Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri day is one of the important ritualistic events of Hindus, observed in India in reverence to Lord Shiva, one of the Trinities of Hinduism, namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

This festival, which marks the end of winter literally, falls in the month of Maagha, observed in the night of 13th day till the dawn of 14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon part) during the month of Phalguna or Maagh according two schools of thought.

Devotees observe penance by keeping awake throughout the night and not taking food till the next morning, also chanting Shiva’s name repeatedly as a measure of prayer. In temples and Puja pedestals at homes, Lord Shiva is worshiped particularly with Bilwa (Bael) leaf, which pleases Lord Shiva.

In the southern part of the country, those who follow Vaishnavism among Hindus do not observe this festival as the other section which follows Saivism do, however, there are different schools of thought professing that Praying Lord Shiva in fact pleases Lord Vishnu.

All the shrines and Shiva temples will be full of devotees on this day throughout the country, particularly the temples where Jyothirlinga is installed, while the Pashupatinath Temple at Nepal is thronged by people to worship the Lord on this special day.

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in a grand manner through a week-long International Fair held at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh State of India every year attracting large number of tourists during this festival.

History and Origin of this Festival

The rituals and festivals are observed in Hindu religion mostly by the Vedic scriptures and the 18 puranas, which are traditionally said and heard narrations, among which Garuda Purana gives an interesting tale.

A king called Chitrabanu narrates his experience on his previous birth, in which he had been a hunter, with a name Suswara.  On a day of hunting, he refrains from killing a Deer out of mercy and had to return home without anything to eat. The next day being a new moon day, total darkness everywhere, he chooses to stay in the branches of a tree for the night, so that he could proceed home next morning. Hungry and staying in total darkness also worried about his family’s safety, he could not sleep the whole night. He was spending time by pulling the leaves from the tree and dropping them under the tree. He went for home without realizing what a great deed he had done.

The tree he was resting was a Bilwa tree and what he did was showering Bilwa leaves on a Linga Statue which was under the tree, which he did not notice at all. This unwitting action was considered a Prayer by Lord Shiva and granted him salvation, to that extent that he was taken to the abode of Lord Shiva on his death and granted all divine privileges.

Upon this message, every Hindu believes that Prayers to Lord Shiva during Maha Shivaratri would earn one the blessings of Lord Shiva for peaceful placement of soul after one’s demise.

Maha Shivaratri festival is observed in a grand manner at various shrines in India, Nepal and Bangladesh which include festivities and processions.

Festivals

Mandi is a small town situated in Himachal Pradesh around which there are 81 shrines, making this place a cathedral of temples. In this town Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great fervor, by assembling about 200 deities all in one place on this day, and origin of this festival is told through so many legends. Since it is a unique festival, conducted in a very ancient town, many foreign tourists throng to this place at the time of Maha Shivaratri to participate in the function.

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