Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in honor of Lord Shiva. This is the day when Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. Mahashivratri festival, also known as ‘Shivratri’, marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during the Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha is known as Mahashivratri according to the South Indian calendar. However, according to the North Indian calendar, the monthly Shivaratri in the month of Falgun is known as Mahashivratri.
In both the calendars it is the naming convention of the lunar month which is different. However, both North Indians and South Indians celebrate Mahashivratri on the same day. Out of the twelve Shivratri in the year, Maha Shivratri is the most sacred.
Legends indicate that the day is a favorite of Lord Shiva and also highlights his greatness and the supremacy of Lord Shiva over all other Hindu gods and goddesses.
Mahashivratri also celebrates the night when Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the cosmic dance in
Honor of Shiva, one of the Hindu trinity, represents the destructive aspect in the universe. Although generally, nighttime is considered sacred and suitable for worshiping the ‘female aspect of the deity’ and day time for ‘masculine’, Shiva is worshiped during the nighttime on this special occasion. is, and indeed, it is specially ordered to be observed then. The observance of the fast is believed to secure immunity for the devotee from the effects of a sin committed either wittily or unintentionally. The night is divided into four quarters, each quarter going by the name of a Jama which is also known as Yama and the holy people stay awake during each one of it, worshiping God.
The festival is mainly celebrated by offerings of bael leaves to Shiva, fasting throughout the day, and vigil (jagaran) all night. Throughout the day, devotees chant the holy mantra of Shiva “Om Namah Shivaya”. In the practice of yoga and meditation, penance is performed to obtain boons, so that the highest good of life can be reached faster and faster. On this day, planetary positions in the Northern Hemisphere act as powerful catalysts to help a person increase their spiritual energy more easily. The benefits of powerful ancient Sanskrit mantras like Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra greatly increase on this night.
How Mahashivratri is celebrated
According to Shiva Purana, six items are considered precious to be worshiped and offered to Lord Shiva during Mahashivratri.
These six items include beel fruit, vermilion paste (sandalwood), food items (Prasad), incense, lamp (diya), betel leaves.
1) Beel Leaf (Marmelos Leaf) – The offering of Beel Leaf represents the purification of the soul.
2) Vermilion paste (Sandalwood) – Applying sandalwood on Shiva Linga after washing the linga represents good attribute. Sandalwood is an integral part of the worship of Lord Shiva.
3) Food items – Food items like rice and fruits are offered to the Lord to ensure long life and fulfillment of desires.
4) Dhoop (incense stick) – Incense sticks are lit in front of Lord Shiva to be blessed with wealth and prosperity.
5) Deepak (Diyo) – Lighting of cotton handmade wicks, lamps or diyas is considered helpful for attaining knowledge.
6) Betel leaves (Paan ko Patta) – Beetle leaves or betel leaves represent satisfaction with maturity.
The Shiva Purana says, the beat of the damru revealed the first seven letters of the music. These notes are also the source of the language. Shiva is the inventor of the notes of Sangeet Sa, Re, Ga, Ma Pa, Dha, Ni. He is also worshiped on his birthday as the inventor of the language.
The Shiva Linga is washed with Pancha Kavya (a mixture of five cow products) and Panchamitra (a mixture of five sweet things). Pancha Kavya consists of cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee. Panchamrit consists of cow’s milk, curd, honey, sugar and ghee.
The Shiva Linga is placed in front of the Kalash (medium-sized vessel with short neck) filled with mixed water and milk. The neck of the Kalash is tied with white and red cloth. Flowers, mango leaves, peepal leaves, betel leaves are kept inside the kalash. Mantras are chanted for the worship of Lord Shiva.
