Table of Content:
- Introduction
- The Significance of Mahashivratri
- Legends Associated with Mahashivratri
- Observances and Traditions
- Celebrations Around the World
- Mahashivratri in Contemporary Times
- Main Meaning
- Mahashivratri 2024 Date
1. Introduction:
In India or other countries where Hindus live, Mahashivratri is celebrated most of the times. Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the main festival of all the Hindu This Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated on Magh Phagun Krishna Paksha Chaturdarshi. According to mythological stories, the earth began with the rise of Griling on this day. In other countries including India, Mahashivratri is celebrated in a very religious way.
According to Shiva Purana, there are many mythological stories related to Mahashivratri.
- Story of the hunter:
In ancient times, there was a hunter, his name was Chitra Bhanu. This hunter was indebted to a moneylender. For a long time, the hunter was not able to repay the loan to the moneylender, so the moneylender got very upset and caught the hunter and made him a prisoner, but the hunter remained captive. Coincidentally, he was a Shivite and that day the moneylender was making him worship Lord Shiva at his house because it was Mahashivratri. When the worship was being done in the moneylender’s house, the hunter was listening to him in his mind about the worship. When the moneylender When the puja of Lord Shiva ended, he started asking the hunter about repaying his debt, then the hunter very politely gave him the moneylender’s chakka and the next day he was freed. When the hunter got freed from the moneylender, he went straight towards the forest. During this time he had not eaten much and coincidentally it was the day of Mahashivratri, hence as per Mahashivratri he had heard about all the puja rituals during the puja of the moneylender, hence the hunter had unknowingly become the first ritual. When the hunter was searching for his prey in the forest, Thakkar sat under a tree. The tree under which the hunter was sitting was of Belpatra i.e. vine. Due to the hunter being tired, he started resting under the vine tree. The hunter rested under the vine. There was a pond next to it when the hunter was resting. After some mountain, a pregnant woman came to drink water from the pond and he started drinking. Then the hunter saw the deer and started climbing it with his bow closed when the deer saw the hunter. When he sees his mother climbing the bow, he starts pleading that I am proud, if you shoot an arrow at me then you are committing not one but two murders. The deer started saying again that after some time I will give birth, when everything is done for me then I myself will come to you. Hearing this, the hunter lets the deer go, but when the hunter moves back on his bow, the vine leaves break and fall down, but at the place where it falls, there is an idol of Shivling inside, which is a vine leaf. After this the hunter again starts resting under the banyan tree. Then in the second half of the day, a deer starts passing him on the way. Seeing this, the hunter becomes very happy. Again the hunter takes a bow on his bow. Mounted it and got ready to leave the band directly, after that when the deer saw that a hunter was about to leave the band on it, during this she started speaking, Paridhi, I have been married to Ritu a while back, Kamathur Birahini, I am the daughter of my beloved. I am wandering in search, I will meet my husband and will come to you soon. The hunter let him go after listening to the conversation. By this time the afternoon had passed. Now in the last quarter of the night, a deer with her children was passing him on the way. Then the hunter became happy and put the bow on his bow and started leaving. Seeing all this, the deer started saying, if you have to kill then wait for some more time, I will leave these small children with their father and will come back again to the hunter. Taking pity on the child, he let the deer go. The hunter had no sense of hunting and started breaking the vine leaf of the tree and throwing it down. During this, a strong hand-post brief started passing through the same path, then the hunter again started climbing with the bow closed, then the deer The hunter started pleadingly saying that just as the hunter has let go of the three deer before me, in the same way, if you kill him and his kids, then kill me too. With the conversation between the hunter and me in the morning, The sun had risen and due to fasting for three whole days and offering Belpatra to Shivling at night, he was filled with compassion and Godly power. Meanwhile, along with all the children, the hunter came to the hunter to kill the deer. All this Seeing the fate of the wild animals, the hunter started feeling remorse for his actions, tears started flowing from his eyes, then the hunter made himself kind forever. Seeing all this incident, the gods from the heavenly world started showering flowers on the hunter. Then the hunter and the deer family have enjoyed themselves and achieved
- Samundra manthan:
Samudra Manthan Samudra Manthan was such that it was sure to produce nectar but during Samudra Manthan a Halahal salt world was born Halahal salt world had the power to destroy the universe so only Lord Shiva could destroy it After this, Mahadev Shiva kept Halahal Salt Vishva in his throat due to which the poison was so powerful that Lord Shiva started feeling a lot of pain. After suffering so much, some doctors advised the deity to keep Lord Shiva awake the whole night. Thus, during the awakening of Lord Shiva, all the gods together organized dances and music throughout the night to awaken him. After that, the sun rose. After the sunrise, when Lord Shiva saw all this, he became very happy with the gods. From then on, this Shivaratri is celebrated. began to be celebrated
3. Legends Associated with Mahashivratri:
Delve into the rich tapestry of mythological tales surrounding Mahashivratri, from the tale of the hunter Chitra Bhanu to the cosmic saga of Samudra Manthan. These narratives unravel the spiritual depths embodied within the festival.
4. Observances and Traditions:
On the day of Mahashivratri, the devotees of Lord Shiva fast the whole day and night. They do not eat anything on this day. If anyone has to eat, they consume fruits, milk or water. Here the devotees dance throughout the day and night and read Shiva Chalisa and Shiva Purana. After that, they take ritual bath of Shivalinga i.e. perform Rudrabhishek and also participate in bhajans and kirtans dedicated to Lord Shiva.
5. Celebrations Around the World:
Along with India, Mahashivratri is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in other countries such as Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. In many such countries, Lord Shiva is worshiped. It is a public holiday in which devotees perform traditional dance and music and enjoy the culture. also do the program
6. Mahashivratri in Contemporary Times:
On the day of Mahashivratri, its devotees organize many such programs which are also done to promote environmental awareness in which spiritual organizations spread unity, love and other messages through their programs and satsangs or it is a very religious festival which is Hindus or people of any other religion also celebrate with great enthusiasm.
7. Main Meaning:
To worship on Mahashivratri, one should first take bath with Ganga water and wear new or clean clothes and celebrate it with a fast as per the time in the temple. This is a very religious and spiritual festival which is observed peacefully by all the devotees.
Mahashivratri Date 2024
08 March 2024 – Mahashivratri Puja