Maha ShivaRathri

Send Maha ShivaRathri Greetings

It is interesting to note that people to this day put these curses into practice. Vishnu accepted the greatness of Lord Shiva. Thus, lord Shiva is also called Maha Deva (the great God). It should be noted that Lord Shiva is worshipped in the temples in the Linga form only.

There are only two festivals that are celebrated during the night time, one is Maha ShivaRathri and the other is Srikrishna Janmashtami. Each of them fall in each half of the year and interestingly they are separated by exactly one hundred eighty days.

The greatness of this festival is explained in great detail in various mythologies like Garudapuranam, Skandapuranam, Padmapurnam, Lingapuranam and Bhavishatupuranam. Rathri means night and Shivarathri means night of Lord Shiva. It is also said that the same can be mean the night of Goddess Parvathi, as the word Shivaa connotes Parvathi also, for the reason that Shiva has embodied Parvati in himself by giving her one half of his body. That is the reason why Shiva is called Ardhanarishwera, which means one who is half woman and half man in appearance. Hence it is said in scriptures that when we utter twice the name of the God as Shiva Shiva, it amounts to praying both Shiva and godess Parvathi.

As per the scriptures, on the Maha Shiva Rathri day fasting should be observed strictly and the Shiva Linga should be worshipped with Bilva patra (a variety of leaf). Further every one should be awake throughout that night. By doing so, it is believed that one will attain Mukthi (means the unison with God). On this festival day all the Shiva temples will wear a festive look and will be flooded with devotees right from early in the morning. Prayer rituals will be performed all through the night in the temples and it is also the practice to conduct Hari Katha (traditional folk art) performances in the temples in praise of Lord Shiva.