Mahashivaratri is a religious festival of Hindus, which is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Shiva, the principal deity of Hinduism. Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha is celebrated in the month of Falgun, the festival of Maha Shivaratri. In georgian calendar, the month of "Falgun" marks the arrival of spring. "Falgun" ususlly falls on 13th february according to Georgian calendar. On this day, Shiva devotees and those who have faith in Shiva keep fasting and especially worship Lord Shiva.
 |
| Lord Shiva |
There are some beliefs related to Lord Shiva regarding Maha Shivaratri. It is believed that Lord Shiva was descended on this special day in the midnight form of "Rudra of Brahma". At the same time, it is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva opened his third eye by doing Tandava- his most ferocious dance and ended the universe with the flame of this eye. Apart from this, in many places this day is also associated with the marriage of Lord Shiva and it is believed that Lord Shiva and mother Parvati were married on this holy day.
Though there is a Shivaratri in every month, but this Shivaratri which falls on the month of Phalgun, after 13th February has a great significance, hence it is called as Maha Shivaratri. In fact, Maha Shivaratri is the festival of worship of Lord Shiva, when the religious people worship Shiva with rituals and receive his blessings. On this day a large number of devotees throng the Shiva temples, who consider themselves fortunate to worship Shiva.
On the day of Mahashivaratri, Lord Shiva is worshiped and anointed with various holy things . Lord Shiva loves cannabis so many people also offer cannabis to them. Fasting is done throughout the day and after worshiping it is done in the evening.
Legend behind Maha Shivratri
Once upon a time there lived a Bhil in the forest of Varanasi. His name was Gurudruh. He used to hunt wild animals and raise his family. Once on Shivaratri, he went to the forest to hunt. That day he did not get any hunting all day and it became night. Then he climbed the tree by the lake thinking that if any animal comes to drink water, I will hunt. It was a wood apple tree and a "Shivling" was installed beneath it. A deer came there. When the hunter shot an arrow at the bow to kill him, the leaves of the tree tree and the water fell on the Shivling. Thus, in the first hour of the night, she was unwittingly worshiped by her. Deer also ran away. A little later another deer came near the lake. The hunter, seeing him, again shot an arrow at his bow. This time also in the second half of the night, the leaves and water of wood apple tree fell on the Shivling and the Shivling was worshiped. She also ran away like the deer. After this, a deer of the same family came there, this time the same thing happened and Shivling was worshiped in the third hour. That deer also escaped.
Then the deer came to drink water there with his flock and the hunter was very happy to see everyone together and he again put an arrow on his bow, which led to the worship of Shivling again in the fourth stroke. In this way, the hunter remained hungry and thirsty throughout the day and kept awake throughout the night and the four poets inadvertently worshiped Shiva by him, thus completing the fast of Shivaratri. The effects of this fast consumed his sins and he abandoned the idea of killing the deer as soon as the virtues rose.
Then Lord Shankar appeared from the Shivling and gave a boon to the hunter. That time, during the ear of Lord Rama would come to your house and befriend you. You will also get salvation. Thus, Lord Shiva gave salvation to the hunter due to the unknowingly fasted during Shivaratri.
Festival Magic is your encyclopedia of festivals and celebration.
No comments:
Post a Comment