Mahashivarathri

Maha Shivaratri means the night of Lord Shiva.

The story of Maha Shivaratri has many versions, each with deep spiritual meaning. Here are the most well-known ones:

You may remember the story where devas (Gods) and asuras (demons) churned the ocean (known as Samudra Manthan), to extract Amrutha, the divine nectar, drinking which grants immortality.

As they churned, various treasures and divine beings emerged, including Goddess Lakshmi, the moon, the divine cow Kamadhenu, and finally, the deadly poison Halahala. This poison was so strong that it threatened to destroy all of creation.

The gods and demons turned to Lord Shiva out of desperation. Without hesitation, Shiva gathered the poison in his hands and drank it. Looking at this, Parvathi kept her hand in Shiva’s throat to prevent the poison entering his stomach.

His throat turned deep blue, earning him the name Neelkanth (blue throat).

To ensure that the poison did not spread in his body, Shiva stayed awake all night, meditating in deep stillness. The gods and sages prayed and chanted his name to keep him awake. This night of divine meditation became known as Maha Shivaratri, the night of devotion, prayer, and gratitude to Shiva for saving the universe.

Another version of mythology speaks of Maha Shivaratri as the night of Shiva and Parvati’s wedding. After years of deep meditation and devotion, Goddess Parvati won the heart of Shiva, and they were married. This signifies the merging of Shakti (energy) and Shiva (consciousness), the perfect balance of the universe.

How to Celebrate Maha Shivaratri

The celebration of Maha Shivaratri varies across different regions of India, but there are a few common rituals and practices followed by devotees:

1. Fasting:Many observe a strict fast on Maha Shivaratri, abstaining from food and water for the entire day and night. This practice symbolizes self-control and detachment from desires.
2. Keep awake during the night: Many people stay awake all night, engaging in prayers, chanting of sacred mantras, and singing devotional songs dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many organizations conduct programs throughout the night. Most popular one is done by the Isha center. https://isha.sadhguru.org/mahashivratri/celebrations/event-schedule/

While Shivaratri is celebrated in all Shiva temples around the world, it is celebrated with greater devotion at Jyotirlinga locations.

Jyotirlingas are sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, there were originally 64 Jyotirlingas, but now there are 12 that are considered the most auspicious.

Each Jyotirlinga has its own unique spiritual significance, making them important pilgrimage sites for the people. These are believed to be the places where Lord Shiva manifested as a radiant light, symbolizing his infinite nature and divine presence

Here are the 12 Jyotirlingas and their significance:

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga (Gujarat): Known as the first Jyotirlinga, it symbolizes the beginning of creation. It has been rebuilt several times after destructions by invaders
2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Andhra Pradesh): Situated on the picturesque Srisailam hill on the banks of the Krishna River, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is not only a Jyotirlinga but also one of the 18 Shakti Peetas.
3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh): Located in the ancient city of Ujjain, the temple is renowned for its unique south-facing idol of Lord Shiva, symbolizing his fierce form as Mahakala, the destroyer of time.
4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga (Madhya Pradesh): Situated on an island in Narmadha river, it symbolizes the omnipresence of Shiva. Omkareshwar temple is shaped like the sacred symbol 'Om'.
5. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga (Jharkhand): Baidyanath temple is situated in Deoghar, Jharkhand. It is believed that Lord Shiva resides here as a healer, curing diseases and ailments of his devotees.
6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra): Located in the Sahyadri hills near Pune, the temple is surrounded by lush greenery and scenic beauty. The temple is associated with the legend of Lord Shiva's battle with the demon Tripurasura, where he emerged as Bhimashankar.
7. Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga (Tamil Nadu): Situated on Rameshwaram island, it is linked to the epic Ramayana. Lord Rama worshipped Shiva here after the killing of Ravana.
8. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga (Gujarat): Located near Dwarka, this temple represents protection from all poisons and evil forces.
9. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga (Uttar Pradesh): Situated in Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, the Kashi Vishwanath temple is a symbol of liberation and enlightenment.
10. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra): Located near Nashik, the Trimbakeshwar temple is associated with the origin of the Godavari River. The temple's unique feature is the presence of three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
11. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga (Uttarakhand): Situated in the Himalayas, it symbolizes the protector and savior aspect of Shiva. The temple is one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites and is believed to be built by the Pandavas.
12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (Maharashtra): Located near the Ellora Caves, known as the last Jyotirlinga, it represents the completeness and wholeness of Shiva.

Each Jyotirlinga has its own unique legend and spiritual significance, making them important pilgrimage sites for devotees of Lord Shiva.

In the year 2025, Mahashivratri will be celebrated on 26th Feb 2025, which also happens to be the last day of Maha Kumbh Mela.

Reference: https://www.hinduismfacts.org/hindu-pilgrimages/12-jyotirlingas/

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Om Namah Shivaya!