Mahashivratri 2022: When and why Mahashivratri is celebrated?
The festival of Mahashivratri 'the great night of Shiva' is one of the most important in the list of spiritual festivals of India. Let us know when is the date-day and Muhurta of Maha Shivratri in 2022 and what is its importance.
March 1 - Tuesday
Nishita Kaal Puja Timings - 24:08 to 24:58
Maha Shivratri Paran Time - After 06:49 (March 2)
Chaturdashi date starts - 03:15 (March 1)
Chaturdashi date ends - 00:59 (March 2)
Significance of Mahashivratri
Once upon a time, in Indian culture, there used to be 365 festivals in a year. In other words, they used to find an excuse to celebrate some of the other days of the year. These 365 festivals were associated with different causes and different purposes of life. These were linked to various historical events, victory, and certain stages of life such as sowing, planting, and harvesting crops. We had a festival for every stage and every situation. But the significance of Mahashivratri is different.
The fast of Mahashivratri holds special significance for the devotees of Lord Bhole Nath, the God of gods. Especially on Mahashivratri, there is a wonderful sight of faith in the temples. The biggest festival of Lord Shiva, the owner of the three worlds, is Mahashivratri. It is said that on the day of Mahashivratri, Lord Shankar is on the earth at those places where his Shivling is. This festival is celebrated on the Trayodashi date of Falgun Krishna Paksha.
Why celebrate Shivratri?
It is believed that Lord Shankar and Mother Parvati were married on this day and the first Shivling appeared on this day. Also, on the day of Mahashivratri, Lord Shiva kept a poison called Kalakoot in his throat, which came out during the churning of the ocean. By fasting on this day, Lord Bhole Nath is pleased and fulfills the wishes of the fasting person. All men and women, children, young and old, do this fast.
On this day, by observing fasting methodically and doing night awakening while reciting Shiv Pooja, Shiva Katha, Shiva Stotras, and reciting "Om Namah Shivay", one gets results similar to Ashwamedha Yagya. On the second day of the fast, food, Dakshina is given along with clothes and kheer as much as possible.
The glory of fasting: It is believed that one who observes this fast, after attaining all the pleasures, attains salvation. This fast is going to destroy all sins. After observing this fast for 14 consecutive years, it should be ended according to the law.
Resolution of fast: The resolution of the fast should be done by reciting Samvat, name, month, side, date-constellation, one's own name, and gotra. To resolve the fast of Mahashivratri, water, rice, flowers, etc. are left on the Shivling.
Material of fasting: The items used in the worship of fasting include Panchamrit (Gangajal, milk, curd, ghee, honey), fragrant flowers, pure clothes, bilva leaves, incense, lamp, naive, sandalwood paste, Seasonal
Method of fasting: Those observing Mahashivratri fast should meditate on Lord Bhole Nath for the whole day of fasting. After taking bath in the morning, tilak of ashes is done and a garland of Rudraksha is worn. Facing its north-east direction, Shiva should be worshiped with incense, flowers, and other worship materials.
In this fast, worship is done in all four phases. One should keep chanting “Om Namah Shivay” and “Shivay Namah” in the worship of every Pahar. If it is not possible to do this chanting in the Shiva temple, then this mantra can be changed by going to a quiet place, in the east direction of the house. Special merit is obtained by chanting these mantras in all four quarters. Lord Shankar is very pleased by performing Rudrabhishek during the fast.
Shiva Abhishek Method - To perform Shiva Abhishek on the day of Mahashivratri, first of all, take an earthen pot and fill it with water, put Bel leaves, flowers of Aak Datura, rice, etc. in the water, and offer it to Shivling. One should listen to the recitation of Shiv Puran on the day of fasting and stop the non-existent thoughts from coming into the mind. On the next day of Shivratri, the fast is ended by offering havan to barley, sesame, kheer, and belpatra.
Legislation: On the day of Mahashivratri, the gathering of Shiva devotees is seen especially in Shiva temples. Lord Bhole Nath is pleased when he is worshiped by offering Bel leaves etc. When night awakening is done along with fasting and worship, then this fast gives more auspicious results. Lord Shiva was married on this day, hence Shiva's procession is taken out in the night.
