महा शिवरात्रि (Maha Shivaratri) which literally means the big night or the great night of शिव (Shiva). It is a Hindu festival which is devoted to lord Shiva, who is one of the trinity. It is celebrated all across the India. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night till 14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar. However, the different versions of Hindu calender leads to different dates across India.

Lord Shiva is considered as the lord of death and life, destroyer of evil and usually shown as an ascetic in the yogic position. Lord Shiva has the largest number of worshiper in Hinduism.

This festival marks all day fasting, going to Shiva‘s temple in the morning and offering milk, fruits, flowers bael’s leaf to शिव लिंग (Shiv Linga) . One can see long queues in the temples as the worshiper waits for their turn to offer milk, fruit etc to Shiva.

According to the Hindu mythology, this festival or day has many legends attached to it. One of the legend says that the Shiva’s wife, पार्वती (Parvati) was terrified that the evil might befall on the moonless night and so she meditated and prayed for her husband well being. Hence, this became an occasion when the wives pray for their husband’s well-being. Another legend says that Parvati prayed to Shiva asking for the protection of all living beings as a night of destruction was inhaling the entire creation, to which he agreed. To this, she called the night as an occasion to worship Shiva and named it as Maha Shivaratri.

There are some rituals according to Hindu scripture, शिव पुराण (Shiva Purana – one of the Hindu religious texts) which Shiva‘s worshipers observe on Maha Shivaratri, these are

1. Bathing Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey and Wood apple or bel leaves added to it which could mean the purification of one’s soul.
2. The vermilion paste applied on Shiv Linga after bathing it which represents virtue
3. Offering of fruits to Shiva which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires.
4. Burning incense around Shiv Linga which could yield wealth
5. The lighting of the oil lamp at Shiv Linga which is which symbolically represent the destruction of darkness, the self-ignorance to the attainment of knowledge.
6. Betel leaves marking satisfaction with the pleasures of world.

Once again, I wish all our Hindi learners, a blessful Maha Shivaratri!