Shivratri Festival-Festival of Lord Shiva

In the year 2017, Chaturdasi Thiti begins at 21.38 on the 24th of February, and Mahashivratri will be celebrated on this day. Usually this festival is celebrated by devotees by keeping vigil in the night, performing Puja to the lord, doing Abhishek, singing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, fasting etc. with the undaunted faith that every action done with devotion and true dedication will certainly produce results.

There are several stories told for celebrating Shivratri, but the most prevalent is that, an ascetic, Lord Shiva consents to marry Parvati, and this day is celebrated as Mahashivaratri.  This marks the culmination of the two energies, which is needed by every individual to make their life complete.  Spinsters keep a full day fast and perform Pooja to be blessed with a good husband/ life partner.  Lord Shiva, lives up to the name of Bholenath, is easy to please, and blesses his devotees with abundant wealth and prosperity.

Like every other Pooja Shivratri also has a specific puja vidhi, and Abhishek vidhi, as Abhishek is of great importance on this day. Fasting the previous day of Shivratri by eating only once, is highly recommended as it is said that the abdomen should not have any undigested food, before commencement of a Pooja.   The next day after an early morning bath, one should take a vow that he/she would keep fast the entire day. Even though a complete fast is the one in which even water is not taken, it is alright to have some milk and fruits, only in the morning, for those who cannot fast fully. At home a simple Shivratri puja can be performed by keeping the Shivling in a copper plate, preferably, and washing it with water. If tap water is used then adding some tulsi leaves is desirable as this makes the water pure. During the Abhishek one sits on the ground and holding the vessel with both hands pours it in a trail on the shivling, all the while chanting “Om Namah Shivaye”. For an elaborate puja and Abhishek one can use coconut water, rose water, milk, curd, honey, ghee etc.

 Shivratri puja is conducted four times in the night and each is called a Prahar and the timings for this year are

The first prahar puja-- 18.38 – 21.45

The second Prahar Puja --- 21.45 – 24.51

The Third Prahar puja --   24.31 – 27.57

The fourth Prahar Puja -- 27.57 – 31.04

The third and fourth prahar will fall on the 25^th of Feb.

If one wishes to perform puja four times, then Abhishek should be in the order of

1. Water

 2. Curd

 3. Ghee and

4. Honey.

The Shivling is then adorned with kum kum and sandal paste and a garland made of Bilva leaves is put around the idol.

After completing puja at home one can visit the temple and take part in the temple puja. The fast has to be broken the next day after taking a bath.

It is very auspicious to wear a Rudraksha on this day, as per requirement of the person. One can contact Rudra Centre, and take advice from Neeta Singhal, for the kind of rudraksh one has to wear. For details please check www.Rudraksha-ratna.com.