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Mahashivratri

The festival of Mahashivaratri is universally celebrated by Hindus each year in honor of Lord Shiva. The 14th day of the dark half of every month is called Shivaratri or the night of Shiva. Once a year, during the month of Magha, this night is called Mahashivaratri, which means the great night of Shiva.

There are several stories about the origin of this festival. According to one legend, it was on this day that Shiva first manifested as the Linga in an effort to break up an argument between Brahma and Vishnu over who was the superior God. In the form of a huge column of fire, Shiva demonstrated his superiority over both of them. Another belief is that on this night, Lord Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of Primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Still another legend tells a story of a hunter who after an unsuccessful day noticed a pair of deer who he could kill but he let them off for some time ot their appeal. As night fell, fearing predators, the hunter climbed on a tree and in order to keep awake all night., he started plucking leaves from the tree and kept throwing them on the ground where there was a Shivlingam. The following morning, the pair of deer with their offspring turned up and surrendered them to the hunter but the hunter took pity and let them go. Unknowingly the hunter offered prayers to Lord Shiva who in turn blessed him. A popular belief is that Mahashivaratri is actually the celebration to mark the holy union of Lord Shiva and Parvati on this day.

On the day of Mahashivaratri, Hindus gather at temples of Lord Shiva, sing bhajans, offer prayers and recite shlokas in honor of the God. The Shivlingam is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called the Panchagavya- milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung and offered five foods of immorality- milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar. Devotees observe fast during the day and offer prayers through out the night and chant the mantras. Mahashivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried for ideal husband like Shiva.