Maha
Shiv Ratri means the night of Lord Shiva,
Maha Shivratri
Maha
Shiv Ratri means the night of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new
moon of month Phalguna (Feb / March). It is believed that this day is very dear
to Lord Shiva so devotees takes fast and open it the next morning, after the
whole night vigil (jagran). According to the Shiv Maha Puran, Shivaratri is the
auspicious day of Lord Shiva and blessed with Moksha and past sins all those
people who takes fast and worship on this day.
There
are many stories related to the Maha Shiv Ratri.
1.According
to the some believers, in the beginning when Lord Shiva made the universe, Lord
Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fighting to prove their self more powerful. To stop
their war Lord Shiva appear as a Linga between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma and
asked them to search the end of the Linga. Then both started to find out the
end of the Linga but after walking thousands of miles they could not find the
end. After many years when Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma met Brahma said lie that
he find the end of the Linga. Due to the lie of Brahma Lord Shiva gave him a
curse that no one would ever pray to him
2.
Lord Shiva was emerged in the form of Ling at midnight on Maha Shivratri. Thus,
all devotees of Lord Shiva take fast for the entire day, stay vigil during the
night and open their fast on the next morning.
3.
According to the other legend, on the day of Shivratri Lord Shiva was married
to Devi Parvati. Therefore all devotees celebrate this day by taking fast and
worship Lord Shiva by Panchamrit (the mixture of Milk, Pure Water or Gangajal,
Honey, Ghee and Yoghurt).
4.
Another myth is related with Samudramanthan (churning of ocean). By the process
of Samudramanthan the Gods and the demons or Asurs want to get Amrut (nectar) for
immortality from the deepness of the ocean. For this both Gods and Asurs using
a mountain and a snake as a rope to churn the ocean. In this process many
things was came out that are divided into both Gods and Asurs but when a jar of
poison came out of the ocean both are rejected to accept the poison pot. This
poison was so strong and was capable to demolish the whole universe. The dilemma
was risen because the Halahal or poison could not be discarded so gods
requested to the Lord Shiva to accept that poision to save the whole universe. On
the request of both Asur and Gods, Lord Shiva drank that deadly poison and kept
into his neck because of the effect of poision his throat was changed into blue
colour. This is the reason that Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkantham. So
Shivratri is also a day or method of giving thanks to Lord Shiva for protecting
this universe from annihilation.
Worship Rituals: To please Lord Shiva devotees do abhisheka
of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas, each dravya blesses a unique
quality.
Apart
from this, Belpatri, dhatura and flowers are also pleasing Lord Shiva.
0 comments: