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Celebrating the Festival of Maha Shivratri 2023: Significance, Muhurat, Puja Vidhi and Celebration

Author: Admin

Category: Festivals

Posted on: Feb 15, 2023

Maha Shivratri is one of the most significant Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Supreme God of Destruction. The festival is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which usually falls in the months of February or March. This year, the festival of Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on Saturday, the 18th of February 2023.

Maha Shivratri is a Sanskrit term, which literally translates to the "Great Night of Lord Shiva". The festival is celebrated with great devotion and fervour by the followers of Lord Shiva across the country. On this day, devotees observe fast, perform puja, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva to seek his blessings and protection.

The Significance of Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri holds a great significance in Hindu mythology and has several legends associated with it. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a linga on this day, and since then, it has been considered as an auspicious day to worship Lord Shiva.

Another popular legend states that on the day of Maha Shivratri, Lord Shiva drank the deadly poison, Halahala, to save the world from destruction. To commemorate this event, devotees observe fast and perform puja on this day to show their gratitude towards Lord Shiva.

Maha Shivratri is also considered as the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and the festival is celebrated to commemorate their union.

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Muhurat: Tithi, Prahar and Timing

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Puja Vidhi

The puja vidhi for Maha Shivratri is simple and straightforward. Devotees should take a bath, wear clean clothes and perform puja in front of the Lord Shiva idol or linga.

Here is the step-by-step process to perform puja on Maha Shivratri:

• Clean and decorate the puja area: Clean the puja area and place a picture or idol of Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. Decorate the puja area with flowers, incense sticks, and diyas.
• Offer flowers and leaves: Offer fresh flowers and leaves to the Lord Shiva idol or linga.
• Light diyas and incense sticks: Light diyas and incense sticks and offer prayers to Lord Shiva.
• Offer bael leaves: Offer bael leaves to Lord Shiva as they are considered auspicious and are said to be his favourite.
• Offer milk and honey: Offer milk and honey to Lord Shiva as a symbol of purity and sweetness.
• Chant mantras: Chant the following mantras, "Om Namah Shivaya" and "Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam" during the puja.
• Offer fruits and sweets: Offer fruits and sweets to Lord Shiva as a symbol of devotion and gratitude.
• Perform aarti: Perform aarti by lighting a lamp and circumambulating it around Lord Shiva idol or linga.
• Conclude the puja: Conclude the puja by offering prasad to Lord Shiva and distributing it among the devotees.

It is believed that observing fast and performing puja on the day of Maha Shivratri brings peace, prosperity, and happiness in one's life. Devotees believe that Lord Shiva grants boons to his devotees on this day and blesses them with good health, wealth, and success.

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Celebrations across India

Maha Shivratri is celebrated with great devotion and fervor across India, especially in the northern and western regions. In the northern part of the country, Maha Shivratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm, and devotees throng to the famous Shiva temples to offer prayers and seek blessings. The most famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, which is considered to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

In the western part of the country, Maha Shivratri is celebrated in the form of a fair, where devotees gather to offer prayers and perform various rituals. The famous fairs held during Maha Shivratri include the Kumbh Mela, which is held every 12 years, and the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha, which is held every 12 years in Nashik.

In the southern part of the country, Maha Shivratri is celebrated as a night-long vigil, where devotees stay awake throughout the night and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. In the eastern part of the country, Maha Shivratri is celebrated with simple rituals and offerings, and devotees observe fast and perform puja to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Final Takeaway

Maha Shivratri is a significant Hindu festival that is celebrated with great devotion and fervour across India. The festival holds a great significance in Hindu mythology and is considered as an auspicious day to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fast, perform puja, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva to seek his blessings and protection. By observing the fast and performing the puja, devotees believe that Lord Shiva grants them peace, prosperity, and happiness in their lives.

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