The Festival of Maha Shivratri

It was always a ‘No’ when it came for the children to join their mothers for a Jagrata or a Jaagran. The sleep after a good, heavy meal was just too sweet to resist. However, there was always an exception to it. This was the night of the Nataraja, the night of Lord Shiva, Maha Shivaratri.

The devotees conduct various pujas for Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri; Source: Times Now

Lord Shiva, a part of the holy trinity of Hinduism, the one with the third eye, the one who sees and knows it all, is venerated with an all-night vigil, fasting, offerings of ghee, yogurt, sugar, milk, and water on Shivaratri. Maha Shivaratri, which literally translates to ‘The Night of Lord Shiva’, is dedicated to the one who protects and transforms the universe.

All around the year and the country, Shivaratri is celebrated each month, hence twelve times in a year, however there is one that rules them all: Maha Shivaratri. Shivaratri is meant to be celebrated on the 14th day of the lunar month, the eve of the new moon.

This festival is majorly a Hindu festival, however, the collective worshiping is praisable. It is said that the Hindus believe that the night of Maha Shivaratri marks the symbol of rejoicing and remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance. The devotees rejoice by chanting prayers, meditating, practicing forgiveness and charity. Many more stories as per Hindu mythology explain the reasons to celebrate and dedicate the night to Lord Shiva.

According to the legends, it was on this night that Lord Shiva drank the poison that emerged from the Samundra Manthan that got stuck in his throat, causing it to turn blue. Another story points the reason to the night of Lord Shiva marrying the goddess Parvati. There is one other story that is believed majorly to be the reason behind Maha Shivaratri being celebrated. It is said that on this night, Lord Shiva performed Tandava Nritya. It was the dance of preservation, primordial creation, and destruction. Hindus believe that it was because of that dance of the god that saved the world from being destroyed once and for all.

Lord Shiva and Maha Shivaratri are associated with creation and fertility along with the safety of life and the world. The devotees observe a fast and pray to Shiva in order to get their wishes fulfilled. It is said that the darkest night of the year is devoted to the festival as it is after the night and after the prayers that the beings return to a world of creation and light.

Lord Shiva is believed to be the one who knows and sees it all; Source; National Today