WHY MAHASHIVARATRI OBSERVED?
Jo amrut pite hain unhe dev kehte hain aur Jo vish pite hain vunhe mahadev kehte hai!
HAPPY MAHASHIVARATRI TO YOU ALL.
#KNOW ABOUT SHIVARATRI#
Maha Shivratri is observed on the 13th night/14th day of the 11th Hindu month of Phalguna or Maagh (February-March) every year.
There are various interesting mythological stories about why Shivratri is celebrated. One such story is that the formless God appeared in the form of 'Lingodbhav Moorti' at midnight on Maha Shivratri and this is said to be the reason why devotees stay awake at night and offer prayers to the Lord.
Thousands of devotees take a holy dip at various pilgrim destinations on this occasion. From early morning, devotees form long queues in various temples in India to offer prayers and also witness the Rudra Abhishekam of the Almighty. The day is also observed with devotees smearing their bodies with ash. Devotees also celebrate the festival by fasting and offering special prayers to Lord Shiva, the god of creation and destruction.
Maha Shivratri is not just celebrated in India but also in other regions including Nepal, where Lord Shiva is worshipped.
As devotees pray to the Lord, they chant "Om Namah Shivaya!" throughout the night.
There are few intriguing facts about this auspicious occasion.
*Maha Shivratri is said to be the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Thus, the day is the union of Shiva and Shakti, the two greatest forces of the Universe.
*Shivratri night means a lot to unmarried women who worship to get a husband like Lord Shiva.
*Devotees worship Shiva to achieve success and to drive away evil spirits.
*It is believed that Hindu devotees stay awake all night to give company to God Shiva, who was not supposed to fall sleep after drinking the ocean poison after Samudra Manthan.
*It is assumed that Lord Brahma Displayed Lord Shiva's Rudra Avatar on this day.
By: Deepak.S. Ganachari
