Maha Shivaratri Fast 2024 - Mahashivratri Festival 2024 - Maha Shivaratri Pooja

Maha Shivaratri, also known as the Night of Welfare and Fortune is celebrated on Trayodashi of Phalgun Krishna Paksha every year. This shivratri has special significance in ancient scriptures. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared on the earth on this day in the form of Jyotirlinga. There are many stories regarding Shivaratri festival but all of them have similar format and description.

Phalgun Maha Shivratri Festival

The month of Phalgun depicts the new beginning. Even nature welcomes the month with zest and enthusiasm. Although. this festival is celebrated in every part of India, the rituals and tradition to obser Maha Shivaratri fast is different in Himachal region. People from different parts of the country visit the place to worship the gods and goddesses residing in the mandi. Mela of Phalgun has a special significance.

Rituals to Worship On Maha Shivratri

According to the belief, Maha Shivaratri fast is observed when chaturdashi tithi lies on the pradosh kal. According to the scriptures, this fast should be observed from the early morning of chaturdashi tithi to the night of. Devotees should only worsip and chant the name of Lord Shiva in all the four phases of the day. Worshipping the lord with proper rituals pleases lord and the devotee is able to get all his desires fulfilled. This fast should be observed in Pradosh Nishit kaal. A person who is incapable of observing this fast in a systematic manner should perform Shiva Pujan in the beginning of night or midnight. If he is not able to observe fast then, worshipping lord Shiva in the evening is considered auspicious.

Maha Shivratri Pujan

The night of Maha Shivratri is considered to be very auspicious. Donations, charity, shiva linga puja on the night of Maha Shivratri give fruitful results. Worshipping the Shiva Linga made of mercury anc crystal is considered most auspicious of all. Worshipping the shiva linga made of mercury with proper rituals fulfills all the desires of the devotee. On the other hand, crystal shivalinga give favourable results in terms of wealth, honor and prosperity.

Maha Shivratri - Worshipping the Shivalinga

Person observing fast of Mahashivaratri should meditate of lord Shiva the whole day. After having bath in the morning, Tikal of ash is wore on the forehead and beads of Rudraksha is wore. The idol of Lord Shiva should be bathed with milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar and ganga jal. Then sandalwood paste is applied on the forehead of the lord. Lord Shiva is worshipped facing the North East direction (Ishan Kon) with lamps, flowers, incense,  etc. While offering the prayer the devotee should chant Lord Shiva’s mantra. “ Namah Shivaya Tatpurushaya Vighane Mahadevaya Dhimahi Tanno Rudra Prachodyata. Trambank Yajamahe Sugandhit Pushtivardhanam Urvarukmiv Bandhanamrityumurkshiya Mamritat. It is believed that Lord Shiva incarnated into shivlinga on the mid night of phalgun krishna paksha. This is the reason Maha Shivratri is celebrated on this day. Moreover till Mahashivaratri, Surya Dev also reaches Uttarayana. This is also a time of season change. Hence, this time period is considered auspicious. It is said the Shivaratri is considered the best when it has the touch of Trayodashi, Chaturdashi and Amavasya date. It is believed, person who observe this fast receives all kinds of pleasure and salvation after death.