Mahashivaratri is a Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrates his marriage to goddess Parvati. It is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (February/March). The word “Mahashivaratri” literally means “Great Night of Shiva” and is considered one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar.
On this night, devotees of Lord Shiva observe fasts and perform rituals to seek his blessings. They spend the night in worship, meditation, and prayer and visit Shiva temples to offer milk, honey, and fruits to the deity. Some also perform a special all-night vigil or jagran, during which they chant mantras, sing hymns, and perform aarti to Lord Shiva.
The celebration of Mahashivaratri is also associated with the story of Lord Shiva drinking poison to save the world from destruction. It is said that on this night, Lord Shiva consumed the deadly poison and saved the world from destruction. To commemorate this event, milk and other offerings are made to Lord Shiva’s Lingam, which is a symbolic representation of the god.
Some of the traditional customs and rituals associated with Mahashivaratri are:
Devotees take a ritual bath with water, milk, and honey before going to the temple.
Offerings of Bael leaves and fruits are made to Lord Shiva.
A special kind of fasting is observed, where the devotees consume only fruits and milk on the day of the festival.
Devotees also perform a Rudrabhishekam, which is a special type of puja that is performed to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in all parts of India, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The celebration is also popular in Nepal, where Lord Shiva is considered the patron deity of the country.
Isha Mahashivaratri is a day which is celebrated by Isha Foundation, which is a spiritual organization founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev in 1992. On this day, Sadhguru conducts a special program which includes meditation, yoga, and other spiritual practices. The event is open to people of all age groups, regardless of their religious or spiritual background.