Mahashivaratri falls on the 13th day of the dark half of Phalgun -“the night of Shiva”. All the prayers and rituals are performed at night. Shiva got married to Parvati on this auspicious day. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of lingam in front of Brahma and Vishnu on this day. It is said that whoever prays to the Shivling on this day attains salvation.
The significance of mahashivratri for the people who follow asceticism is when he becomes Mount Kailash. Still as a Mountain!
In the Yogic world, Shiva is the AdiYogi, Adiguru – the Guru from whom yoga originated. After years of meditation, he became still. Hence ascetics consider Mahashivratri – the night of stillness.
Another Mahashivratri significance is that by observing fast on this day and praying to Lord Shiva, you can get the benefits that one brings after one year of rigorous prayer. Just as the Moon causes tides on a full moon night, Shivaratri increases Shiva’s dharma.
Shiva once said that whoever worships his and Parvati’s statue on this day will be dearer to him than his son Kartik. The benefits that one gets through a glance of Shiva are unmatchable.
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Astrological Significance Of Mahashivratri
The day before the new Moon or the 14th day of the lunar month is Shivratri. There are 12 Shivratris in a year. However, Mahashivratri happens once a year and is usually in February-March. The scientific significance of mahashivratri is that the position of the northern hemisphere creates an up natural upsurge of energy in a human being.
The spiritual significance associated with mahashivratri is that nature encourages the rise of spiritual energy, and to make full use of the power, we ascertained a nightlong festival.
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Rituals Of Mahashivratri Fast
The Shiva Linga is worshipped the whole night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd and honey. Chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya” continues amidst all these prayers. Bael Shivling is the symbol of Lord Shiva. The reason behind calling Shiva the Lord is the immense power of his blessings. Because of all these reasons, he is referred to as Brahma. People pray to both the ling and the statue of Shiva. Except for Shivling, no other linga is worshipped. Shiva is formless, shapeless and timeless. Here, Ganesha will talk in length about his father and Mahashivaratri.
Leaves are offered to Lord Shiva, as they are considered sacred. Hymns of Lord Shiva are chanted with great enthusiasm, and devotees keep vigil all night. Here we will see how you should observe the fast.
| Time | Muhurat | Offerings |
|---|---|---|
| First Quarter | 21:24 to 00:35 | Til (Sesame Seeds), Jav, Lotus, Belvapatra |
| Second Quarter | 21:24 to 00:35 | Fruit of Vijora, Lemon, Kheer |
| Third Quarter | 00:35 to 03:46 | Til, Wheat, Malpua, Pomegranate, Kapur |
| Fourth Quarter | 03:46 to 06:56 | Udadh dhal (white lentils), Jav, Moong, Shankhpushpi leaves, Belva-patra and Pakodas (fries) of Udadh |
Scientific Significance Of Mahashivratri
Scientists have concluded in many studies that everything of matter, existence in the world, the universe, milky way, cosmos and galaxies is just one single energy that manifests in millions of ways.
Also, the word yogi is a person who has experienced the togetherness of existence. Yoga is not a single practice or an entity. Yoga is desiring to identify the unbound and the oneness present in yoga, and Mahashivratri is the day to experience it.
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Significance Of Shivaratri
- Light is limited, but the results are enchanting and everlasting. It is a minor affair in your mind, which is not infinite. It is a feeling of a fraction of seconds.
- The most significant source of light is the sun. However, a shadow of darkness is left behind when you hold the sun’s rays.
- But darkness is prevalent everywhere since long darkness is associated with the devil and evil.
- However, if the divine is penetrating, and if darkness is described as penetrating, then darkness is divine
- Darkness is ubiquitous and is independent!
- So, while we mention Shiva – it is a limitless void of existence. It is in the void that existence and creation have happened. It is the emptiness that is Shiva.
- Mahashivratri’s importance is that it is the darkest night where we break through the boundaries and experience the surplus of the source of creation.
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Significance Of Fasting On Mahashivratri
If one observes fast on Shivaratri unknowingly, then also he gets various benefits. There is a story of a hunter who once went to the forest in search of prey. He sat on a tree of bael leaves, waiting for some prey. There was a Shivling under the tree. While waiting for the target, the hunter threw bel Patra on Shivling. First-quarter passed, and a deer came there to drink water. When the hunter tried to kill it, it requested mercy as its children were waiting for it. In the second quarter, its children came there. But the hunter did not kill them either. All the four quarters passed like this only, and the hunter kept offering Bilipatra and water to the Linga empty stomach. Lord Shiva himself appeared before the hunter, and he attained salvation. This was the result of his fast.
This is why observing fast on Shivaratri is essential. If one follows fast on this day with complete devotion, he certainly reaps the benefits.
Along with the rituals mentioned above, it is essential to do sadhana and meditation during Mahashivratri or Sivarathri.
The Moon dominates the night of Mahasivarathri. The Moon has 16 sections of glory, and every fortnight one fraction is reduced until it is New Moon night.
All the sadhana aims to eliminate the mind of all the Maya and render Reality.
Just like each fraction in the Moon is eliminated, sadhana is done to stop each fraction of the mind. On the 14th night – the night of lord Siva, just like the Moon’s glory, only a fraction remains.
With sadhana, fasting, puja, success will be guaranteed.
You have to meditate about Shiva without the mind wandering around. It needs to be done on Shivaratri and Mahashivratri.
There is an excellent Mahashivratri spiritual significance, especially while in sadhana.
Visualise Shiva and, with every breath saying Soham.
Soham is Sah and Aham, Sah is I and Aham is he. When you keep a tab on breath and meditate, the feeling of separation is driven away from Soham until it becomes Om- The whole, the Reality behind relative Reality.
Next time you fast on the day of Mahashivratri, you would be doing it because of the knowledge that you possess of mahashivratri significance.
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With Ganesha’s Grace,
Dharmeshh Joshi,
www.GaneshaSpeaks.com