.By Ramesh Sarraf Dhamora
Mahashivratri is the festival of Lord Shiva. Mahashivratri is celebrated with great pomp and show in all parts of India. Along with India, Mahashivratri is also celebrated in many other countries around the world, including Nepal and Mauritius. Every year, the Mahashivratri fast is observed on the Chaturdashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Phalgun. According to Hindu mythology, on this day, at midnight, at the beginning of creation, Lord Shiva appeared from Brahma in the form of Rudra. This is why this day is called Mahashivratri.
In the yogic tradition, this day and night are given great importance because they present tremendous possibilities for the spiritual seeker. After going through many stages, modern science has reached a point where it proves that everything we know as life exists as one energy. What you know as matter and existence, what you know as the universe and galaxies, is just one energy manifesting itself in millions of forms. Mahashivratri is one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism. All Shiva temples are crowded on this day. Devotees perform ritualistic worship to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. According to the calendar, Shivaratri is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi (fourteenth day) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Phalgun.
Mahashivratri is of paramount spiritual importance. On this night, the position of the Earth’s northern hemisphere is such that energy in the human body naturally moves upward. On this day, nature inspires humans to reach their spiritual peak. Those living a family life celebrate Mahashivratri as Shiva’s wedding anniversary. Those with worldly ambitions see this day as Shiva’s victory over his enemies.
It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married on this day. People observe a fast and worship Lord Shiva on this day. The Mahashivratri fast is considered the easiest to observe. Therefore, everyone, from children to the elderly, observes this fast. Those observing the Mahashivratri fast are prohibited from eating grains. Therefore, they eat fruits on this day. In Rajasthan, as carrots and plums are in season during the fast, villagers consume carrots and plums. People worship Lord Shiva in temples and offer him aak and dhatura. Lord Shiva is especially fond of bhang (cannabis), which is why many Shiva devotees grind and consume it on this day.
It is said in the Puranas that once Shiva and Parvati were sitting on Mount Kailash. Parvati asked, “Is there a fast that would enable a person to attain your abode?” He then recounted the story of a man living in a country called Pratyana who sold animals to support himself. He had borrowed money from a merchant. Because he failed to repay the loan on time, the merchant imprisoned him in a Shiva temple.
Coincidentally, that day was Falgun Badi Chaturdashi. There were stories and prayers going on all night, which he also listened to. The next day, he was released on the condition that he would repay his debt quickly. He decided to sit on the river bank that night. Some animal would surely come there to drink water. So he made a place to sit on a nearby Bil tree. There was a Shivalinga under that Bil tree. While he was making his hiding place on the tree, he kept plucking Bil leaves and throwing them, which would fall on the Shivalinga. He had been hungry for two days. In this way, he had unknowingly observed the Shivaratri fast. Furthermore, Bilva leaves were also offered to the Shivalinga on their own.
After an hour of the night had passed, a pregnant deer came to drink water. The hunter placed his arrow on his bow, but upon hearing her pitiful voice, he let her go on the condition that she would return in the morning. In the second hour, another deer arrived. He released her as well. In the third hour, another deer arrived, and he released her too, all of them saying, “I will return to you in the morning.” In the fourth hour, a deer arrived. She told him her entire story, saying, “Those three deer were my companions. They were all yearning to meet me.” He then released her as well and dropped more bael leaves. This left his heart completely pure, clean, and soft. In the morning, he climbed down from the bael tree. As he descended, more bael leaves fell onto the Shivalinga. Pleased, Lord Shiva softened his heart so much that he regretted his past sins and became disgusted with killing animals. In the morning, all the deer returned. Seeing them keep their word, his heart became as white as milk and he burst into tears.
The festival of Mahashivratri demonstrates the importance of divine power in our lives. It shows us Lord Shiva’s immense sacrifice, such as drinking poison for the welfare of humanity and the universe. This day reminds us that if we perform good deeds and have faith in God, He will surely protect us. People believe that Lord Shiva is close to us on Mahashivratri, and those who worship and stay awake all night receive his special blessings. Many people donate to charity on this day, feed the poor, and pray to Lord Shiva for a happy life.
The story of Shivratri is recounted in our Vedas and Puranas: when the ocean was churned, fourteen gems were found. Among those gems was Halahal, whose heat began to torment all the gods and demons. Then Lord Shiva drank it. He dedicated himself to the welfare of the people. That is why he is called Mahadev. When he held Halahal in his throat, its heat turned his throat blue. Since then, Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkanth. Shiva means welfare. When the number of sinners in the world increases, Shiva destroys them and protects the people. That is why he is called Shiva.
For yogis and ascetics, this is the day when Shiva merged with Mount Kailash. In the yogic tradition, Shiva is not worshipped as God. Rather, he is considered the first guru, the Adi Guru, the originator of the science of yoga. After meditating for centuries, one day Shiva became completely still. All the turmoil within him stopped and he became completely still. That day was Mahashivratri. Therefore, ascetics view Mahashivratri as the night of stillness.
(The author is a freelance journalist accredited by the Rajasthan government.)
