It is celebrated all over India as a huge festival by the devotees of Mahadev by fasting throughout the day. Let us know the auspicious time of Mahashivratri today, the method of worship and the time of worship.
Reason for Celebrating Mahashivratri
This year the festival of Mahashivratri AKA Shivratri is being celebrated on 8th March i.e. today. According to the Hindu calendar, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva on the Chaturdashi date of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month. On the day of Mahashivratri, special worship of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati is done. According to religious beliefs, on this day Shiva and Parvati were tied in the sacred bond of marriage and from that day onwards this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.
Mahashivratri Auspicious Time
This year Mahashivratri will be celebrated in Shivayoga after 11 years today i.e. 8th March and Shivratri is worshiped during the Nishita Kaal only. The eighth moment of the night is called Nishita Kaal.
Nishita Kaal – March 8, 12:05 AM to March 9, March 12:56 AM
Mahashivratri Auspicious Coincidence
After many years, this year on Shivratri the planets will be in five zodiac signs. Moon and Mars will be together in Capricorn. This time this combination is creating a yoga called Lakshmi. Therefore, this time on Shivratri, financial obstacles can be removed by the grace of Mahadev. The dominance of the Moon and Jupiter is also creating auspicious conditions. This year’s Shivratri, employment difficulties can also be resolved. Besides, the Shukra Pradosh fast and monthly Shivratri will also be celebrated today.
Mahashivratri Worship Method
On the day of Mahashivratri, wake up before sunrise and take a bath. Then pledge to fast in front of Lord Shiv Shankar with full devotion. To complete the fasting period during the resolution, start the puja at an auspicious time by taking the blessings of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati.
After this, collect all the materials like roli, vermilion, rice, flowers, sacred thread, clothes, incense sticks, Saptadhya i.e. seven types of paddy, bel leaves, dakta flowers, datura flowers, etc. and also take some dry fruits, cow’s ghee, curd, milk to make Panchamrit. Then go to the temple and bathe Lord Shankar with that Panchamrit. After this, add saffron and offer water to Shivainga, and light the Akhand Jyot. After this, chant Lord Shiva’s mantra “Om Namah Shivay” 108 times.
Also read this article: THE UNTOLD STORY OF RAM JANAMBHOOMI
What Should be Offered to Lord Shiva?
On this day, offer Belpatra with three leaves to Lord Shiva. Lord Shankar loves hemp very much, hence on this day mix hemp with milk and offer it to Shivalinga. Offer Dhatura and sugarcane juice to Lord Shiva. This increases happiness in life. You can mix Ganga water in water and offer it to Shivling. This removes mental disturbance.
Story of Mahashivratri
Although many stories of Mahashivratri are prevalent in our Puranas, but according to Garuda Purana, once Nishadraj had gone hunting with his dog. Even after roaming in the forest for a long time, he did not find any prey, so he became tired and troubled with hunger and thirst and to rest he sat under a Bilva tree on the bank of a pond. There was also a Shivalinga there. To give rest to his body, Nishadraj broke some Bilva leaves, which also fell on Shivalinga.
To clean his feet, he sprinkled pond water on them, a few drops of which also fell on Shivalinga. While doing this, one of his arrows fell down, to pick it up he bent down in front of Shiva Linga. In this way, on the day of Shivratri, he unknowingly completed the entire process of worshiping Shiva.
After his death, when Yamdoot came to take him, Shiva’s followers protected him and chased him away. It is believed that when worshiping Lord Shankar on the day of Mahashivratri out of ignorance gives such wonderful results, then worshiping Devadhidev Mahadev with understanding will be much more fruitful.
Mahashivratri fast is considered very fruitful for women. On this day itself, Bholenath was married to Mother Parvati. It is believed that by observing fast on Mahashivratri, unmarried women get married sooner. At the same time, married women keep fast on Mahashivratri for the happy life of their husbands.
