HAPPY MAHASHIVRATRI - Spiritual Significance of Mahashivratri and legends associated with it

MahaShivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. According to many Vedic scriptures including Shiva Purana, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when His consort Parvati asked Him as to which ritual performed by His devotees pleases Him the most.

There are a number of popular legends related to the auspicious festival of Mahashivaratri. These legends of Shivaratri explain the popular custom of staying awake all night on Shivaratri while chanting the name of Lord Shiva. Besides, these also throw light on the greatness of Lord Shiva and his supremacy over all other Hindu Gods and Goddesses. An attempt has been made to provide a brief description of these fascinating legends related to Lord Shiva.

1.      Mahashivratri is celebrated as a day on which Lord Shiva married Maa Parvati

2.      During the Sagar Manthan by the gods and demons, haalaa-hala, a pot of poison also came out of the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was so toxic that it effects would have wiped out the entire creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, Gods approached Lord Shiva for help and protection as only he could swallow it without being affected. On the request of gods and out of compassion for living beings, Lord Shiva drank the poison. he poison was so potent that it changed the color of Lord Mahadeva’s neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakantha (the blue-necked one) where ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kantha’ means neck or throat. The impact of poison started to be shown on Lord Shiva and to keep him awake during night, devatas took turn performing various dances and playing music. As the day broke out, Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion blessed them all. Maha Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world. Since then, on this day and night - devotees fast, keep vigil, sing glories of Lord and meditate.

3.      The legend of Shiva Linga is deeply related to Mahashivaratri. The legend narrates the story of vain search by Brahma and Vishnu to discover the Aadi (beginning) and the Antha (end) of Lord Shiva. The legend thus proves the supremacy of Lord Mahadeva over other Hindu Gods and explains why the lingam is believed to be one of the most potent emblems in Hindu ideals. The story is stated in the three of the puranas - the Kurma Purana, the Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana

4.      According to some legends, Ganga descended on earth from Lord Shiva’s hair on this day. This is the reason that bathing Shiva Linga with ganga water and taking dip in holy river is considered as auspicious on this day.

5.      Lord Shiva Himself has said in Shiva Purana that Shivratri day is His favorite day and that is why Lord Shiva is worshipped by offering bel leaves, water, milk, honey to his form of Shivalinga.

The spiritual significance of Maha Shivratri lies in effort taken by the devotee to know Shiva Tatva. Shiva Tatva is present in each of us. Shivratri is an opportunity to know this Shiva Tatva by praying, meditating, and by keeping vigil at night. This leads us to a stage of awareness where we witness our actions and thought process. In the night of Shivratri, the presence of Shiva Tatva helps us in getting a jump into unknown which opens the mysteries of universe for us.

Shivaratri puja can be performed one time or four times during the night. The whole night duration can be divided into four to get four Prahar to perform Shiva Puja four times.

Ratri First Prahar Puja Time = 18:13 to 21:23
Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time = 21:23 to 24:33/00:33
Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time = 00:33 to 3:44
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time = 3:44 to 6:54

How to worship Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati during this Mahashivratri

On this festival of Mahashivaratri, you can follow Shiva Purana and incorporate the following six items while worshipping Lord Shiva:
1. Bathe the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey, and Wood apple or bel leaves added to it, representing purification of the soul;
2. The vermilion paste applied on the Shiv Linga after bathing it, represents virtue;
3. Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
4. Burning incense, yielding wealth;
5. The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
6. And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

On this pious occasion of Mahashivaratri, many many greetings to all of you.

May Lord Shiva shower on you His blessings with happiness, prosperity & peace.