Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. This festival has a very important significance in Hindu Mythology. It is believed that devotees who sincerely worship Lord Shiva on this auspicious day, perform poojas, chant Vedic mantras, practice sadhana and meditation are bestowed with a sense of peace and inwardness and absolved from their past karmas and sins.
When does it happen
The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon is known as Shivratri. But once a year in late winter (February/March, or phalgun) and before the arrival of summer, is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri which also means “The Great Night of Shiva”.
Significance of MahaShivratri
According to Sadguru (Isha foundation), “On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. It is to make use of this, that in this tradition, we established a certain festival which is nightlong. To allow this natural upsurge of energies to find their way, one of the fundamentals of this nightlong festival is to ensure that you remain awake with your spine vertical throughout the night.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Art of living) explains, “Ratri means ‘night’ and also ‘to take refuge.’ Shivratri is the night we take refuge in our spirit i.e., Shiva. It is the time to celebrate the soul or consciousness within. During Mahashivratri, we practice sadhana and take refuge in the divine consciousness. There are two ways to do this: meditation (sadhana) and surrender. Surrender is having the faith that there is a divine power that is taking care of us. Sadhana and surrender bring peace and solace to us and help us to experience the true significance of Mahashivratri.”
Rituals of Shivratri
“Om Namah Shivaya” is the chant that is repeated by the devotees several times during the day. Chanting the name of the Lord (Naam jap) for a long period of time purifies the mind and heart. It also destroys the past negative karmas or sins. Then love for the Lord develops in a pure heart.
Shiva lingam is given a special bath with milk, yoghurt, honey, sandalwood paste and rose water. Puja, meditation and chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ accompany the ritual bath. Following the bath, vermilion paste is applied on the Linga. Leaves of bale/wood apple tree are used for Shiva Puja. Ber or jujube fruit and Beetle leaves are a special offering to the God on this day.
According to Hindu mythology, observance of Mahashivratri Vrat(fast) with discipline helps a devotee to control the two great natural forces that afflict a man, rajas guna (the quality of passionate activity) and tamas guna (the quality of inertia). According to Shiva Purana, if a devotee observes this fast with sincerity, pure devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Every year devotees observe Maha Shivaratri fast with devotion and sincerity. Though many go on a diet of fruits and milk, some do not consume even a drop of water all throughout the day and night of this Shivratri festival.
