There are many questions that exist in our mind and remain unanswerable most of the time. One such example can be our queries related to Shivratri celebrations and Mahashivratri Story. Many of us used to think or still think, as to why we celebrate this festival of Maha Shivratri. Well there are many legends that are associated with the celebrations of Maha Shivratri. The stories that are associated with the Shivratri celebrations are given below.
History tells that once a hunter was wandering in a jungle on the banks of Kolidum River. The hunter was following a deer and suddenly heard roar of a tiger. The hunter got scared and climbed a tree, the tiger came chasing the hunter and stood at the foot of the tree. The hunter was very afraid and did not sleep because he thought he would fall. The whole night was spend on the tree by the hunter and suddenly he threw the leaves from the bael tree and at the foot of the tree was the Shiva lingam about which he did not know In the morning the tiger was not there and only Shiva lingam was there. The hunter was very happy and thankful to Lord Shiva and so people remember Lord Shiva the entire night of Maha shivratri.
Significance Of Maha Shivratri
Importance In Hinduism
According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva declared that the rituals performed by his devotees on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun please him the most. Therefore, year by year, the day is observed as Mahashivratri, wherein devotees observe fast, sing songs and bhajans and offer prayers to the Almighty to seek his blessings. Pujas conducted in Lord Shiva temples during the day have significance too. This is because the rituals are conducted strictly in accordance with the method that is prescribed in Shiva Purana, a Hindu epic. According to the Purana, poojas are conducted once in every three hours, on Maha Shivaratri.
Importance In Human Lives
It is believed that the devotion of Lord Shiva on Mahashivaratri would freed the devotee from the past sins. Moreover, the devotee would reach the adobe of Lord Shiva and live there happily, because he/she is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, once he/she attains moksha or salvation. Therefore, all the devotees of Lord Shiva would flock the temples to offer their prayers. To serve the purpose, jujube fruits, stalks of Bilwa leaves, flowers and garlands are offered to the Shiva Linga by the devotees. If the devotee celebrates the festival at home, he/she would perform the Mahashivratri Puja by taking a holy bath (in warm water) early in the morning, wearing new clothes and then smearing bhasm (holy ash) on their forehead.
Importance For Women
Maha Shivaratri is especially important for women. Ladies, both married and unmarried, would perform Shiva Puja and observe fast with great devotion and sincerity. This is predominantly done to appease Lord Shiva along with his consort Goddess Parvati, who is often called Ma Gauri. It is believed that Ma Gauri bestows marital bliss on unmarried women and blesses the married women with healthy and blissful married life. Since Lord Shiva is regarded as the ideal husband by the Hindu women, the unmarried women would not miss to observe the stringent fast on Shivaratri.
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