Maha Shivaratri
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| Maha Shivaratri | |
|---|---|
 Lord Shiva |
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| Observed by | Hindus in general and Shaivites in particular |
| Type | Hindu |
| Date | February/March |
| 2010 date | Feb 8-11 |
| Observances | Fasting, worship of Lingam |
Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivaratri (Night of Shiva or "Great Night of Shiva") is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/'vrata' on 14th after sunrise) in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil. Cannabis is traditionally used as an offering for Lord Shiva and his followers.
Per scriptural and discipleship traditions, the penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach the goal more swiftly and avoid rebirth.
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[edit] Shiva's Favourite Day
After creation was complete, Parvati asked Lord Shiva which rituals pleased him the most. The Lord replied that the 13th night of the new moon, during the month of Maagha, is his most favourite day. Parvati repeated these words to her friends, from whom the word spread over all creation.
[edit] The Story Of King Chitrabhanu
In the Shanti Parva (chapter) of the Mahabharata epic, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma (righteousness), refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows:
Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa (India), was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king. he lord asked the king the purpose of his observing the fast. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had a gift of remembering the incidents of his past birth, and in his previous life he had been a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. The day before the new moon, while roaming through forests in search of animals, he saw a deer, but before his arrow flew he noticed the deer's family and their sadness at its impending death. So he let it live. He had still not caught anything when he was overtaken by nightfall and climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. His canteen leaked water, so he was both hungry and thirsty. These two torments kept him awake throughout the night, thinking of his poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away the time he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.
The next day he returned home and bought some food for himself and his family. The moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served the food first to stranger and then had his own.
At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva, sent to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned by unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The messengers told him that there had been a Lingam (a symbol for the worship of Shiva) at the bottom of the tree. The leaves he dropped had fallen on the Lingam, in imitation of its ritual worship. The water from his leaky canteen had washed the Lingam (also a ritual action), and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously had worshipped the Lord.
As the conclusion of the tale the King said that he had lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages and now he was reborn as Chitrabhanu.
This story is also told in the Garuda Purana[1]. SHIVRAATRI(Offically starts February 11 at 4pm and ends 4pm Feb 12) INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHIVARATRI FESTIVAL PUJA A devotee observing Mahaa-Shiva-Raatri, mustperform puja (offerings) to Lord Shiva, four times in four praharas (threehours divisions) for the whole day starting from Sunrise that day to Sunrise the next day.The Prahara’s times are as follows, (depending on sunrise, all hours areapproximate). DAY TIME Sunrise - 9 AM - 1STPrahara 9 AM - 12 NOON - 2ndPrahara 12NOON - 3 PM - 3rd Prahara 3 PM - Sunset - 4TH Prahara NIGHT TIME (Mahamrityunjay Jaap) This shouldbe done each Prahara (each auspicious hour). Mantras when recited duringshivratri night, have 1000 times effect, and all wishes come true. It is bestto play bhajans of Shiva all day in the home. You should sing the“lingaashtakam” bhajan after the shivling worship. Sunset - 9 PM - 1ST Prahara 9 PM - 12 MIDNIGHT - 2ndPrahara 12MIDNIGHT - 3 AM - 3rdPrahara 3AM - Sunrise - 4TH Prahara The shivlingam is placed in on a paan leaf in acontainer (tari) large enough to accommodate the items which will be put on theshivlingam. The point of the paan leaf and the shivlingam should facenorth. With a FRUIT AND FLOWERS in the palmof your hands, Lord Shiva is invited to appear spiritually and accept theofferings of devotion, by reciting this mantra (prayer). This is done eachPrahara
[edit] See also
- Shivaratri in Assam
[edit] References
- ^ Garuḍa Purāṇa 1.124
[edit] External links
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