MAHASHIVARATHRI

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Introduction:

Shivarathri or Mahashivarathri is celebrated in the name of Supreme God, one of the big Deity of Hindu religions Lord Shiva. Mahashivarthri is one of the most promising festivals of Hindu religion and dedicated to Lord Shiv. Shivarathri is one of the nights of Lord Shiv i.e. Auspicious Great Night of Lord Shiv. Shivarathri is celebrated in every lunar month. But main festival is known as Mahashivarathri or Great shivarathri which falls on 14th night of Phalgun month of Hindu calendar.

History in brief:

Hindu Mythology defines, Shivarathri does not hold only one or single cause like all other festivals of Hindu religion, rather it comes up with various ancient stories as to why we celebrated Shivarathri.

One of the stories defines that, the festival Shivarathri is meant for celebration of marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This great night of Lord Shiv is celebrates the union of Shiva and Shakti.

According to Shiva’s, Lord Shiv is their supreme god. Shiva is soul of everything. He is the universe, benevolent. There is a belief that if this great night you pray Lord Shiv with love, pure heart and soul, all your desires will be fulfilled. Hence all the Shiva’s believe him for their health, wealth and prosperity.

Another ancient story depicts that Shiva’s earlier name was Jiva. One Param Pujya Dadasri explained the identification of soul and Athma.

One more stories called Samudra manthana or churning of ocean of milk, it says Lord Shiv saves the entire universes from poison by consumption of the same. It is also known as Halahala, deadly poison. The poison was so dreadful and it would destroy the creation, by knowing the fact, all the god and goddesses approached Lord Shiv to save the world. He took a decision to consume the same to save the lives, whilst the process was on, his consort goddess Parvathi got to know the fact, and she came up and stopped him by keeping her hands on his neck and not allowed to spread the poison to lord Shiva’s entire body. This historical day Lord Shiva is named as Neelakanta.

Another story defines that Lord Shiv born as Rudra in the midnight of Shivarathri once he heard the news of immolation of his consort Sati. He couldn’t control his anger, emotions, pain, and misery. This mixture of his feeling made his perform Thandav Nruthya. A dance form is known as Shivathandava or Rudra Thandava.

According to Shivapurana, whilst Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were fought each other for their supremacy of power and the war intervened by Lord Shiv and resolved the issue.

Conculsion:

On Mahashivarathi devotees do fasting, offers prayers to Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvathi by visiting Lord Shiv temples through igniting lights. It is the great belief that, Devotees vigil (Jagaran) all night and utters Om Namah Shivaya, devotees would free from all the sins. Hence let’s all pray to Lord Shiv for health, wealth, prosperity of the entire globe.