As the Hindu world gets set to celebrate Maha Shivratri (literally translated as "The Great Night Of Lord Shiva), we here at www.panditbhisham.com would like to give you some information on this holy night. You can continue on to our main page here if you do not wish to read this. If you have any questions about Lord Shiva, you can e-mail them here.
While reading and understanding the information on this page, I invite you to listen to the chanting of the beautiful Maha Mahamritunjaya Mantra, which is said to be able to relieve one from all ill effects, bestow good health and ward off untimely death. If for whatever reason, you do not wish to listen to themantra, you can click on the "stop" button.
Now onto the information
There are many legends (or stories or kathas) associated with this night. We should most emphatically state here, that Maha Shivratri is NOT the birthnight of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva as one of the primary triumvirate, was never born. he was manifested. Hence, this night is called Maha Shivratri, as opposed to Ram Naumi, which translates to The birth of Shi Ram. Maha Shivratri is celebrated or rather observed on the 14th night of the dark half of the Hindu month of Phalgun which corresponds on the gregorian(western) calender between February and March. For the exact day and time, please consult your local pandit. We will now give two of the most common Kathas associated with this most auspicious occasion in a shortened version.
There was once a great battle in the heavenly regions between the Asuras(demons) and the Devas(Gods), during which the Devas faltered and grew weak. They were advised to form an alliance with the Asuras to churn the ocean and obtain the divine amrit, which would replenish their strength. During the churning process, a deadly poison arose, which threatened to engulf the entire world. Bhagwan Shiva, in his divine grace and compassion, drank the poison but held it in his throat. The poison was so deadly that it turned his throat blue, thus earning him the name, Neelakanth(blue throated). This poiseon also created an intense heat in his body and the Devas bathed Him with milk to cool Him down. Thus the symbolic bathing of the Lingam with Milk
There was once a poor man who lived in a rural part of ancient India. He was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. One day he went deep into the forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals. Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched among the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay awake, he decided to pluck one leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake. The tree happened to be a bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship pleased Lord Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This story is also recited on Mahashivaratri in different versions by devotees during their fast.
Observance of this religious occasion usually begins from the time a devotee awakes on the moring. He abstains from cooked, salted food for the entire day eating only fruits. Some devotees even abstain from fruits and choose to drink water only. At night, there is the observance of the four "prahars". These are basically four time divisions of three hours each. 6pm to 9pm, 9pm to midnight, midnight to 3am and 3am to 6am. During each prahar the Shiva Lingam is bathed with different items each time to the acompaniment of mantras. Devotees gather at temples to chant bhajans, stotrams and mantras. The Rudri is sometimes chanted on this night as well.
For further details on shivratri you can email us here. Visit a temple close to you for this holy occasion, or you can visit ours if you are in the vicinity.
