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Saturday, 12 March 2011 00:00 |
What is Maha Shivaratri?
Report by Navya Prabhushankar
Vice President, CKS Youth Group
Shivaratri is an Indian festival meaning "the night of Shiva". It is in honor of Lord Shiva and the night he married Parvati. Festival of Maha Shivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to the sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivaratri festival that falls on the 6th night of the dark Phalgun (Feb or March) pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most.
Some people go on a strict fast (upawaasa) this day. In the evening, they will do a pooja for the Shiva Lingam by washing it with milk, honey, curd, etc and also offer the very special "bilwa" leaves. During this pooja, they will repeatedly say the mantra, "Om Namah Shivaya". After the pooja, the devotees keep vigil (jagarane) all night. This festival is a day where everyone can show their devotion to Lord Shiva and be rewarded by being freed from all sins.
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