Maha Shivratri 2021 : Mahakal status,know history, Significance, How to celebrate Shivaratri, Hindu festival

 1. महाशिवरात्रि | Maha shivratri| Origin

The festival of 'Maha Shivratri' which literally translates to 'the greatest night of Shiva' is one of the most splendidly celebrated festivals across the country.

Celebrated annually, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the new moon day in the Hindu month of Maagha.

महाशिवरात्रि कब है ? | Maha shivratri 

date 2021 

        Thursday, 11 March

2. Shiv and Shakti - Maha shivratri

The duo of Shiv and Shakti is considered to be the epitome of love, power, and togetherness. 

The festival marking the initiation of their bond - 'Maha Shivratri'

3. हम महाशिवरात्रि क्यों मानते हैं ? | Why do we celebrate Maha Shivratri ? 

The festival celebrates the grand marriage of the lord of destruction- Shiva with the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty- Parvati, who is also known as Shakti (power). According to Hindu mythology, on the night of the marriage, Lord Shiva had a very diverse group of acquaintances including Hindu gods, goddesses, animals, and demons escorting him to the house of the goddess accoeding to belief.

According to lore, Shivratri is celebrated on the day when Lord Shiva saved the world by drinking poison that emerged from the ocean during Samudra Manthan. This poison got stored in his throat thus making it blue which is the reason that Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkanth (blue throat)

4. The emergence of Shivalinga | शिवलिंग की उत्पत्ति.

According to a legend in Shiva Purana, two of the triads of Hindu Gods – Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu – were fighting to establish superiority amongst them. Horrified at the intensity of this battle, the other gods requested Lord Shiva to intervene and make them realise the futility of this skirmish. Shiva assumed the form of a huge column of fire between Brahma and Vishnu. The latter Gods decided to find the pinnacle of the fire column. Lord Brahma assumed the form of a swan and flew upwards while Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha (the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in the form of a boar) and went inside the Earth. As light is limitless, neither Brahma nor Vishnu could reach the end despite their tedious search.Since Lord Shiva helped pacify the Gods, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in his honour.

5. What people do on the occasion of 'Maha Shivratri'

On this occasion, devotees across the country are seen flocking to temples, that often witness long queues from as early as the break of the dawn and chants of 'Om Namah Shivaya' and 'Har Har Mahadev' reverberate. Special prayers are offered in all Shiva temples throughout the holy night.

6. Significance | महाशिवरात्रि का महत्व

Of the 12 Shivaratris that are observed in a year, the Maha Shivaratri is considered to be the most auspicious one. Some celebrate the festival during the day, while others celebrate it during the night by organising jagrans where women and men come together and sing religious hymns throughout the night. Devotees observe a strict fast for a day. In some parts of Karnataka, children indulge in mischief and then ask for punishment in tune to the myth of Lord Shiva punishing Brahma for lying.

⏩ The 12 Jyotirlinga | 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग

⏩ mahadev quotes in Hindi | mahakal status | mahadev two line status | shivratri status