Shivratri: A great festival of Shiva and Shakti…
Mahashivratri is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. Shivaratri is a great festival of union of Shiva and Shakti, according to the North Indian almanac, Mahashivaratri is organized on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month. Whereas according to South Indian almanac (Amavasyant almanac), this festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha of the month of Magh.
At the same time, according to both the full and the new calendar, Mahashivaratri falls on the same day, so according to the English calendar, the date of the festival remains the same. On this day, Shiva-devotees offer worship, fast and night-awakening by offering bell-letters etc. on the Shivalinga in temples.
When is Mahashivaratri fast in 2021? (When is Maha Shivaratri in Year 2021)
March 11, 2021 (Thursday)
Mahashivratri Muhurta …
Nishith Kaal Pooja Muhurta: – From 24:06:41 to 24:55:14
Duration: – 00 hours 48 minutes
Mahashivratri Parana Muhurta: – from 06:36:06 to 15:04:32 on March 12
Rules of Mahashivaratri fast
According to the scriptures, the following rules have been set for when to celebrate Mahashivaratri fast –
1. If Chaturdashi is Nishithvapini on the first day, then on the same day celebrate Mahashivratri. The eighth Muhurta of the night is called Nishith Kaal. In simple words, when the Chaturdashi date starts and the eighth Muhurat of the night is falling on the Chaturdashi date, then Shivaratri should be celebrated on the same day.
2. If Chaturdashi touches the first part of Nishithkal on the second day and spreads the whole Nishith on the first day, then Mahashivratri is organized on the first day.
3. In all the situations except the above two conditions, the fast is observed on the next day.
Shivalinga Puja-
Shivalinga is the symbol of Lord Shiva and Shiva means – welfare and-Linga means creation, in the form of surgeon-Linga is worshiped. In Sanskrit ***** means symbol. Lord Shiva is the symbol of eternity.According to beliefs, the linga is a huge cosmic ovary, which means the universe, it is considered a symbol of the universe.
Shivaratri fasting rituals
1. Fill water or milk in an earthen pot, put bell pepper, mud-flower flowers, rice etc. on top and offer it to ‘Shivling’. If there is no Shiva temple nearby, then they should be worshiped by making a Shivling of clay at home.
2. Recitation of Shiva Purana and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra or Panchakaksha Mantra of Shiva ॐ Namah Shivaya should be recited on this day. Also, there is a law for night awakening on Mahashivratri.
3. According to the classical law, it is best to worship Shivaratri in ‘Nishith Kaal’. However, the devotees can worship it from the four guards of the night at their convenience.
Legend of Mahashivaratri
There are many stories about Shivratri. It is said that Bhagwati Parvati had done austerities to get Shiva as her husband. According to mythology, this resulted in the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati to Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi. This is the reason why Mahashivaratri is considered very important and sacred.
On the other hand, Garuda Purana tells another story about the importance of this day, according to which a Nishadraj went hunting with his dog on this day, but he did not find any victim. Tired of hunger and thirst, he went to the bank of a pond, where the Shivling was under the Bilva tree. To give comfort to his body he broke some bilva-patras, which also fell on the Shivling.
The same drops fell on the Shivling with his hands. While doing so, one of his arrows fell down, to raise it, he bent down in front of Shivalinga. In this way, he inadvertently completed the entire process of Shiva-worship on Shivratri day. When the Yamdoots came to pick him up after death, Shiva’s gans protected him and drove him away.
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