What is Mahashivratri and Why it is Celebrated?
Shivratri, the fourteenth day of the lunar month, is significant for spiritual growth. Mahashivratri, occurring in February-March, is particularly significant due to the natural energy surge in the northern hemisphere. To harness this energy, a nightlong festival is observed, requiring individuals to remain awake with their spine vertical.
Shivratri is a celebration of Lord Shiva’s sacred union with Parvati. It is also a day to honor the poison that Lord Shiva consumed when the ocean was churned to obtain ambrosia. The poison lodged in his throat, turning him blue. The festival is celebrated to honor the savior of the world.
Another legend is that Goddess Ganga descended from heaven, and Lord Shiva caught her in his locks and released her as streams, preventing destruction on Earth.
The Shivalinga is bathed on this auspicious night. It is also believed that the formless God Sadashiv appeared at midnight, causing people to stay awake and offer prayers.
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Why Should we Fast on Mahashivratri ?
The devas (Gods) and asuras (demons) were always at war with each other. However, in a rare show of solidarity, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, they churned the Ocean of Milk together for amrita, the nectar of immortality. As they used Vasuki, the serpent king, who sits on Lord Shiva’s neck, as a rope, the first thing that came out of it was the poison. The devas and asuras prayed to Lord Shiva requesting his help. The Lord drank all the poison and saved them.
Goddess Parvati was concerned about the poison in the Lord Shiva’s body, held His throat for one day and night to prevent it from spreading, causing him to turn blue and earning the name Neelakantha. This fasting tradition, which involves staying awake all night during Mahashivratri, has become an age-old practice.
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॥ Story Related to Maha Shivratri: ॥
Daksha’s Curse to chandra deva and Lord Shiva the Rescuer :
Daksha, a loving father, is disturbed by the affection of Chandradeva towards Rohini, who spends most of his time with her. The other daughters, Soma, complain to Daksha about this injustice, but he never pays attention. This angers Sage Daksha, who realizes Chandra has broken his promise of loving all wives equally. He curses Chandra with a ‘Kshay’, a deteriorating body disease, and an incurable disease, leading to the decay of all creatures dependent on the moon. Only a small portion of the moon remains visible, and the moon takes refuge in the ocean. Without the moon, the balance of Nature becomes disturbed, and many lives depend on its light.
Chandra, despite receiving boons from Lord Shiva, struggles to stop Sage Daksha’s mysterious powers. He seeks Lord Indra’s advice, who explains that it was due to his past unjust deeds. Chandra seeks Lord Brahma’s forgiveness and a solution to remove Daksha’s curse from affecting him. Lord Brahma explains that Daksha, his son, has received mystic powers and boons, making him invincible and proud of his achievements. Lord Brahma advises Chandra to perform the ‘Mahamritunjaya Mantra’ to appeal to Lord Shiva, and he asks Chandra to fall at his feet. This story highlights the power of forgiveness and the importance of seeking help from Lord Shiva.
Chandradeva, a devotee of rishi Markandeya, performed a challenging penance of the ‘Mahamritunjaya Mantra’, following the advice of Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva appeared during Mahashivratri and informed Chandra that he could not get rid of the curse he had caused. Chandra had lost his beauty in the past fourteen days and was left with only one day to look miserable. He surrendered himself to Lord Shiva and begged for forgiveness. Lord Shiva told Chandra that Daksha’s curse couldn’t be ignored, and he placed him on his head to free him. Chandra’s beauty remained forever, and the curse couldn’t affect him further. Lord Shiva granted Chandra a boon, allowing him to wither for fifteen days and grow to his full size for the next fifteen days.
