Maha Shivratri 2022: One of the most revered and widely celebrated festivals of India, Maha Shivratri, is marked this year on March 1.
Maha Shivratri is essentially a celebration of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati’s marriage ceremony where devotees throng temples in massive numbers and offer their prayers.
Religious Meaning Significance of Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Lord Shiva performs the heavenly dance. Unlike most Hindu festivals which are celebrated during the day, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night. Furthermore, unlike most Hindu festivals which include the declaration of cultural revelry, the Maha Shivaratri is a solemn event notable for its introspective focus, fasting, a meditation on Shiva, self-study, social harmony, and an all night vigil at Shiva temples.
In every month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, there is a Shivaratri – “night of Shiva” – on the day before the new moon. But once a year, in late winter and before the arrival of Summer (February/March), this night is called “Maha Shivaratri” – “the Great Night of Shiva”. This day falls in the month of Phalguna as per the North Indian Hindu calendar and in Magha as per the South Indian Hindu calendar (see Amanta and Purnimanta systems).
It is a major festival in Hinduism, and this festival is solemn and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Lord Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Lord Shiva. Passionate devotees stay awake all night while others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on pilgrimage to Jyotirlingams.
The celebration includes keeping a “jaagaran”, an all-night vigil, and prayers because worshippers are “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in one’s life and the world through Shiva. Offerings of fruits, leaves, sweets, and milk to Shiva are made, some perform all-day fasting with vedic or tantric worship of Shiva, and some perform meditative Yoga. In Shiva temples, “Om Namah Shivaya”, the sacred mantra of Shiva, is chanted through the day. Devotees praise Shiva through the recitation of Shiv Chalisa.
This festival has been integral to Hinduism and its origin predates recorded history, but some western indologists believe this festival originated in the 5th century BC. According to the South Indian calendar, Maha Shivaratri is observed on Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha, and in other parts of India, on 13/14 nights of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna of Hindu calendar, the Gregorian date however remaining the same.
In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-Ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region.
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated over three or ten days based on the Hindu luni-solar calendar. Every lunar month, there is a Shivaratri (12 per year). The main festival is called Maha Shivaratri, or great Shivaratri, which is held on the 13th night (waning moon) and the 14th day of the month Phalguna. In the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in either February or March.
The Maha Shivaratri is mentioned in several Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana. These medieval era Shaiva texts present different versions associated with this festival, and mention fasting, reverence for icons of Shiva such as the Lingam.
In some parts of the country such as in Jammu and Kashmir, Maha Shivratri preparations begin days prior to the festival.
The pan-India festival is also widely celebrated by Indians settled abroad.
Our country is home to various traditions and cultures and therefore, respecting each one of them, festivals hold greater significance for all. Celebrations and rituals may differ as you move from north to south or east to west, but the spirit with which is revered is the same.
Maha Shivaratri is a festival of Contemplation
“During the Vigil Night of Shiva, Mahashivaratri,
we are brought to the moment of interval
between destruction and regeneration;
It symbolizes the night
when we must contemplate on that which
watches the growth out of the decay.
During Mahashivaratri we have to be alone
with our sword, the Shiva out of us.
We have to look behind and before,
to see what evil needs eradicating from our heart,
what growth of virtue we need to encourage.
Shiva is not only outside of us but within us.
To unite ourselves with the One Self
is to recognize the Shiva in us.”