Om Namah Shivay! Mahashivratri in India

Mahashivrati literally means the ‘Night of Shiva’. This is an important fast for the devotees of the lord Shiva who stay awake throughout the night spending time in prayer.

The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon is known as Shivratri.

Among all the twelve Shivratris that occur in a calendar year, Mahashivratri, the one that occurs in February-March is of the most spiritual significance.

On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. One of the fundamentals of this night-long festival is to ensure that this natural upsurge of energies finds its way within you. The best way to remain with your spine vertical is that you stay awake.

People observe Mahashivratri as Shiva’s wedding anniversary, as the day Shiva conquered all his enemies and also as the day he became one with Mount Kailash.

Rituals Followed

On the day of Shivratri, a three-tiered platform is built around a fire. The topmost plank represents ‘swargaloka’ (heaven), the middle one ‘antarikshaloka’ (space) and the bottom one ‘bhuloka’ (earth). Eleven ‘kalash’ or urns, are kept on the ‘swargaloka’ plank symbolizing the 11 manifestations of the ‘Rudra’ or destructive Shiva. These are decorated with the leaves of bel and mango atop a coconut representing the head of Shiva.

The uncut shank of the coconut symbolizes his tangled hair and the three spots on the fruit Shiva’s three eyes.

The Lingam

The phallus symbol representing Shiva is called the lingam. It is usually made of granite, soapstone, quartz, marble or metal, and has a ‘yoni’ or vagina as its base representing the union of organs. Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship it 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.

Having observed the requirements of the all night fast, devotees break their fast with the ‘prasad’ offered to Lord Shiva.

Shiva Craft