Chandra, a divine being, is guided by Lord Shiva to increase in radiance and beauty, shining in glory in fifteen days. However, Sage Daksha’s curse cannot be completely removed, and Chandra’s radiance will deteriorate each day. After a day, Chandra will stop deteriorating and grow in radiance for the next fifteen days. On the fifteenth day, Chandra will shine in all glory, losing each day’s radiance. He will now influence every living being on earth with his planetary position and be a giver of life force through his Waxing and Waning periods. The day when Chandra is fully deteriorated is called ‘Amavasya’ (No Moon Day), and when Chandra is fully radiant is called ‘Pournima’ (Full Moon Day). Chandradeva is said to wane during Krishnapaksha and wax during Shuklapaksha (the brighter part of the lunar fortnight).
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Shiva as Ardhanari and Brighu Maharishi :
The god Ardhanarishvara is Shiva and Parvati combined into one. The essence of the world is created by the merging of the energies of masculinity and femininity in one God. This deity represents how equally men and women are viewed. Were you curious about how and why Shiva changed into this avatar. Let’s learn more.
Shiva is revered as both a god and the Adi Yogi, or the first yogi and the Adi Guru, the first guru. As a result, Shiva’s initial students of yoga were known as Saptharishis. The first Saptharishi to view Lord Shiva in Ardhanarishvara was Bhrigu rishi.
One of the seven great sages known as the Saptarishis, Maharishi Bhrigu was one of the several Prajapatis, or the facilitators of Creation, that Brahma had created. He is a big devotee of Lord Shiva and has an extreme devotion to him.
He visits Lord Shiva one day and expresses his love and devotion to him alone, excluding Parvati. Parvati becomes irritated while seated next to Lord Shiva at Kailash. These days, Bhrigu Rishi goes to see Lord Shiva daily and wants to go around Shiva.
As Bhrigu rishi makes three laps around Shiva, He tells Parvati to get up and move aside! Even though Shiva witnesses unadulterated devotion, Parvati is offended by the prejudice. He stays away from her entirely and only approaches Lord Shiva.
The following day, Parvati approaches Lord Shiva to see that Bhrigu rishi is unable to grant Lord Shiva Pradakshina. He still asks Parvati to move, though. Parvati asks afterwards, “Why should I move?” I will only go around the Lord, not you, he declared.
Parvati is seated near to Lord Shiva. Because there isn’t enough room for Shiva to be worshipped alone, Bhrigu rishi changes into a rat and walks around Shiva’s leg (the area around his foot). Shiva finds amusement in the argument between his devotee and wife.
After giving everything a quick glance, He puts Parvati on his lap. To test Bhrigu rishi, is it not possible to go around Lord Shiva alone? However, the astute Bhrigu rishi changes into a bird and only walks about Shiva near his head. Shiva found it amusing to witness his commitment and the ongoing discrimination.
Lord Shiva said Now that I have merged her into a part of me, let’s see what you do. Thus, Shiva simply incorporates her into himself and makes her a part of him. Presently, there is Shiva, the half-woman, half-man, half-Parvati. This is referred to as The Ardhanari. This was created to impart knowledge to Bhrigu Rishi. Now that Bhrigu Rishi has transformed into a bee, he is doing Pradakshina exclusively on his right leg, since this is Shiva! turned away from the left since that’s where Parvati is! At this, they both burst out laughing and proclaimed, “This is both Shiva and Parvati.” Ardhanarishvara is now sitting in Siddhasana, a Yogic posture, where Shiva is not even able to be circumambulated by the Bee, Bhrigu.
The lesson that Shiva teaches Bhrigu rishi overrides his naive devotion. Avatar was created to illustrate the equality of men and women in all aspects and to highlight the essence of existence. Partiality between a man and a woman is wrong.
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What to Do on Mahashivratri :
On Mahashivratri, many Lord Shiva worshipers observe fasts. While some followers opt to fast by not eating or drinking anything, others include foods like potatoes, pumpkin, bananas, and makhana in their diet.
Don’ts Do on Mahashivratri :
Wheat, rice, salt, some vegetables, lentils, and similar things must be avoided by anyone wishing to observe the Mahashivratri fast. Moreover, anything not vegetarian or foods containing onions and garlic should be avoided.
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॥ Har Har Mahadev ॥