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The Significance of Mahashivaratri
Posted on: 13/Feb/2018 11:17:11 AM
Mahashivaratri is one of the important occasions celebrated by the Hindus when they pray Lord Siva and observe Viratham or penance.
The occasion of Mahashivaratri falls during the month of the Tamil calendar month of Masi during the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (the second half of the moon’s fortnight when it starts disappearing) on the night of ‘Sathurthasi’ (the 14th day during the second half of the fortnight).
A small book, titled ‘Sivarathrikarpam’, explains the procedure of the rites to observe on the day/night of Mahashivaratri.
The devotees following the penance on Mahashivaratri must have to take food only once on the previous day (eve of Mahashivaratri) and then on the day of Shivarathri, they have to bathe without taking any food and pray on Lord Shiva and pray during the period of 4 ‘Jamam’s. The next day, they have to bathe early morning have a Darshan of Lord Shiva, take food along with other devotees of Lord Shiva and complete the penance.
Among the various penances observed by the Hindus as per their Hindu calendar, Mahashivaratri is considered to be the most sacred or the holiest.
The penance on this occasion is of 5 types – Mahashivaratri Viratham (penance), Yoga Shivarathri Viratham, Nithya Shivarathri Viratham, Patchaya Shivarathri Viratham, and Madha Shivarathri Viratham.
As per the mythology, the folklore is that even the God of Death Lord Yama trembles with fear and awe on hearing about the greatness of Mahashivaratri and this occasion is the most sacred among the various Viratham or penances observed by the Hindus.
Mahashivaratri is the day on which the Lord Shiva presented Himself in the form of Linga. Lord Shiva appears in the form of Fire (light) between the other 2 God Brahma and Vishnu.
The tradition explains that Mahashivaratri is the day on which the Goddess Sakthi performed a special Pooja. As per the Hindu mythology, Shivarathri falls every month on the night of the Sathurthi - the 14th day of the decaying fortnight of the moon during the Krishna Paksha. The devotees of Lord Shiva observe Shivarathri every month.
According to the myth, during Pralayam (a great flood annihilating the whole world), the world was about to be totally destroyed, Goddess Sakthi prayed to Lord Shiva that at the end of this
Yuga’, all the lives should remain alive during the 4 ‘Jamam’s of the night and should perform the 5 basic functions.
As per the Hind mythology, this particular day is observed as Mahashivaratri day.
When the Devas churned the Ocean of milk, the most venomous poison appeared greatly affecting the Devas. Lord Shiva took this poison and retained it in His neck and saved the Devas. The folklore explains this is the day celebrated as Mahashivaratri.
As per the folklore, the following incidents happened on the day/night of Mahashivaratri:
- As per the epic Mahabharata, when Arjuna performed penance and obtained a weapon from Lord Shiva known as ‘Pasupatham’.
- When one of the great Saivite, Kannappa Nayanar attained Mukthi after offering his own eyes – removing his eyes and planting them over the bleeding eyes of Lord Shiva in the form of Lord Shiva.
- When Lord Shiva rescued his young devotee Markandeya from the clutches of the God of Death, Yama, killing Yama.
- The day on which Goddess Parvathi, after performing a severe penance, merged with Lord Shiva as his left half when both combined came to be worshipped as ‘Umaiyorubagan’.
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