Maha-Shiva Ratri
Maha-Shiva Ratri, (Sanskrit: “The Great Night of Shiva”) is the most important festival of the year for worshipers of the Hindu god Shiva. The 14 days of the dark half of each month are sacred to Shiva, both when it occurs in the month of Magha (January-February) and, to a lesser extent, in the month of Phalguna (February-March), he. is a special day of joy.
In the past, the follower fasts and at night stays awake during the special worship of the lingam (symbol of Shiva). The next day is celebrated with feasts, celebrations and, among the Lingayat sect of South India, making offerings to gurus (personal spiritual guides).
Every year, Maha Shivratri is celebrated with great gaiety. It is considered a special time of the year as millions of people celebrate this important festival with great enthusiasm and joy. Devotees of Lord Shiva celebrate this event with great pomp. It is accompanied by folk songs, songs, prayers, chants, mantras, etc.
This year, the auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on February 18. People fast during this time, stay awake at night and pray to the Lord for blessings, happiness, hope and progress. This observance is very important and discuss one of the most important festivities in India.
Maha-Shiva Ratri 2023: date and time
The festival is celebrated on Chaturdashi Tithi, which falls on Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha, according to the Drik Panchang. This year, Mahashivratri will be celebrated on February 18, 2023, Saturday. On February 18 at 8:02 pm, Chaturdashi Tithi will begin and will last until February 19 at 4:18 pm. The first Ratri Prahar Puja is scheduled on February 18 from 6:13 pm and will continue till 9:24 pm.
Meaning and belief
It is believed that Lord Shiva blesses those who fast on Maha Shivratri and cleanses them of all their past sins and mistakes. This special festival is celebrated with great reverence, prayers and celebrations.
On the day, a wrathful person takes sacred place in the beach and provides puja and pumps and milk. They are also part of the festival of dancing and all the music that has been brought as Jass.
The story of Maha Shivratri
According to a famous story, when a hunter cannot find anything to kill for food in the forest, he waits for an apple tree branch. To attract the deer, he started throwing the leaves of the tree on the ground, not knowing that there was a Shiva Lingam under the tree. Admiring the Woodapple leaves and the hunter’s patience, it is believed that Lord Shiva appeared before the hunter and blessed him with wisdom. From that day on, the hunter stopped eating meat.
Some legends also consider it as Shiva’s day, as it is believed to be the answer given by Lord Shiva when Goddess Parvati asked him about his favorite day. Another belief behind the Shivratri festival is linked to the legend of Samudramanthan.
It is said that on this day, Lord Shiva drank a deadly poison, which could destroy the entire world. In the past, devas (gods) and asuras (demons) created oceans of milk. During the commotion, many things came out of the sea. One of these things is a pot of poison. The poison has the power to destroy the universe, which terrifies the devas (gods) and asuras (demons).
To ask for help, they ran to Lord Shiva, the Lord of Destruction. Lord Shiva, in order to save the universe from the deadly effect of the poison, swallowed it. This action caused Lord Shiva’s throat to turn blue, giving him the name “Nilkantha”. To celebrate Lord Shiva, Shivaratri is celebrated. Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus in India.
People usually fast on the night of Shivratri and sing in praise of Lord Shiva. Hindu temples across the city are decorated with lights and decorations, and people are seen offering nightly prayers to the Shiva Lingam. Apple leaves, cold water and milk are offered to the Shiva Lingam on this day, as they are believed to be the favorite of Lord Shiva.
People fast on this night and pray to Lord Shiva as it is believed that he will bring good luck in their life. The most popular Maha Shivratri festival takes place in Ujjain, which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. A huge procession is held throughout the city, where people flock to the streets to catch a glimpse of the revered idol of Lord Shiva.
Tradition
Very early in the morning, the temples of Shiva are flocked by devotees, young and old, who come to perform the traditional worship of Shivalinga (puja) and thus hope for the favors of the god. Devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganges, or any other source of holy water (such as the Shiva Sagartank in Khajurao).
It is a rite of purification, which is an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing clean clothes after the sacred bath, devotees carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. Both women and men pray to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple rings bells and shouts “Shankerji ki Jai” which means “Greetings to Shiva”.
Devotees walk around the lingam three or seven times and pour water over it. Some even pour milk over it. Throughout the day, devotees fast, chanting the holy Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”, offering flowers and incense to the Lord for the sound of temple bells. They stay up late at night, staying awake to listen to stories, songs and chants. The fast is not broken until the next morning, after the night prayer. In Kashmir, this festival is celebrated for 15 days. The 13th day is celebrated as the next family fasting day.
