According to the Hindu calendar, Mahashivratri is celebrated every year on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of Phalgun month. This year this holy festival is on Sunday 15th February. According to religious belief, this holy festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On this day, devotees of Lord Shiva worship him with rituals to get his blessings. Night puja is also performed on this day, but more important than this is the four-hour puja. It is believed that by worshiping at four o’clock, a person becomes free from the sins of life and attains religion, wealth, work and salvation. On the day of Mahashivratri, four-hour puja is done starting from evening till Brahma Muhurta the next day. An ordinary householder should worship Lord Shiva in the morning and evening on the day of Mahashivratri for auspiciousness and fulfillment of wishes.
Shiva symbol of totality
The personality and form of Lord Shiva is a symbol of completeness. It provides that philosophy of his life, which takes man to the highest peak of his personality. This character of Lord Shiva is the culmination of the highest ideals of human life. Mahadev is both a householder and a vitaraagi Adiyogi, this quality of his gives the message that to follow the path of yoga, it is not necessary to sacrifice the world for devotion to God. One must give up one’s own evil tendencies, possessions and ego so that the conscience can be made compatible with yoga. Lord Shiva, the resident of Kailash, on one hand remains engrossed in penance in the most sacred Himalayas, while on the other hand, he is also believed to reside in the crematorium with the ghosts. Its practical meaning is that it is creditable to be in contact with the pure and the noble, but one should not be considered despicable and sinful. All are children of God and He himself loves everyone equally. Shiva teaches right vision and friendship here.
According to mythology, Lord Shiva appeared for the first time on the day of Mahashivratri. Shiva appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga i.e. Shivalinga of fire. Such a Shivalinga which had neither beginning nor end. It is said that to locate the Shivalinga, Brahmaji was trying to see the uppermost part of the Shivalinga in the form of a swan, but he could not succeed. He could not reach the topmost part of Shivalinga. On the other hand, Lord Vishnu was also looking for the base of Shivling in the form of Varaha, but he too could not find the base.
Shiva and Shakti Milan
On Mahashivratri, devotees of Shiva stay awake the whole night for their worshippers. Shiva devotees celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva on this day. It is believed that Shakti was married to Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri. On this day, Lord Shiva left the life of renunciation and entered household life. Shiva, who was a recluse, became a householder. It is believed that this is one of the reasons behind celebrating the festival of Holi 15 days after Shivratri. Therefore, Mahashivratri is an important festival for those who believe in Hindu religion and worshipers of Lord Shiva. It is also believed that on this day the worshiper gets salvation by doing charity and worshiping Lord Shiva. Jagran has special significance on the festival of Shivratri. There is a mythological story that once Parvati ji asked Lord Shiv Shankar, ‘What is the best and simple fast and worship by which the creatures of the mortal world easily receive your blessings?’ In reply, Lord Shiva told Parvati the solution for the fast of ‘Mahashivratri’. The lord of Chaturdashi date is Shiva. Therefore, in astrology it has been said to be extremely auspicious. Although Shivratri comes in every month, but Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi is called Mahashivratri. According to astrological calculations, Sun God has also entered Uttarayan by this time and this time of change of seasons is said to be very auspicious.
The defects of the horoscope are pacified by worship.
By worshiping Shivalinga on Mahashivratri, the Navagraha defects of the horoscope are pacified, especially the Moon-born defects like mental unrest, lack of happiness and health of the mother, relations with friends, delay in the happiness of house and vehicle, heart diseases, eye disorders, leprosy, cold, respiratory diseases, cough-pneumonia related diseases and the respect and prestige in the society increases. On this day, married women should offer henna to Goddess Parvati for beautification and men should bathe with Panchamrit, milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, write Ram-Ram on Belpatra with Ashtagandha, Kumkum or sandalwood and offer it on Shivalinga saying ‘Om Namah Shivay Karalam Mahakaal Kaal Kripalam Om Namah Shivay’. Along with this, Bhang, Dhatura and Mandar flowers and Ganga water were also offered; Kaal Haro Har, Kasht Haro Har, Dukha Haro, Daridray Haro, Namami Shankar Bhajami Shankar Shankar Shambho Tav Sharanam. One should pray with mantra.
Vedic Vibhushan Astrologer Pt. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi