Maha Shivratri the Night of Lord Shiva is festival celebrated on 13th night/14th day in the month of Maagha or Phalguna in the Hindu calendar. The festival marks the Festival marks the divine marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati.
Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva.
In North India and Nepal, many people consume bhang (Cannabis sativa), which is believed to be Lord Shiva's favourite drink.
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Legends
There are many stories associated with Shivaratri,it is beleived that 13th night of the new moon, during the month of Maagha, is his most favourite day of Lord Shiva. During Samudra manthan a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as Nilkantha, the blue-throated one. Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world.
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Rituals
On Shivaratri, only cold water and bael leaves are offered to the Lingam. Other traditional offerings, such as bathing it in milk and Panchamruta (a mixture of milk, curds, ghee, sugar and honey), or annointing it with vermilion (kumkum) or white consecrated rice (Akshata) (symbols of fertility, or creation), are not done on this day, when Lord Shiva is worshipped as the deity of dissolution.
Five foods immortality of -milk, classified butter, curd, honey and sugar are placed before the lingam. Dhatura and jati though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered at his temple. Eleven is considered to be the sacred number of the lord devotees Keep a fast on shivratri and observe strict rules, to gain good karma.
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Meaning of Namaha Shivaya
'Namaha Shivaya is Shiva's five-syllabled mantra. The spiritual meaning of each of the five syllables is: na = Foremost deity of all the regions (lokas) ma = Bestower of supreme spiritual knowledge (gyan) and redeemer of the greatest of sins shi = Benevolent, serene and responsible for initiation by Lord Shiva va = Symbolic of a bull as the vehicle and Vasuki and Vamangi energy (shakti) ya = Auspicious abode of Supreme Bliss and Lord Shiva. Hence, obeisance (namaskar) to these five syllables.
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Lord Shiva-Parvati Stuti:
“Karpoor Gauram Karunnaavataram Sansaar Saaram Bhujgendra Haaram.
Sadaa Vasantam Hridyaarvrinde Bhavam Bhavaani Sahitam Namaami.”
Meaning: I Bow to Bhavani as well as to Lord Shiva who is white as camphor, who is compassion incarnate, who is the essence of the world, who wears a garland of a large snake and who always dwells in the lotus like hearts of his devotees.
