The auspicious day of Maha Shivratri is a dedicated day of worship to Lord Shiva. It is observed in the month of Maagh or Phalguna (February or March). It is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu Calendar which is actually the 14th night of the new moon. On this special day of Lord Shiva, the planetary positions in the Northern hemisphere region act as a potent catalyst to help a people raise their spiritual energy with ease.
Maha Shivratri means the ‘the great night of Shiva’. This day is decorated by singing of ancient Vedic mantras along with showering the Shiva Linga with milk, curd, honey, and water, etc. They also offers flowers, coins, gifts and Bilva leaves (Bel-pattar) in the feet of the deity. The whole act of spirituality is known as Rudhabhishekam.
For the sake of fruitful blessings of Lord Shiva, the devotee does fasting for 24 hours alongwith sleepless celebration during night. As Lord Shiva is considered to be the first Yogi deity, the devotees also spend time in deep meditation chanting the Maha Mantra ‘Om Namah Shivay’.
At Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal, there are thousands of Hindus that attends Maha Shivaratri together from various parts of the world. Shiva Shakti Peetha is also the place of active participation by Hindus in the name of Lord.
In addition to this, chanting of most powerful and effective Shiva Mantra goes more efficient on this night. It is the ‘Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra’:
ॐत्र्यम्बकंयजामहेसुगन्धिंपुष्टिवर्धनम्।
उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनात्मृत्योर्मुक्षीयमामृतात्।।
Maha Shivratri Meaning:
Oh God, OM. We worship the Three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and who nourishes and nurtures all beings. As is the ripened is freed from its bondage, so, free us from death for the sake of immortality.
The Origin of Maha Shivratri Celebration
The Puranas and epics contain various stories describing the origin of this Indian festival. It is rather very significant for the people who are on the spiritual track. In the yogic tradition, Lord Shiva is not worshipped as a God rather; he is considered the Aadi Guru, the one who is the origination of knowledge.
It is majorly considered that on this special day, Lord Shiva married Devi Parvati. Thus, the union of Shiva and Shakti altogether was a start of incredible forces to Universe.
It is also believed that on this day, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Shiv Linga & hence, people started worshipping the day as Maha Shivratri.
Another mythological story behind the day is about Samudra Manthan when the pot of poison appeared from the sea. The gods and the demons got worried as the whole world along with them will be destroyed with this poison. Hence, they went to Lord Shiva to save the world. In return, the kind God drank all the poison for the sake of people and stored it in his throat instead of taking it inside. Hence, his throat turned blue & he was named as NeelKantha Mahadev. In regards to this, Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the day when Lord Shiva saved the world.
