MAHASHIVRATRI

Maha Shivratri, the grand night of Shiva falls on 10^th of March this year. It falls on a moonless February night, and Hindus offer special prayer to the mightly Lord of Moksha. Shivratri is the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nach or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

The 3 reasons to celebrate this festival are:

1. Sadashiv, The absolute formless God, appeared in the form of "Lingodbhav Moorti" at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why devotees do "Rudra Abhishekham at midnight.

2. Lord Shiva married His consort Parvati on Shivratri. From 'Nirgun Brahman' he became "Sagun Brahman" due to Maya power of Parvati, for the purpose of elevation of His devotees.

3. On the day of Shivratri, He became 'Neelkantha' , the blue-throated one by swallowing the deadly Hala Hala poison that came up during the churning of "Kshir Sagar" or the milky ocean. This poison thus held in His neck, saved the world from annihilation.

Anyone who worships Shiva on this day, is freed from all sins and bondages of Karma and elevates towards Moksha.

  Rituals
As per Shiva Purana, Shiva worship must incorporate the below:

   Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey, and Wood apple or bel leaves added to it, representing purification of the soul;
   The vermilion paste applied on the Shiv Linga after bathing it, representing virtue;
   Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
   Burning incense, yielding wealth;
   The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge:
   And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Devotees worship the Lingam throughout the night. It is bathed every three hours with the 5 sacred offerings of a cow, called the 'panchagavya' - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Then the 5 foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar are placed before the lingam. We should do abhishek with - - juice of sugarcane for Laxmi, - honey for money, - with milk for son, - if, we want to remove trouble from our life. - with continuous pouring of water. - with ghee for progeny, - with mustard oil, for enemy trouble - And with ganga water for moksha. Dhatura fruit and flower, though poisonous, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered to him.

Wearing a rosary made from the Rudraksha when worshipping Lord Shiva is ideal as it is His favourite.

Read more about Lord Shiva