18 Interesting Facts about Maha Shivratri That Everyone Should Know
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in reverence of the God Shiva. It is the day Shiva was married to the Godess Parvati. The Maha Shivaratri festival, also popularly known as ‘Shivaratri’ (spelt as Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivarathri) or ‘Great Night of Shiva’, marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Maagha as per Amavasya-ant month calculation. As per Poornima-ant month calculation, the day is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi or Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Phalguna which falls in February or March as per the Gregorian calendar. Of the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the Maha Shivarathri is the most holy.
Here are 18 facts about Maha Shivratri :
1. As Per Vikram Samvat, Mahashivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night (Krishna Paksh) of the Phalgun Maas(month), which corresponds to the month of February – March in English Calendar.
2. Mahashivaratri (Shiva’s great night) is celebrated with devotion and religious fervour in honour of Lord Shiva all over the world. Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on this day.
3. Lord Shiva without Parvati is pure ‘Nirgun Brahman’. With illusive power (Maya, Parvati), Lord Shiva becomes the “Sagun Brahman” for the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees.
4. Lord Siva, the destroyer of ego, enables clearance of past karmic negatives that have blocked us from our true potentials. Observing Mahashivratri is transforming as we awaken to whom we truly are.
5. Participate in the Group Rudraabhishek Puja on Mahashivratri to wash your sins & welcome peace and happiness.
6. Mahashivratri is rejuvenating as we tune into the eternal yogi within ourselves by surrendering our body, consciousness to the awaken soul – the eternal yogi.
7. As per common belief- on this night, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction and people worship to appease lord Shiva to stop the destruction.
8. It is believed that absolute formless God, Sadashiv appears in the form of Lingodbhav Moorti exactly at midnight on Mahashivratri. Hence, all Shiva devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri.
9. On Mahashivraratri, every three hours priests perform ritual puja 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.
10. Night-long vigil or jaagran is also observed in Shiva temples where large numbers of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva.
11. According to the Shiva Purana, six items form an indispensable part of Mahashivratri puja.
12. Order personalised rudraabhishek puja for Mahashivratri, as it helps you was your sins & welcome happiness.
13. Maha Shivratri is celebrated in many different countries across the globe and not just in India.
14. Millions of people visit the 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva temples or their local temples to offer prayers and witness the Rudra Abhisekham of Lord Shiva on this night.
15. There are clear instructions in the Shiv Purana about the ingredients to be used for worshipping the Lingam on Maha Shivratri, and their specific benefits.
16. Maha Sivaratri is crucial for gaining control over the Rajas Guna (excess passion) and Tamas Guna (ignorance) by observing Vrat.
17. The Shiva Panchakshari Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya is chanted by devotees along with his different names.
18. Devotees stay up all night to give company to Lord Shiva, who was not supposed to sleep after drinking the ocean poison after Samudra Manthan.