Significance of Walnuts in Mahashivratri

Every Shiva devotee knows that water, milk, honey, and bael leaves are dear to Lord Shiva. These are common offerings to the deity, and each has some particular benefit. For example, Milk Abishekam can bestow progeny. Honey can bestow wealth, curd bestows vehicles, and Abishekam with Ganges water can bring salvation.  

But in Jammu and Kashmir, walnuts play an important role during Shiva worship, especially during Mahashivratri, the ‘Great Night of Shiva’.

Maha Shivaratri, a major Hindu festival that honors Lord Shiva, is in February or March every year. It is also known as 'Padmarajarathri. On this day, devotees observe a strict vrat/fast, chant Mantras, do meditation, and worship Shiva to gain his blessings. By doing so, they hope to get freedom from all sins and obtain Moksha or salvation. Overcoming darkness and ignorance is the underlying theme of Mahashivratri.  

Shivratri is on the 14th day of each month, one day before the new moon. There are 12 Shivratris in a year, and Mahashivratri is the most important of these. In 2022, Mahashivratri is on March 1.

 

Legends behind Mahashivratri

According to legends, Mahashivratri commemorates the anniversary of Shiva’s cosmic dance of creation, destruction, and preservation. It also celebrates his wedding with Goddess Parvati. 

 

Shiva supposedly married Parvati on this day. After his first wife, Sati, died, Shiva was full of grief and went into deep meditation. Sati was reborn as Parvati and, after severe penance, became Shiva’s consort. Mahashivratri marks the union of the two deities on the 14th day of Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight) in the month of Phalguna.

Shiva also performed the dance of preservation, creation, and destruction on this auspicious night. The creation and destruction of the universe follow a cyclic pattern. This means that Shiva destroys Brahma’s creation, after which Brahma begins the next cycle of creation. When it’s time for destruction, Shiva performs his Tandav or dance of destruction.

Yet another legend claims that Mahashivratri is actually a thanksgiving ceremony for Shiva. During Samudra Manthan, Shiva saved the world from the halahala poison that emerged when the gods and demons churned the Milky Ocean. He drank the poison but retained it in his throat. The poison turned his throat blue, and he got the name Neelkantha (the blue-throated one). The Devas thanked him by entertaining him with song and dance. This is replicated by the devotees’ activities on Mahashivratri. But instead of singing and dancing, they mostly observe a fast, chant Mantras, and do meditation. 

Mahashivratri in Kashmir

In Kashmir Shaivism, Mahashivratri has the name of ‘Herath.’ Herath comes from the Sanskrit word "Hararatri," meaning "Night of Hara" (another name of Shiva).

The prayers held on the day after Maha Shivaratri are known as 'salaam'. 

Historical accounts say that the word 'salaam' became part of Kashmiri Pandits' tradition in the 18th century, when the Afghan governor, Jabbar Khan, compelled them to celebrate the festival in July. The reason: he wanted to see if it would snow if the festival were celebrated in summer. To everyone’s surprise, it did snow that day. Hence, they began to pay obeisance to the Vatak Razae (Shiva) and offer 'salaam'.

Significance of Walnuts in Mahashivratri

The Herath celebrations begin 5 days before Mahashivratri. People clean their homes and decorate them. They buy new clothes cook sweetmeats. On Mahashivratri, only the eldest person in the family observes the fast. The women prepare vegetarian food in the morning. For the Pooja, a brass pot is filled with walnuts with their shells. The pot signifies Shiva. It is filled with water so that the walnuts get immersed. 

Then they fill another smaller pot (‘Dul’ in Kashmiri) with walnuts and water. This pot symbolizes Parvati. Two smaller pots are prepared the same way. These signify Kartikeya and Ganesha. A Kashmiri Pandit performs the Pooja at home. It includes an elaborate prayer and other rituals. This ritual signifies the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.  

The Pooja begins in the evening around 5-6 pm and goes on till midnight. Only family members take part in it. After midnight, the eldest family member breaks the fast. The Prasad or offerings to the deity are distributed amongst everyone. Rotis made using rice and radish comprise the Prasad, called Vagirbah in Kashmiri. The following day is called Salaam. On this day, the ladies cook an elaborate meal comprising mostly non-vegetarian food. Friends and relatives are invited to partake in the feast. The walnuts remain in the pots for the next 3 days. Walnuts are very dear to Shiva, so devotees offer them to him.  

The 4th day of Shivratri is Dunya Mavas or Amavasya (new moon day). On this day, people take the walnuts out of the pots and break them. They also take all the flower-decked vessels to a stream or river and immerse them. Then they distribute the walnuts among family, friends, and relatives. Soaked walnuts are a good source of energy and are very nutritious.