बहुविधा ह्येतत्समस्तं ममा।

संकल्पेन समर्पितं तव विभो पूजां गृहाण प्रभो॥३॥

आत्मा त्वं गिरिजा मतिः सहचराः प्राणाः शरीरं गृहं।

पूजा ते विषयोपभोगरचना निद्रा समाधिस्थितिः॥

संचारः पदयोः प्रदक्षिणविधिः स्तोत्राणि सर्वा गिरो।

यद्यत्कर्म करोमि तत्तदखिलं शम्भो तवाराधनम्‌॥४॥

कर चरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम्‌।

विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व जय जय करणाब्धे श्री महादेव शम्भो॥५॥

पूजा समाप्तीनंतर तीर्थ घेतानाचा मंत्र

अकाल मृत्यु हरणं सर्व व्याधि विनाशनम ।

शंकरपदोदकं तीर्थम् जठरे धारयाम्यहम् ॥

Yogic Tradition of Mahashivaratri

Mahashivaratri is also important in Yogic culture. It is a very important night for a Yogi or a performer of Yoga. This night is the night of Shiva who is worshipped as Adiguru or first and original Spiritual teacher and Yogeswara or Lord of the Yogas.

Yogis believe that after many millennia in meditation, one day Lord Shiva became absolutely still. That day is celebrated as Maha Shivratri. Yogis see the night of MahaShivratri as the night of stillness and Any meditation done on this day is a hundred times more effective.

Shivaratri celebration in various parts of India

From north to south, from east to west whole India celebrate the festival of Mahashivaratri with great enthusiasm. All the famous temples and the shrines of 12 jyotirlinga temples flooded with an uncountable number of devotees to became part of the festival and get the blessing of  Lord Shiva.

 Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Celebrate the Festival of Shivaratri with extreme enthusiasm and zill. Devotees assemble in front of the various famous Shiva temples in the state especially Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam. Devotees also observe fast and chant mantras in honor of Lord Shiva to mark the auspicious festival and to surrender themselves to Lord Shiva.

Assam

The main celebration of Shivratri in Assam takes place at the Umananda Temple, which is situated on the Peacock Island in Brahamaputra river in the capital of Assam Guwahati. Thousands of devotees of Mahadev from all over the state assemble there to pay a visit to the temple on this auspecious occasion of Shivaratri. Sibsagar, which was famous for being the capital of Ahom kings, is another major place where Mahashivaratri celebrations takes place grandly in Assam.

Himachal Pradesh

The biggest Shivaratri Puja in the country is hosted by the Temple of Bhutnath at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Every year on the occasion of MahaShivratri Festival, the Governor of the state leads a Shobha Yatra at a function where many state officials and ministers of the state take part. The tradition was started by royal family of Mandi nearly 500 years ago. An eight-day-long fair is also organized for this occasion where lots of artists from India and world participates.

Jammu and Kashmir

Hindus of Kashmir observe Shivaratri with trust and devotion. Here, people celebrate the occasion of Shivratri 21 days. they start the celebration on the first day of the dark fortnight of month of Phalguna (locally known as hur ukdoh) and end on the 8th day of the bright half of Phalguna. Kashmiri Brahmins perform Shivaratri puja on the 13th day of the loner period of Phalguna Krishna Paksha as Lord Shiva′s wedding with his divine consort Parvati who is daughter of king of the mountain the Himalaya. Here Kashmiri Brahmans practically fallows every rituals of marriage and perform the wedding of this divine duo.

Karnataka

Festival of Maha Shivaratri is observed with pomp and enthusiasm in the states of southern India specially in Karnataka. In Karnataka a grand fair called Sri Shidlingappa′s is observed to celebrate the auspicious occasion. Here people take the statue of God is to the river in a palanquin accompanied by drummers for ceremonial dance from several neigh hood and is then worshipped.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh celebrates the festival of Shivaratri with religious fervor. Traditionally, people of Madhya Pradesh take ceremonial dip in Sagar tank of Khajuraho.

In Bundelkhand Region there is a famous Shiva temple, where biggest Shivaratri celebrations of the state takes place. A huge number of Lord Shiva devotees come to Matangeshwar Temple to worship Lord Shiva throughout the night. Here Matangeshwar Temple organize a 10-day-long fair. In this fare lots of traders, peddlers and gypsies participate from various parts of the state..

Orissa

Major places of Shivaratri celebrations in the state of Orissa are Lingaraj Temple and Hakateswar Temple. A special arti takes place in these temples in occasion of Shivaratri. Shiva temples located at Mahendragiri, Gupteswar, Kapilas, Bhubaneswar and Khiching also draw a large number of people as pilgrims from various parts of state as well as country.

