Maha Shivratri

Om Namah Shivay

Maha Shivratri or Shivratri (Night of Shiv) is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month Phalguna in the Hindu Calendar. The most significant practices on this day are offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiv, fasting and all night long vigil.

For believers, I recommend the constant Jaap of Maha Mrityunjay Mantra on this day and every day. Here is the Mantra, its meaning, significance and instructions on how to do Jaap.

Lord Shiv is one of the Hindu trinity that comprises the creator Brahma, the protector Mahavishnu, and the godhead Shiv whose primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle. Shiv is the only godhead who is forever in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His abode, Kailaash mountain in the great Himalayas.

Shiv is an ascetic and several religious stories and dramas portray that all attempts to distract Him from that principal pursuit through temptations always ended up with disaster for those initiating such an effort. Thus Kama, the Lord of Desires, who tried such a distraction was burned alive through the fire when Shiv opened His third eye.

On the other hand, Shiv is all compassion when it came to saving the world from the serpent Vaasuki’s poison during the amritamanthana. Vaasuki, used as a churning rope, was so tired and sick from the repeated action of churning that he vomited the most potent poison into the ocean of milk.

Fearing the destruction of the world through this poisoning, Shiv immediately drank the poison. He Himself would have succumbed to the poison were it not for the timely intervention by Paarvati, His consort. Paarvati held Shiv’s throat tightly preventing entry of the poison into His body.

Shiv’s image appears to provoke the fundamental question: “What is this life all about?” and forces us to demand an answer such as sacrifice, worship and service as the potential elements towards salvation.

Lord Shiv is worshiped as a lingam to help us contemplate the need to think of Him as the most basic and essentially formless one. Shiv is commonly portrayed as an ascetic with a serpent around His neck, vibhooti (sacred ash) adorning His face and His essentially bare body, a trishul (trident) in one of His hands and a kamandalu (container of water for use in religious practices) in an other hand, and a damaruga (small drum) in yet another hand.

A Very Happy Shivratri to you all. Herath Mubarak to Kashmiri folks!

Content Courtesy: Rudraksha-ratna.com

Comments So Far..
  • Arti 20 February, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Feels good to read something like this …
    I know the importance of Maha Shivratri…

    Abt the mantra
    Does it not start with Om Tryambakam yajaamahe…

    GBU
    Arti

  • Gautam 20 February, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    Arti, yes, but Om is usually not used in the print since it is the universal sound…

  • Gene 24 February, 2011 at 2:30 am

    Shivratri blessings to you and your family.
    May the almighty Lord Shiva bless you
    all with good things and perfect health.
    Shiv ki shakti,
    Shiv ki bhakti,
    khushi ki bahar mile,
    Shivratri k pavan avsar
    par apko zindgi ki ek
    nayi achchi shuruwat mile.
    We wish you all a very
    Happy Shivratri.

  • Hindu Temple Stores 10 June, 2021 at 8:48 pm

    Shivratri is a devotional event that happens on the day before the new moon every month.
    I’m the first time come to your blog and I like your post.
    Shivratri is my one of the favorite festival, which I enjoying my childhood days!
    I suggest a large variety of Hindu Gods statues, including Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Nataraja, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Hanuman, and Hindu Temple Stores.

    For more information please visit our site:- https://www.hindutemplestores.com/product/lord-shiva-brass-statue-idol-in-padmasana-6-3-inches/

  • Pure Vedic Gems 24 February, 2022 at 3:48 pm

    Nice Article, Thank You.

  • Post Your Comment..

    Threaded commenting powered by interconnect/it code.