Maha Shivratri 2022 is celebrated on March 1st, Tuesday as per Hindu calendar. Maha Shivratri is the most auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Chaturdasi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha/Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. This is considered as the most important vrata by the devotees.
Maha Shivaratri 2022
Shivratri is an amalgamation of two words, Shiv and Ratri, where Shiv means ‘Bhagawan Shiva’ and Ratri means Night. Together, Shivratri means the night of Lord Shiva. Every year, Mahashivratri is celebrated as the convergence of the forces of Shiva and Shakti. On this day devotees worship Lord Shiva, observe a strict fast and do various religious activities to please Lord Shiva and do Parana on the next day i.e, Chaturdashi.
Nishita Kala is chosen to perform pujas and rituals on Shivratri. All pujas and rituals are completed before Amavasya (No moon) starts. The best time to perform puja is from 12:08 AM on March 2 to 12:56 AM on March 2 early hours midnight. Do follow the regional calendars accordingly.
On the Shivratri day, Shiva Bhagawan is worshipped in a special form of Linga called ‘Lingodbhavamurti.’ It is a lingam in the form of fire which has neither a beginning nor an end.
Rituals of Maha Shivratri 2022
Usually devotees fast the whole day with intake of only fruits and milk during this period. In the night, puja is offered at the various temples of Lord Shiva and a special ritual of ‘Rudrabhisheka’ is performed. It is advised by spiritual experts to practice meditation on this day and to chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ as many times as possible during the whole day. Married women perform special pujas on this day for the health and well being of their husbands.
Some of the important mantras that are chanted on the day include:
Shiva Panchakshari Mantra (Om Namah Shivaya)
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
People also listen to Lingashtakam and Bilvashtakam
Of the 12 Shivratris observed in any given year, Maha Shivratri is considered especially auspicious. In Hindu culture, this is a solemn festival that marks the remembrance of ‘overcoming darkness and ignorance in life’. Different legends, throughout history, describe the significance of magha/phalguna Shivratri and according to one of them, it is on this night that Lord Shiva performs his cosmic dance of ‘creation, preservation and destruction’.
Another legend dictates that on this night, offerings of Bhagawan Shiva’s icons can help one overcome and let go of their sins and start on the path of righteousness, allowing the individual to reach Mount Kailash and achieve ‘moksha’.
Benefits of Maha Shiva during Shivaratri
Ablution of bhagawan Shiva leads to the purification of one’s soul.
Offerings (Naivaidya) on this day may help attain a long and satisfying life.
Lighting a lamp on Maha Shivratri, one attains knowledge.
Offering Tambul to Lord Shiva on Shivaratri, one can expect favourable results.
One may be blessed with a child by sprinkling/ pouring milk on the Shiva lingam.
After giving a bath to Bhagawan Shiva with curd, it is considered auspicious to buy vehicles on this day.
Offering bhagawan Shiva durva (a kind of grass) mixed in water, helps to easily get rid of diseases on on this day.
If ghee, honey, and sugarcane are offered to bhagawan Shiva, you can attain wealth.
Bathing bhagawan Shiva with the holy water of the Ganges, one can attain salvation on Mahashivratri.
