Maha Shivratri, the darkest night, is celebrated to mark the union of Shiva and Shakti. Lord Shiva is the God of death, and Goddess Shakti is known to destroy evil. Maha Shivratri signifies the celebration of victory over the darkness of life. It is an opportunity and a possibility to align ourselves with the source of all creation. Mahashivratri Festival Celebration this year on 18th Feb. 2023. On Maha Shivratri, the planet's northern hemisphere is positioned in a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy within us. On this day, nature pushes us towards a spiritual peak. To allow the natural upsurge of energies, it is recommended to remain awake the entire night.
Maha Shivratri Date & Time
Maha Shivratri on Tuesday, February 18, 2023
Nishit Kaal Puja: 12:09 AM to 1:00 AM on February 18
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins – 8:02 PM on Feb 18, 2023
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends – 4:18 PM on Feb 19, 2023
First Prahar Puja – 06:13 PM to 11:24 PM
Second Prahar Puja – 11:24 PM to 12:35 AM, Feb 19
Third Prahar Puja – 12:35 AM to 03:46 AM, Feb 19
Fourth Prahar Puja – 3:46 AM to 06:56 AM, Feb 19
Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu tussle over supremacy
Legend from the Puranas
As per the Kurma Purana, Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were fighting with each other over prowess. The other Gods feared the intensity of the battle and asked Lord Shiva to intervene. To make them realize its futility, Lord Shiva took the form of fire that engulfed the universe. Lord Brahma coveted into a swan and flew upwards, while Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar, and flew onto the earth. Lord Brahma confronted Vishnu and claimed that he had discovered the origin of the column of fire. Overwhelmed, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu bowed before Lord Shiva and accepted his supremacy.
Shiva and Parvati's marriage
Maha Shivratri commemorates the day when Lord Shiva wedded Goddess Parvati. They were united in the form of ‘Shiva-Shakti’ or ‘Ardhnareshwar.’ As the legend goes, Sati's father, King Daksha, organized a yagna. However, he did not invite Sati or Shiva since he disapproved of Lord Vishnu. However, Sati proceeded to the yagna despite Lord Shiva’s displeasure. Daksha disregarded his daughter’s presence and did not give prasad to Shiva. Sati was choked with emotions. She leaped into the yagna and set herself on fire. When Lord Shiva learnt about Sati's immolation, he was enraged. He carried around Sati’s corpse and performed Rudra Tandav, or the dance of destruction and wiped out Daksha’s kingdom. Lord Vishnu chopped Sati′s corpse into 12 pieces and threw them on earth to appease Lord Shiva. The fragments of Shakti’s body gave rise to Shakti Peeth.
After Sati’s demise, Lord Shiva performed penance in the Himalayas. Later, Sati reincarnated as Parvati. She underwent penance to receive Lord Shiva’s attention and sought the help of Kamdev, the God of love and passion. Kamdev advised Goddess Parvati to dance in front of Shiva. Kamdev fired his arrow of passion at Shiva so that he would break his penance while Goddess Parvati danced to appease Lord Shiva. Enraged, he opened his third eye and reduced Kamdev to ashes with his magical powers. To win over Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, also known as Uma, observed a fast for Lord Shiva’s good health and longevity. Hence, even today, this ritual is followed by Indian women who pray for the long life of their husbands.
Samudra Manthan story
Lord Shiva transformed into ‘Neelkanth’ after the Samudra Manthan. The churning of the milky ocean is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana, Bhagavat Purana and the Mahabharata. Once Lord Indra was riding on His elephant, ‘Airavata’ and came across sage Durvasa. He offered the king an auspicious garland given to him by a nymph. He accepted the bouquet and placed it on the trunk of the elephant Airavata, who threw the garland on the ground. Upon witnessing this, Durvasa was angered as the garland was not an ordinary garland but an abode of fortune and riches. Outraged, Durvasa cursed Lord Indra and other Gods that they would lose their powers and would be bereft of their miraculous powers, wealth and strength. Bali, an Asura, won the battle against the Devas and gained control over the universe. This created tension amongst the Gods. Thus, the Devas approached Lord Vishnu to resolve the issue. He advised the Devas that only the elixir at the end of the milky ocean could restore their lost power and strength. It was impossible to churn a vast ocean. Hence, they allied sharing the nectar of immorality with the Asuras to convince them to churn the milky ocean jointly. Mount Mandara was the churning rod, while the snake God ‘Vasuki’ was used as a churning rope. While churning the rope the Asuras held the head of the snake while the Devas had the snake’s tail while mountain Mandara began to sink.
