Mahashivratri – the most sacred and auspicious festival that celebrates Lord Shiva. Discover the glorious day and how to celebrate it at home
Mahashivratri – “The great night of Lord Shiva” is here. First, on this sacred Hindu festival, do accept Mahashivratri wishes from us – may you be blessed with auspiciousness at your home and love in your life. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped god among Hindus, as Shiva in Sanskrit means the “Auspicious One”. People also call him as, “Mahesh”, “Shankara”, “Shambhu”, etc. Well known as “The Destroyer”, Lord Shiva holds an essential position in trinity which includes “Brahma” and “Vishnu”.
You know the culture of India is one of the most traditional ones, especially for the celebration of festivals. Here we have many diverse religions and customs. The festival if Lord Shiva is one of the most significant celebrations in India. Let’s explore more about this glorious day and how we can celebrate it at our home.
Mahashivratri festival
Mahashivratri is the most auspicious day for Hindus. As per Hindu calendar, people celebrate the festival on the new moon day in the month of Maagha. Devotees of Lord Shiva worship him with much zeal and enthusiasm, across the country and also the globe. During the festival, people practice sadhana and seek the divine blessings of the lord.
The festival of Mahashivratri celebrates the presence of Lord Shiva and his limitless power and divine energies. Shiva symbolizes truth, peace, beauty, and infinity. Most importantly, the lord represents the soul. Lord Shiva is responsible for energy which is present not only in living beings but also in non-living things. And hence we celebrate this day and dedicate it in lovely memory of lord Shiva, and celebrate his existence.
Lord Shiva’s devotees celebrate the festival of Mahashivratri in India and across the world. The people in India observe the holy day with great devotion and respect. Apart from India, some of the countries which worship Lord Shiva on this special day include Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. People of Tobago, Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad also celebrate this auspicious day.
On the day of Mahashivratri, Lord Shiva’s devotees perform the rituals of:
a. Fasting as a form of detox of body and mind
b. Mediation to find calm within inner self
c. Chanting the divine sound of Om
d. Worship puja for offering prayers to Lord Shiva
Mahashivratri at Home
Fasting
Fast is right according to science, too, as it helps to detoxify your body. However, Shivratri fast (or vrat) holds religious significance. This fast increases the possibility of your fulfilling all your Mahashivratri wishes. The lord favours his grace, mercy and love on you this day.
Most people fast on an empty stomach without even drinking water on this day. But doctors recommend doing the fast with fruits and water. During fasting, your body uses the stored fat in your body. And in this way fasting can help you remove unwanted fat from your body and make you fit. A fit and healthy body can help you retain a peaceful life, and hence fasting is very beneficial.
Celebration suggestion: The main idea of fasting is to curtail the restlessness in mind – so keep things simple and elegant – serve fruits, and fasting food in simple and appealing serve ware
Chanting
We all know, “Om Mamah Shivay”, is the mantra of Lord Shiva. If you chant it on this exceptional day, you are surely impressing Lord Shiva. Om is the sound of the universe. The other words: “Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya”, refers to the five elements which make this mother earth. The five elements include air, water, fire, earth and ether.
Celebration suggestion: The divine sound of the mantra Om Namah Shivay can harmonize the universe with peace, love and harmony – Chant it yourself, also you can play the chanting mantra on a sound system
Meditation
They say a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. And hence mediation can help you leave all your stress, and have peace at mind. As we all know how stressful our lives have become these days. Meditation is always a healthy habit; you can follow to find peace. If you meditate this day, you can gain energy, as Lord Shiva would be generating rays of power from heaven.
Celebration suggestion: Find a calm and quiet spot, prep it for night long meditation – bring a comfortable yoga mat or stool to sit, add some soft mood lights, use incense sticks to add calming fragrance, play the chanting mantra on low humming volume
Performing puja
On this festive day, it is auspicious to chant Vedic mantras and perform ‘abhisheka’ on ‘shiv linga’, with pure milk. Hindus perform Rudra Puja as it brings purity and positivity in the surroundings. Worshipping the shiv linga, by offering “Bel Patra”, is the essential part of puja, as lord Shiva likes Bel Patra.
Also offering Bel Patra dedicates that you are submitting three aspects of ‘you’, being ‘rajas’, ‘tamas’, and ‘sattva’. Thus surrendering these three aspects of you to lord Shiva will surely bring peace and prosperity to your life.
Celebration suggestion: Worship Shivlinga by offering bel Patra in a beautifully decorated puja thali.
Stories of Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri is worshipped from ages by our great ancestors. Even in several Puranas, Mahashivratri has been mentioned. The Puranas in which Mahashivratri is mentioned include, ‘Linga Purana’, ‘Padma Purana’ and ‘Skanda Purana’. Let us some of the stories associated with Mahashivratri.
- According to some people, Mahashivratri is the day when Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati. And hence the union is celebrated.
- Some say that this was the day when Lord Shiva saved this world from a pot of poison. This pot came from “Samudra Manthan” when there was a fight going on between ‘lords’ and ‘demons’. So to save the world from poison Lord Shiva drank the poison himself, that’s how lord Shiva got dark complexion.
- Another legend says, on this day there was a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu for supremacy. Lord Shiva got angry and punished them and took the form of a massive fire.
- Many celebrate this festival during the day, but others celebrate at night as they believe that Lord Shiva did Tandavam during the entire night on this auspicious day.
- In Kashmir, the pundits celebrate lord Shiva’s and Goddess Parvati’s marriage for 3 to 4 days, while in Southern Karnataka; children celebrate it by doing come mischief and then get punished.
- People believe, Goddess Ganga descended in full force from heaven on this day. To control her anger, Lord Shiva split the river in streams and then sent it on Earth. This way he saved the Earth from the force of river Ganga. Ever since we see goddess Ganga residing on Lord Shiva’s head, the story relates to the worship ritual of people bathing “shiva linga” with water or milk, on this special day.
Om Namah Shivaya!!!
So, be ready to feel blessed and greet your near and dear ones with lovely Mahashivaratri wishes this year. Share the divine energies – Happy Mahashivaratri to you.