VandeMataram
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Maha Shivratri is one of the major Hindu festivals, celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon in the month of Phalgun according to Hindu calendar. This festival is dedicated to worshiping Lord Shiva, “The God of Destruction”. This festival is celebrated in every part of country with great zeal and fervor.
About Lord Shivā
One of the trinity of Hindu religion, Lord Shivā is the God of Destruction and is also known as Parmeshwar, which means “The Supreme God”. Lord Shivā is known by several names, which include Bholenath, Mahesh and Mahadev. Lord Shivā is named as Pashupati which means the Lord of all living beings either it is humans, devas, asuras or any creatures. He is deemed as the Supreme power by the followers of Shaivism, which is one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. hiva is also regarded as the patron god of yoga and arts. Lord Shivā is usually worshiped in the anionic form of Lingam. Although, most of the legends state that he has no form and the highest level is transcendent, infinite and ageless. However, with time people have given him form and have iconized him with attributes like a third eye on his forehead, a snake around his neck, the crescent moon adorning and the river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the trishula as his weapon and the damaru as his instrument. It is depicted that he is a an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati and two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. He is also depicted as the Celestial Dancer. The worship of Lord Shivā was prevalent even during the pre-Vedic time and has resemblance with the Vedic God Rudra.
Significance of Maha Shivratri
Festival of Mahashivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, there are so many stories behind the origin of this festival. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most. According to some other legends, devas and demons tried to get amrit by churning the ocean of milk. While this churning procedure they got so many other things including the poison named Kalakuta. To save the universe from this poison, Lord Shiva swallowed it without spilling a single drop. Lord Shiva has a dark blue mark on his throat because of this poison. All Gods worshiped and praised Lord Shiva to save the world.
Even today, devotees of Lord Shiva perform the ritual worship of Shivratri with devotion. They observe day and night fast and give sacred bath to Shiva Linga with honey, milk, water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity pardons a devotee’s past sins. The devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shivā and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death and attains Mokshā or salvation.
Maha Shivratri Celebration
Shivaratri celebrations in India are marked with dedication and religious fervor. Joy is injunction large on the faces of millions of Lord Shivā devotees as they start preparing for the biggest Lord Shivā festival in advance. Celebrations of Shivaratri begin with the break of dawn on the Shivratri day and continue all throughout the night. Devotees observe fast and spend the day in devotion and worship of Lord Shiva. Many worshippers also participate in the jaagran or the night vigil organized in various Shiva temples across the country. Devotees believe that sincere observance of Shivaratri puja and all night worship of Lord Shiva will absolve them of all their sins and liberate them from the cycle of birth and death. On Shivaratri, married and unmarried women perform puja with great faith, as Goddess Parvati who is also called 'Gaura', is regarded as the giver of 'suhag' - good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life. One can therefore see find women enthusiastically observing the fast and performing the rituals Shiva Pujas on the day. This festival has a tradition of drinking thandai, which is a drink made with bhang (cannabis), almonds, and milk, is essentially drunk by the devout on the day as cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva.
About Lord Shivā
One of the trinity of Hindu religion, Lord Shivā is the God of Destruction and is also known as Parmeshwar, which means “The Supreme God”. Lord Shivā is known by several names, which include Bholenath, Mahesh and Mahadev. Lord Shivā is named as Pashupati which means the Lord of all living beings either it is humans, devas, asuras or any creatures. He is deemed as the Supreme power by the followers of Shaivism, which is one of the three most influential denominations in Hinduism. hiva is also regarded as the patron god of yoga and arts. Lord Shivā is usually worshiped in the anionic form of Lingam. Although, most of the legends state that he has no form and the highest level is transcendent, infinite and ageless. However, with time people have given him form and have iconized him with attributes like a third eye on his forehead, a snake around his neck, the crescent moon adorning and the river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the trishula as his weapon and the damaru as his instrument. It is depicted that he is a an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati and two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. He is also depicted as the Celestial Dancer. The worship of Lord Shivā was prevalent even during the pre-Vedic time and has resemblance with the Vedic God Rudra.
Significance of Maha Shivratri
Festival of Mahashivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, there are so many stories behind the origin of this festival. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most. According to some other legends, devas and demons tried to get amrit by churning the ocean of milk. While this churning procedure they got so many other things including the poison named Kalakuta. To save the universe from this poison, Lord Shiva swallowed it without spilling a single drop. Lord Shiva has a dark blue mark on his throat because of this poison. All Gods worshiped and praised Lord Shiva to save the world.
Even today, devotees of Lord Shiva perform the ritual worship of Shivratri with devotion. They observe day and night fast and give sacred bath to Shiva Linga with honey, milk, water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity pardons a devotee’s past sins. The devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shivā and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death and attains Mokshā or salvation.
Maha Shivratri Celebration
Shivaratri celebrations in India are marked with dedication and religious fervor. Joy is injunction large on the faces of millions of Lord Shivā devotees as they start preparing for the biggest Lord Shivā festival in advance. Celebrations of Shivaratri begin with the break of dawn on the Shivratri day and continue all throughout the night. Devotees observe fast and spend the day in devotion and worship of Lord Shiva. Many worshippers also participate in the jaagran or the night vigil organized in various Shiva temples across the country. Devotees believe that sincere observance of Shivaratri puja and all night worship of Lord Shiva will absolve them of all their sins and liberate them from the cycle of birth and death. On Shivaratri, married and unmarried women perform puja with great faith, as Goddess Parvati who is also called 'Gaura', is regarded as the giver of 'suhag' - good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life. One can therefore see find women enthusiastically observing the fast and performing the rituals Shiva Pujas on the day. This festival has a tradition of drinking thandai, which is a drink made with bhang (cannabis), almonds, and milk, is essentially drunk by the devout on the day as cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva.
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