Maha Shivratri 2016

Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in the reverence of lord Shiva. The literal meaning of Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva. Maha Shivratri in 2016 is on 07th of March. The Maha Shivaratri festival is celebrated each year on the 14th night of the new moon in the Phaalgun month according to the Hindu calendar. The principal celebration about this festival is to offer Bael leaves to lord Shiva. Fast is observed by people along with night long vigil.

The festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated by great devotion and enthusiasm all over the country. One can clearly see the loyalty and attachment of devotes toward their god - Shiva.

The Legend Behind Maha Shivratri

While celebrating Shivaratri in 2016, it is good idea to know the legend behind festival of Shivaratri. The legend of Maha Shivaratri is associated with the Samudra Manthan (churning of oceans). It was a process in which the asuras or demons and gods joined hands to churn our elixir from the ocean�s depth using a mountain as a churn dash and snake as a rope. The Devas as well as the auras were churning out the nectar of immortality. However, along with elixir, many things came out and one of those things was a pot of poison. The poison was so powerful that it could destroy the whole life in the universe. However, a problem arose that the poison could not be discarded but it has to be drunk by one of the Asuras or Devas. No one stood in front to drink that poison. The gods then went to Shiva and requested him to drink the poison. Shiva came up after the request and said that he would drink the poison. By drinking the poison, lord Shiva removed the destructive capacity of the poison. Goddess Parvati was shocked at the act of her husband and strangled his neck in order to prevent the poison from reaching whole of the universe that was supposed to be in Shiva�s stomach. The poison was so powerful that changed the color of Shiva�s neck to blue. Due to this reason, Shiva is also called as the Neelkanth.

Shiva then went to meditate in the Himalayas. By drinking the poison, Shiva saved the life of whole humanity and sacrificed himself for the sake of his family and mankind.

Rituals of Maha Shivratri 2016

On the day of Maha Shivaratri, the temples of Shiva are flooded with the devotees who come to perform the traditional Shivaling Puja and seek blessings from the lord. The devotees take a holy bath in a holy river. They wear clean clothes and take some water to cleanse the shivaling. Prayers are offered to sun, Vishnu and Shiva. Women pray for the well being of their husbands and children. The devotees pour water on the shivling along with some milk.

There are many other legends that are associated with Shivratri. One of them says that on the day of Shivrathri, or Mahashivratri, lord Shiva got married to goddess Parvati. Young women observe fast on Shivratri and worship Shiva in order to get a capable and passionate husband like Shiva. Those who are married observe fast and offer prayers to Shiva to seek his blessings for the long life of their husbands and children.

It is also believed that on this day Shiva performed �Tandava�, the dance that inculcates creation, preservation and destruction. Another legend has it that on this auspicious day of Mahashivratri, lord Shiva manifested himself in the Ling form for the very first time.

You may believe whichever legend you may like, but the love and blessings of lord Shiva will not differ.

As per the Shiva Maha puran, the Shiva Puja must consist of these 6 rituals:

• Bathing Shivaling with water, milk and honey along with Bael leaves, that represent the purification of soul;
• Vermillion paste applied to Shiva ling, representing virtue;
• Offering fruits, a symbol of gratification and longevity;
• Lighting incense sticks, symbolizing wealth;
• Lighting of lamp that symbolizes attainment of knowledge;
• Lastly, betel leaves that represent satisfaction derived from worldly pleasures.

Following the above mentioned rituals not only brings you closer to the god but also gives you immense success through lord�s blessings. Worship lord shiva on the occasion of mahashivratri.

You can send lovely maha shivaratri SMS to your loved ones to wish them on this occasion.

Worship lord Shiva on Mahashivrathri to seek his blessings. We hope that you find this article useful. Happy Maha Shivratri 2016.