Vrat Katha: Once upon a time. 'There lived a hunter in a village. He used to feed his family by killing animals. Due to not being able to repay the loan to the moneylender on time, the moneylender took the hunter captive in Shivmath. Incidentally, that day was Shivratri. The hunter kept meditating and listening to religious things related to Shiva. He also heard the story of Shivratri on Chaturdashi. As a result, the next day the moneylender freed the hunter from bondage. Like his daily routine, he went out hunting in the forest but was troubled by hunger and thirst due to being in jail all day. To hunt, he started making a halt on a bael tree on the bank of a pond. Under the bel tree, there was a Shivling which was covered with bilva leaves. Hunter could not find the person. The twigs he plucked while making the halt accidentally fell on the Shivling. In this way, along with fasting of hungry and thirsty hunters throughout the day, Bel leaves were also offered on Shivling. After one night, a pregnant deer reached the pond to drink water. As soon as the hunter shot the bow, the deer said, 'I am pregnant. I will deliver soon. You will kill two living beings at once, which is not right. I will appear before you soon after giving birth to my child, then you will kill To me.' The hunter loosened the rope and the deer disappeared into the bushes. The victim bowed his head in defeat. He was in all sorts of thoughts. It was the last hour of the night. Then it was a golden opportunity for the hunter who had set out from there with his children along with another deer. He did not delay in shooting the bow, he was about to release the arrow when the deer said, 'O Pardhi! I will hand over these children to the father. Don't kill me this time.
The hunter laughed and said, 'Let me leave the victim who came forward, I am not such a fool. I've lost a victim twice before and my kids must be starving. In response, Mrigi again said, 'Just as you are torturing the love of your children, so do I too, so only in the name of children, I am asking for life for some time. O Pardhi! Believing in me, I leave them to their father and promise to return immediately. Hearing the humble voice of the deer, the hunter took pity on him. He let that chicken escape too. In the absence of prey, the hunter sitting on the vine tree was breaking it and throwing it down. When it was about to dawn, a mighty deer came on the same path. The hunter thought that he would definitely hunt it. Seeing the trunk of the hunter, the deer said in a humble voice, 'O Pardhi brother! If you have killed three deer and small children who came before me, do not delay in killing me too, so that I may not have to suffer a moment in their separation, I am the husband of those deer. If you have given life to them, please give life to me for a moment. I will meet him and appear before you.
Hearing about the deer, the whole night's events turned in front of the hunter. He told the whole story to the deer. Then the deer said, 'The way my three wives have taken the promise, they will not be able to follow their religion after my death. Let me go too I will be presenting you with all of them soon. The violent heart of the hunter was purified by fasting, night awakening, and offering Bel leaves on Shivling. Divine power resided in him. The bow and arrow were easily missed from his hand. By the grace of Lord Shiva, his violent heart was filled with compassionate feelings. Remembering his past deeds, he started burning in the flame of repentance. After a while, the deer family appeared before the hunter, so that he could hunt them, but seeing such truthfulness, sattvikta, and collective love of wild animals, the hunter felt very guilty. Tears welled up in his eyes. By not killing the deer family, the hunter removed his hard heart from animal violence and made him soft and kind forever. From Dev Lok to the entire Dev Samaj was also watching this incident. As the event ended, the gods showered flowers. Then the hunter and the deer family attained salvation.
Significance of Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri has special significance for the seekers walking on the spiritual path. It is also very important for those who are in family situations and are absorbed in worldly ambitions. People engrossed in family circumstances celebrate Mahashivratri as a celebration of the marriage of Shiva. People engrossed in worldly ambitions celebrate Mahashivratri as the day of victory of Shiva over his enemies. But, for the seekers, it is the day on which they merged into Mount Kailash. He became motionless like a mountain. Shiva is not worshiped as a deity in the yogic tradition. He is considered to be the Adi Guru, the first Guru, from whom knowledge arose. After several millennia of meditation, one day he was completely frozen. That day was Mahashivratri. All the activities within him became calm and he became completely calm, so the seekers celebrate Mahashivratri as the night of peace.
Spiritual Significance of Mahashivratri
Leaving mythology behind, this day has special significance in yogic traditions as it offers many possibilities for the seeker. Modern science has gone through many phases to the point where they have given you the proof that what you know as life, matter, and existence, what you know as the universe and the constellations. I know; All that is one energy, which manifests in millions and crores of forms. This scientific fact is the truth derived from the experience of every yogi. The word 'yogi' refers to one who has come to know the oneness of existence. When I say 'yoga', I am not referring to any particular practice or tantra. Yoga is the whole desire to know this infinite expansion and oneness in existence. The night of Mahashivratri gives an opportunity to the person to experience it.
Mahashivratri - the night of awakening
Mahashivratri is an occasion and a possibility when you can connect yourself to the experience of infinite emptiness within every human being, which is the source of all creation. On one hand, Shiva is called the destroyer and on the other, he is also the most merciful. He is a very generous giver. He appears in the form of Mahakarunamayi at many places in the Yoga Kathas. The forms of his compassion have been singular and wonderful. Thus Mahashivratri 2019 is also a special night to take something. It is our wish and blessing that you at least for a moment in this night experience the infinite expansion that we call Shiva. May it not be just a night of awakening from sleep, a night of awakening for you, a night full of consciousness and awareness!
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