Shivaratri celebration at Lokanath Temple, Puri is also famous and popular. There is a folk story says that Lord Ramachandra himself installed the Lingam in the Lokanath Temple. This lingam is kept submerged in water always. only on Pankodhar Ekadasi before Shivaratri the water is removed from the lingaa and people can have darshan of the deity. For darshan thousands of devotees come to the temple in this time.

West Bengal

West Bengal also celebrates the festival of Maha Shivaratri with great devotion and enthusiasm. On Shivaratri, lots of devotees in fast for this festival. The devotees stay awake and chant name of Lord Shiva throughout whole night. The following morning people listen to religious discourses, pray to God, feed and offer dakshina (alms) to Brahmins and after that break their fast with prasad.

In West Bengal Mahashivratri celebrations are mainly occurs in Shiva temples. Maximum Women visit the temple with milk, water, leaves of woodapple tree, wood apple, fruits and flowers and a lamp. Devotees start the puja by bathing Shiva Linga with water mixed with milk, decorate the deity with flowers and garlands, offers fruits and flowers and prey. After finishing their worship they return home and break their fast with fruits.

Shivratri celebration in Nepal

Being a Hindu country Nepal celebrates the festival of Mahashivaratri grandly. It is one of the biggest festivals of this country. Thousands of devotees visit the temple of Pashupatinath of Kathmandu to offer their devotion. They chant Shiva mantra and pray for light over darkness

Shivratri celebration Throughout the world

Mahashivaratri is not only celebrated in India and Nepal. In lots of other countries where there are a significant number of Hindus are present, we can observe the celebration of Shivaratri. Among all these counties there are few countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Srilanka, etc where the celebration of this festival is noticeable.

Why Mahashivratri Is Celebrated?

People believe that the night of Mahashivaratri is a very auspicious day and favorite of Lord Shiva. They think that if anyone worships Lord Shiva with a pure heart and true devotion then they will be free from their sins and Karma and get Nirvana or Moksha.

It says that if any married woman prays to Lord Shiva in Mahashivaratri they get blessings of blissful married life while unmarried girls get blessing of a good husband. 

Why people celebrate Shivaratri at the night?

Maximum of Hindu the festival is celebrated in the day but Shivaratri is one of those rare exception which are celebrated at night?

It is said that once one poor tribal man accidentally worshiped Lord Shiva whole night and Shiva was pleased with that so people celebrate this festival at night.

There is one more belief that it is the darkest night of the season that’s the reason people worship the God who wears crescent moon in his head the whole night in this hope that next day moon will come and take away the darkness of night.  

Mahashivratri special dress

Generally, people wear new clothes in Shivaratri. There are not any specific dress code but people chose to wear traditional dress for this festival.

MahaShivratri special food:

Many devoted people choose to keep Nirjala vrat or a fast without any food and water but this is quite a taught and difficult. So many people choose to have some fruits, milk and few certain vegetables and simple non-grain food without much spice like Potatoes, Non-Cereal Dishes, Milk-Based Beverages And Desserts, Fruits and Dry Fruits etc. 

The special beverage of Shivaratri is Thandai.

Maha shivaratri wishes

1.   A day when positivity wins over negativity! Har Har Mahadeva, Happy Maha Shivratri 2022!

2.    May Shiva favors you with great wellbeing, joy and success, Om Namah Shivay!

3.    Celebrate Mahashivratri, the festival of Lord Shiva spread the message of honesty and love through this world on this day when Lord Shiva descended on this earth to kill evil.

4.    Lord Shiva fills into us his divine blessings and gives us solidarity to move forward with truth, purity, and divinity. A happy Maha Shivaratri to all. Har Har Mahadev!

5.    May Lord Shiva answers all your prayers and his blessings always be with you. Happy Maha Shivaratri 2022

 to you!

Maha shivratri quotes

Om Namah Shivay! May the blessings of Lord Shiva remain with you and your family. Happy Mahashivaratri.

May Shiva bless you with patience and a good pure heart to see good in everything! Happy Maha Shivratri

Let’s spend the night of Shivratri by chanting the name of Lord Shiva seek His divine blessings and surrender ourselves to Mahadev.

Mahashivaratri 2023 Date and Time:

Mahashivaratri 2023 will be celebrated on Saturday, 18 February 2023.

Timings of the puja is given below.  

Nishita Kaal Puja Time - 12:16 AM to 01:0 AM, Feb 19

Duration -  00 Hours 50 Mins

On 2nd Mar, Shivaratri Parana Time - 06:57 AM to 09:32 PM

Ratri First Prahar Puja Time -06:13 PM to 09:24 PM

Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time - 09:24 PM to 12:35 AM, Feb 19

Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time - 12:35 AM to 03:46 AM, Feb 19

Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time - 03:46 AM to 06:56 AM, Feb 19

Chaturdashi Tithi Begins - 08:02 PM on Feb 18, 2023

Chaturdashi Tithi Ends -  04:18 PM on Feb 19, 2023

(Reference: drikpanchang.com)

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