“Om Namah Shivay” is probably the strongest mantra in the world which is so powerful it catches cosmic radiations from the universe. Yogis’ swear by this mantra while meditating. It means adoration to Lord Shiva. The festival ‘Maha Shivratri’ is dedicated to Lord Shiva as on this auspicious day Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. The ‘Great Night of Shiva’ marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. The two halves with one soul. Lord Shiva symbolizes that Man and woman are actually two parts of one soul. This festival is celebrated on the ‘Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi’ of Phalgun month. Another legendary story attached to this festival says that Lord Shiva at the time of ‘Samundra Manthan’ between the gods and demons saved all of them by drinking the dangerous poison that came out. It was due to his special ‘’yogic powers that he could arrest the poison in his throat and it turned blue. People till date call him, ‘Neelkanth’.
What are the rituals one needs to follow on the festival?
Shiva devotees start flocking Lord Shiva temples early morning on the day of the festival to worship ‘Shiva Linga’ in order to seek Shiva’s blessings.
- Devotees after waking up early in the morning, take a bath with the holy water of Ganga or in some water body.
- After wearing new and clean clothes, devotees carry water in a pot to bathe the ‘Shivalinga’
- Devotees circle around the ‘Shivalinga’ three to four times and pour the pure water or sometimes milk on it as an offering to Lord Shiva.
- Devotees observe fast all day long and at night do ‘Jagaran’ and chant “Om Namah Shivay”.
- At home, one has to set up the idols of both deities, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the praying area.
What are the items required to do ‘Lord Shiva Pujan’ on the festival?
According to the ‘Shiva Puraan’, on the day of Maha Shivratri a devotee must incorporate the below mentioned items to seek blessings of the ‘Great One’.
- First of all, the ‘Shiva-Linga’ has to be bathed with a mixture of curd, milk and honey and then with water. ‘Bael’ leaves are then offered to Lord Shiva. It refers to purification of one’s soul.
- Vermillion is applied on the Shiva linga. It represents virtue.
- Fruits are then offered to the Lord in order to seek his blessings for longevity and prosperity in one’s life.
- Incense sticks are lit to yield wealth from the lord’s blessings.
- A ‘diya’ or lamp is lit conducive to the attainment of knowledge.
- ‘Betel’ leaves are also offered to the lord seeking worldly pleasures and marital bliss from him.
- ‘Tripundra’ refers to the three horizontal lines of holy ash drawn on the ‘Shivalinga’ symbolizing spiritual knowledge, purity and ‘yogic’ powers. It also significantly represents the three eyes of Lord Shiva.
- Devotees also wear ‘Rudraksh Mala’ and chant the mantra ’Om Namah Shivay’ to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. The seeds of Rudraksh are considered holy as they are supposed to formed from the tears of Lord Shiva himself.
The festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated with great fervor in the country by the devotees of Lord Shiva. He is also popularly called ‘The Bhole Bhandari’ who is famous for fulfilling any wishes if it is asked by a pure heart.