Upon learning this, Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma (turtle) and held Mountain Mandara on his back. The fumes emitted by the snake God Vasuki poisoned the Asuras. Looking at the pot of elixir, the Devas and the Asuras fought a battle. ‘Garuda’, Vishnu’s eagle, took the pot and flew away. A few drops of nectar fell in Nashik, Prayagraj, Haridwar and Ujjain, where the ‘Kumbh Mela’ is celebrated every 12 years. One of the Asuras caught hold of the pot and approached Lord Vishnu for help. He disguised himself as a beautiful woman, ‘Mohini’, who distracted the Asuras. It was decided that she would distribute the nectar equally between them. An Asura disguised himself as one of the Devas and joined the Gods to receive the nectar. As soon as Rahu drank the nectar, Surya and Chandra noticed that Rahu had disguised themself as a God. Mohini quickly beheaded Rahu with the Sudarshan Chakra before the nectar could pass through Asura’s throat. The head of the Asuras was called Rahu, and his body was called Ketu. The rest of the Asuras realized that the beautiful maiden Mohini was Lord Vishnu himself. As the story goes, Devas were able to defeat the Asuras in the battle and regain their glory. Halahala, a deadly poison, was churned from the Samudra Manthan. So, the Gods approached Lord Shiva to save the three worlds from being destroyed. Hence, Shiva drank halahala. Goddess Parvati placed her hand on Lord Shiva’s throat to prevent the poison from spreading in Shiva’s body. His throat turned blue. Hence, he was known as ‘Neelkanth.’ ‘Neel’ means blue, and ‘Kantha’ means throat.
Shiva's Tandav
Lord Shiva is known as 'Nataraj,' or the Lord of Dance. His cosmic dance represents union with God. It is also known as 'Anand Tandav,' or the dance of bliss, meaning the cycle of creation and destruction. Rudra Tandav featured his violent nature, and Ananda Tandav depicted his blissful form. On the night of Maha Shivratri, Shiva performed the Tandav, the dance of primordial creation, preservation, destruction and the cycles of birth and death.
Apasmara, a dwarf, symbolizes ignorance. He could not be murdered to preserve knowledge since it would upset the universe's balance of knowledge and ignorance. He was overconfident and challenged Lord Shiva. Mahadev assumed the form of Nataraj and performed the legendary Tandav, crushing Apasmara beneath his feet.
Legends of Maha Shivratri & Stories
Maha Shivratri, the darkest night, is celebrated to mark the union of Shiva and Shakti. Lord Shiva is the God of death, and Goddess Shakti is known to destroy evil. Maha Shivratri signifies the celebration of victory over the darkness of life. It is an opportunity and a possibility to align ourselves with the source of all creation. Mahashivratri Festival Celebration this year on 18th Feb. 2023. On Maha Shivratri, the planet's northern hemisphere is positioned in a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy within us. On this day, nature pushes us towards a spiritual peak. To allow the natural upsurge of energies, it is recommended to remain awake the entire night.
Maha Shivratri Date & Time
Maha Shivratri on Tuesday, February 18, 2023
Nishit Kaal Puja: 12:09 AM to 1:00 AM on February 18
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins – 8:02 PM on Feb 18, 2023
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends – 4:18 PM on Feb 19, 2023
First Prahar Puja – 06:13 PM to 11:24 PM
Second Prahar Puja – 11:24 PM to 12:35 AM, Feb 19
Third Prahar Puja – 12:35 AM to 03:46 AM, Feb 19
Fourth Prahar Puja – 3:46 AM to 06:56 AM, Feb 19
Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu tussle over supremacy
Legend from the Puranas
As per the Kurma Purana, Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were fighting with each other over prowess. The other Gods feared the intensity of the battle and asked Lord Shiva to intervene. To make them realize its futility, Lord Shiva took the form of fire that engulfed the universe. Lord Brahma coveted into a swan and flew upwards, while Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha, a boar, and flew onto the earth. Lord Brahma confronted Vishnu and claimed that he had discovered the origin of the column of fire. Overwhelmed, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu bowed before Lord Shiva and accepted his supremacy.
Shiva and Parvati's marriage
Maha Shivratri commemorates the day when Lord Shiva wedded Goddess Parvati. They were united in the form of ‘Shiva-Shakti’ or ‘Ardhnareshwar.’ As the legend goes, Sati's father, King Daksha, organized a yagna. However, he did not invite Sati or Shiva since he disapproved of Lord Vishnu. However, Sati proceeded to the yagna despite Lord Shiva’s displeasure. Daksha disregarded his daughter’s presence and did not give prasad to Shiva. Sati was choked with emotions. She leaped into the yagna and set herself on fire. When Lord Shiva learnt about Sati's immolation, he was enraged. He carried around Sati’s corpse and performed Rudra Tandav, or the dance of destruction and wiped out Daksha’s kingdom. Lord Vishnu chopped Sati′s corpse into 12 pieces and threw them on earth to appease Lord Shiva. The fragments of Shakti’s body gave rise to Shakti Peeth.
