Guest guest Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Shivaratri is celebrated on the 6th night of the dark Phalgun (Feb or March) every year. On the auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava'. It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati. On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves on Shiva Linga. Pujas are conducted in Lord Shiva temples to commemorate the festival. According to the Shiva Purana, special pujas should be conducted every three hours, through the day of Mahashivratri. A significant part of the pujas is Abhisheks, wherein milk, yogurt, water, ghee, sugar and honey are poured over Shiva Linga. Celebrations of Maha Shivaratri mainly take place during the night, when the devotees would sing bhajans and chant mantras of the name of the Almighty. The devotees would be awake for the entire night of Mahashivratri, to show their devotion to the deity. Sendha namak (rock salt) is used to make recipes for the day. This year Shivarati falls on 12th February. http://www.mahashivratri.org/ Padmashri Sampathkumar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 Namaste! I remembered something of this from the Sundarya Lahari SivaH SaktyA yukto yadi bhavati SaktaH prabhavitum na ced evam devo na khalu kuSalaH spanditum api; atas tvAm ArAdhyAm Hari-Hara_ViriNcAdibhir api praNantum stotum vA katham akRta-puNyaH prabhavati United with Sakti, Siva is endowed with the power to create the univers. Otherwise, He is incapable even of movement. Therefore, who except those endowed with great merits acquired in the past can be fortunate enough to salute or praise Thee, Mother Divine, who art the adored of even Hari, Hara and VriNci? In some of the commentary that follows this really touched my heart: " 'Being is a fiction if it is without Will, and Will a fancy if it is without Being. In their 'togetherness' the mighty universe of of Becoming comes into existence.' " Thank you for reminding me of this! blessings, pr , Padmashri Sampathkumar <padmashri_sampathkumar wrote: > > Shivaratri is celebrated on the 6th night of the dark Phalgun (Feb or March) every year. On the auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava'. It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati. On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves on Shiva Linga. > Pujas are conducted in Lord Shiva temples to commemorate the festival. According to the Shiva Purana, special pujas should be conducted every three hours, through the day of Mahashivratri. A significant part of the pujas is Abhisheks, wherein milk, yogurt, water, ghee, sugar and honey are poured over Shiva Linga. Celebrations of Maha Shivaratri mainly take place during the night, when the devotees would sing bhajans and chant mantras of the name of the Almighty. The devotees would be awake for the entire night of Mahashivratri, to show their devotion to the deity. Sendha namak (rock salt) is used to make recipes for the day. > This year Shivarati falls on 12th February. > > http://www.mahashivratri.org/ > > Padmashri Sampathkumar > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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