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Maha Shivratri

Shiv ji

  • Puja vidhi
  • 6 Wishes to send
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Maha Shivratri

Why it is celebrated

Maha Shivratri is kept on the night of Krishna Chaturdashi in the month of Phalgun. It is believed that Shiv ji and Mata Parvati were married on this night, and also that Shiv ji appeared as an endless pillar of light on this night. Devotees fast and stay awake through the night in puja, meditation and jaap.

The story

Once Brahma ji and Vishnu ji began to argue about which of them was greater. Just then a huge pillar of light appeared between them. Neither its top nor its bottom could be seen.

They agreed that whoever found an end of the pillar first would be called the greater one. Brahma ji became a swan and flew upward, and Vishnu ji became a boar and went deep below the earth. They searched for a very long time, but neither found an end.

Vishnu ji came back and honestly said that he had not found the end. But Brahma ji claimed that he had seen the top, and he brought the ketaki flower as his witness.

Then Shiv ji appeared from the light. He praised Vishnu ji for his honesty and told Brahma ji that no one becomes great through a lie. It is said that this is why the ketaki flower is not offered in Shiv puja.

Both gods bowed to Shiv ji. In memory of this form of light, the Shivling is worshipped on the night of Maha Shivratri.

Puja vidhi

  1. Bathe in the morning and take the sankalp of the fast. Keep a waterless, fruit-only or one-meal fast as your health allows.
  2. Offer water on the Shivling, then do abhishek with milk, curd, honey, ghee and Ganga jal.
  3. Offer bel leaves, dhatura, aak flowers, white flowers, sandalwood and akshat.
  4. Chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' and read the Shiv Chalisa or the Shiv aarti.
  5. Do puja in all four prahars of the night, or at least once at nishita kaal (around midnight).
  6. Stay awake with bhajans through the night, and break the fast the next morning after puja.

Food

Fasting food like sabudana khichdi, kuttu puris, fruit and thandai; a simple sattvic meal to break the fast.

Wishes to send

  • Happy Maha Shivratri! May Bholenath's grace always be with you and your family.

  • On this holy night of Shiv and Parvati's wedding, may love and peace fill your home. Har Har Mahadev!

  • May the sound of 'Om Namah Shivaya' make your mind calm and clear. Happy Maha Shivratri.

  • A pot of water, one bel leaf and a true heart: that is Bhole's puja. Warm Maha Shivratri greetings.

  • This Shivratri, may Mahadev bless you with patience, courage and simplicity. Jai Bholenath!

  • May this holy night of jagran light a new lamp in your life. Maha Shivratri wishes to you.

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