After Sati’s demise, Lord Shiva performed penance in the Himalayas. Later, Sati reincarnated as Parvati. She underwent penance to receive Lord Shiva’s attention and sought the help of Kamdev, the God of love and passion. Kamdev advised Goddess Parvati to dance in front of Shiva. Kamdev fired his arrow of passion at Shiva so that he would break his penance while Goddess Parvati danced to appease Lord Shiva. Enraged, he opened his third eye and reduced Kamdev to ashes with his magical powers. To win over Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, also known as Uma, observed a fast for Lord Shiva’s good health and longevity. Hence, even today, this ritual is followed by Indian women who pray for the long life of their husbands.
Samudra Manthan story
Lord Shiva transformed into ‘Neelkanth’ after the Samudra Manthan. The churning of the milky ocean is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana, Bhagavat Purana and the Mahabharata. Once Lord Indra was riding on His elephant, ‘Airavata’ and came across sage Durvasa. He offered the king an auspicious garland given to him by a nymph. He accepted the bouquet and placed it on the trunk of the elephant Airavata, who threw the garland on the ground. Upon witnessing this, Durvasa was angered as the garland was not an ordinary garland but an abode of fortune and riches. Outraged, Durvasa cursed Lord Indra and other Gods that they would lose their powers and would be bereft of their miraculous powers, wealth and strength. Bali, an Asura, won the battle against the Devas and gained control over the universe. This created tension amongst the Gods. Thus, the Devas approached Lord Vishnu to resolve the issue. He advised the Devas that only the elixir at the end of the milky ocean could restore their lost power and strength. It was impossible to churn a vast ocean. Hence, they allied sharing the nectar of immorality with the Asuras to convince them to churn the milky ocean jointly. Mount Mandara was the churning rod, while the snake God ‘Vasuki’ was used as a churning rope. While churning the rope the Asuras held the head of the snake while the Devas had the snake’s tail while mountain Mandara began to sink.
Upon learning this, Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma (turtle) and held Mountain Mandara on his back. The fumes emitted by the snake God Vasuki poisoned the Asuras. Looking at the pot of elixir, the Devas and the Asuras fought a battle. ‘Garuda’, Vishnu’s eagle, took the pot and flew away. A few drops of nectar fell in Nashik, Prayagraj, Haridwar and Ujjain, where the ‘Kumbh Mela’ is celebrated every 12 years. One of the Asuras caught hold of the pot and approached Lord Vishnu for help. He disguised himself as a beautiful woman, ‘Mohini’, who distracted the Asuras. It was decided that she would distribute the nectar equally between them. An Asura disguised himself as one of the Devas and joined the Gods to receive the nectar. As soon as Rahu drank the nectar, Surya and Chandra noticed that Rahu had disguised themself as a God. Mohini quickly beheaded Rahu with the Sudarshan Chakra before the nectar could pass through Asura’s throat. The head of the Asuras was called Rahu, and his body was called Ketu. The rest of the Asuras realized that the beautiful maiden Mohini was Lord Vishnu himself. As the story goes, Devas were able to defeat the Asuras in the battle and regain their glory. Halahala, a deadly poison, was churned from the Samudra Manthan. So, the Gods approached Lord Shiva to save the three worlds from being destroyed. Hence, Shiva drank halahala. Goddess Parvati placed her hand on Lord Shiva’s throat to prevent the poison from spreading in Shiva’s body. His throat turned blue. Hence, he was known as ‘Neelkanth.’ ‘Neel’ means blue, and ‘Kantha’ means throat.
Shiva's Tandav
Lord Shiva is known as 'Nataraj,' or the Lord of Dance. His cosmic dance represents union with God. It is also known as 'Anand Tandav,' or the dance of bliss, meaning the cycle of creation and destruction. Rudra Tandav featured his violent nature, and Ananda Tandav depicted his blissful form. On the night of Maha Shivratri, Shiva performed the Tandav, the dance of primordial creation, preservation, destruction and the cycles of birth and death.
Apasmara, a dwarf, symbolizes ignorance. He could not be murdered to preserve knowledge since it would upset the universe's balance of knowledge and ignorance. He was overconfident and challenged Lord Shiva. Mahadev assumed the form of Nataraj and performed the legendary Tandav, crushing Apasmara beneath his feet.
Related Articles