Home » Essays » Festivals Essays » Maha Shivaratri Essay
 

Maha Shivaratri Essay

 
Maha Shivaratri Essay
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated on 14th night of the new moon in the month of Phalgun according to Hindu calendar.

This festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. On this day, people sing bhajans and Sanskrit shlokas in honour of Lord Shiva. People also observe fast throughout the day. People visit nearby temples of Lord Shiva and pray for the well-being of their family. People also offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits and food to Lord Shiva and Parvati.
 
There are so many stories behind the origin of this festival. According to one story, devas and demons tried to get amrit by churning the ocean of milk. While this churning procedure they got so many other things including the poison named Kalakuta.

To save the universe from this poison, Lord Shiva swallowed it and collect it in his throat without spilling a single drop. Lord Shiva has a dark blue mark on his throat because of this poison. All Gods worshiped and praised Lord Shiva to save the world.
 
This day is also celebrated as the wedding day of lord Shiva and Parvati. There is also another belief that this was the day when the effulgent Shiva Lingams appeared on the earth in the form of Jyotir Lingam.
 
Shiva devotees observe fast throughout the day and night and take only fruits and water. They perform various rituals by doing rurdrabhishek and elaborative pujan and pour water over the Shiva Lingam in the wee morning hours. Leaves of Bael tree are also offered.

Devotees sing religious songs and recite mantras during the day time. Meditation is carried out as the night falls. International Mandi Shivratri fair is held every year in Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the day.
 
Meaning of above story is that all people in the world try to get happiness and during this sometimes they get overpowered by selfishness and greed. Thus, the only way to achieve happiness is worship Lord Shiva at night means by doing meditation about one own self in night.

This helps you to attain self-knowledge and will also help you to live life without anger, selfishness and greed.
 
Shivaratri is considered very auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well-being of their husbands and unmarried women pray for a perfect match for them. It is believed that any person who takes the name of Lord Shiva and worship Shiva with complete devotion on this day, gets free from all the sins and also gets free from the cycle of birth and death.
 
So, Maha Shivaratri is a festival celebrated all over India with full devotion and love for Lord Shiva.
 
 
Topics