Mahashivaratri

Mahashivaratri Festival:

Mahashivaratri fair or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is famous with attachment and spiritual fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the original moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees examine day and night quickly and achieve ceremony worship of Shiva Lingam to conciliate Lord Shiva.

Legends of Mahashivratri:

Present are different attractive legends connected to the event of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the mainly well-liked myths, Shivaratri script the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Several suppose that it was on the positive night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal construction, protection and devastation. A further accepted Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifest himself in the form of a Linga. Therefore the day is measured to be enormously favorable by Shiva devotees and they rejoice it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.

Traditions and Customs of Shivaratri:

Different society and customs connected to Shivaratri Festival are dutifully followed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe severe quick in honor of Shiva, although many go on a diet of fruits and milk a little do not eat still a drop of water. Devotees strongly consider that honest worship of Lord Shiva on the favorable day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death. Shivaratri is measured mainly favorable for women. Even as married women request for the well individual of their husband’s unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal husband.

To mark the Shivratri festival, devotees wake up untimely and take a custom bath, rather in river Ganga. After wearing bright new clothes devotees vacation the adjoining Shiva temple to give service bath to the Shiva Lingum with milk, honey, water etc.

On Shivaratri, devotion of Lord Shiva continue all during the day and night. Each three hours priests execute ceremony 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 practical in Shiva temples where large numeral of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in admire of Lord Shiva. It is only on the following morning that devotee fracture their fast by contribution prasad existing to the goddess.