Mahashivaratri Day

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Every best wish to all our Members on this auspicious Mahashivaratri Day.

 

May the grace and love of Sri Bhagavan, for ever in his formless form, dwelling

eternally in our hearts, shower blessings on us all.

 

Alan

 

Mahashivaratri Festival

 

Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with

devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of

Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in

the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February - March

in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day

and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva.

 

Legends of Mahashivratri

 

There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha

Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the

wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the

auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the

dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular

Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that

Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is

considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as

Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.

 

Traditions and Customs of Shivaratri

Various traditions and customs related to Shivaratri Festival are dutifully

followed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe strict fast in honor

of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a

drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on

the auspicious day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him

from the cycle of birth and death. Shivaratri is considered especially

auspicious for women. While married women pray for the well being of their

husbands unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as

the ideal husband.

 

To mark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath,

preferably in river Ganga. After wearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the

nearest Shiva temple to give ritual bath to the Shiva Lingum with milk, honey,

water etc.

 

On Shivaratri, worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the day and night.

Every three hours priests perform ritual pooja of Shivalingam by bathing it with

milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water amidst the chanting of “Om Namah

Shivaya’ and ringing of temple bells. Nightlong vigil or jaagran is also

observed in Shiva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing

hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva. It is only on the following

morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.