Legends of Shivratri

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According to a legend in the Ramayana, King Bhagirath once left his

kingdom to meditate for the salvation of the souls of his ancestors.

He observed a penance to Brahma for a thousand years, requesting

Ganga to come down to earth from heaven. He wanted her to wash over

his ancestor's ashes to release them from a curse and allow them to

go to heaven. Brahma granted his wish but told him to pray to Shiva,

who alone could sustain the weight of her descent. Accordingly,

Ganga descended on Shiva's head, and after meandering through his

thick matted locks, reached the earth. According to a modified

version, what reached the earth was just sprinkles from his hair.

This story is re-enacted by bathing the linga. The love of water,

the primary element of life, is also remembered in this ritualistic

action.

 

According to another legend in the Shiva Purana, once Brahma and

Vishnu were fighting over who was the superior of the two. Horrified

at the intensity of the battle, the other gods asked Shiva to

intervene. To make them realize the futility of their fight, Shiva

assumed the form of a huge column of fire in between Brahma and

Vishnu. Awestruck by its magnitude, they decided to find one end

each to establish supremacy over the other. Brahma assumed the form

of a swan and went upwards and Vishnu as Varaha went into the earth.

Nevertheless, light has no limit and though they searched for

thousands of miles, neither could find the end. On his journey

upwards, Brahma came across a ketaki flower wafting down slowly.

When asked where she had come from, the ketaki replied that she had

been placed at the top of the fiery column as an offering. Unable to

find the uppermost limit, Brahma decided to end his search and take

the flower as a witness. At this, the angry Shiva revealed his true

form. He punished Brahma for telling a lie, and cursed him that no

one would ever pray to him. The ketaki flower too was banned from

being used as an offering for any worship, as she had testified

falsely. Since it was on the 14th day in the dark half of the month

of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a

linga, the day is especially auspicious and is celebrated as Maha

Shivratri. Worshipping Shiva on this day is believed to bestow one

with happiness and prosperity.

 

There is another possible reason for the origin of the all-night

worship. Maha Shivratri being a moonless night, people worship the

god who wears the crescent moon as an adornment in his hair, Shiva.

This was probably to ensure that the moon rose the next night.

 

According to one myth, Parvati performed tapas, prayed, and

meditated on this day to ward off any evil that may befall her

husband on the moonless night.

 

******* SHUBH MAHASHIVRATRI *******

May Lord Shiva bless us all with peace, happiness, love, luck,

wisdom, health, prosperity & wealth.

 

OM Sarva Mangal Manglye

 

Source: http://www.123mahashivratri.com/