Wish you all a very HAPPY MAHA SHIVRATRI 2016 in advance!
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 Calender 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.
Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in month of Magha is known as Maha Shivaratri according to South Indian calendar. However according to North Indian calendar Masik Shivaratri in month of Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. In both calendars it is naming convention of lunar month which differs. However both, North Indians and South Indians, celebrate Maha Shivaratri on same day.
Vrat Vidhi – One day before Shivaratri Vratam, most likely on Trayodashi, devotees should eat only one time. On Shivaratri day, after finishing morning rituals devotees should take Sankalp (संकल्प) to observe full day fast on Shivaratri and to take food next day. During Sankalp devotees pledge for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seek blessing of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Hindu fasts are strict and people pledge for self-determination and seek God blessing before starting them to finish them successfully.
On Shivaratri day devotees should take second bath in the evening before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple. Shiva Puja should be done during night and devotees should break the fast next day after taking bath. Devotees should break the fast between sunrise and before the end of Chaturdashi Tithi to get maximum benefit of the Vrat. According to one contradictory opinion devotees should break the fast only when Chaturdashi Tithi gets over. But it is believed that both Shiva Puja and Parana (पारणा) i.e. breaking the fast should be done within Chaturdashi Tithi.
Shivaratri puja can be performed one time or four times during the night. The whole night duration can be divided into four to get four Prahar (प्रहर) to perform Shiva Puja four times. Drikpanchang.com lists all four Prahar durations for staunch Shiva devotees who perform Shiva Pujan four times in the night. We also list Nishita time when Lord Shiva appeared on the Earth in the form of Linga and the time window to break the fast on next day.
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.
Source: World Hindu News (WHN) Article by: Ayathuray Rajasingam,
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