Maha Shivaratri, the night of the worship
of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half
of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus
offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivaratri (Sanskrit 'ratri'
= night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava
Nritya or the cosmic dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.
Normally, the festival is observed for one day and one night only.
Shivaratri Celebrations in India are
marked with devotion and religious fervor. On this day, fasting and night vigil
- jaagaran, are advocated. Hindus worldwide perform Shiva puja with
Bilva (Sanskrit) or bael leaves (woodapple; scientific
name: Aegle marmelos) and dugdha abhishek (bathing by milk). Joy
is writ large on the faces of millions of Lord Shiva devotees as they start
preparing for the biggest Lord Shiva festival in advance. Celebrations of Shivaratri
began with the break of the dawn on the Shivratri day and continue all though
the night. Devotees observe fast and spend the day in devotion and worship of
Lord Shiva. Many worshippers also participate in the jaagran or the night vigil
organized in various Shiva temples and homes across the country. Devotees believe
that sincere observance of Shivaratri puja and all night worship of Lord Shiva
will absolve them of all their sins and liberate them from the cycle of birth
and death.
Vivid Ways of Celebration
Like many other religious festivals,
in Shivaratri also, there are different regional rituals in different regions
of India. In places, 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 urns or
kalash, are kept on the swargaloka plank symbolising the eleven manifestations
of the Rudra Shiva. These are decorated with bilva (woodapple leaves) and mango
leaves atop a coconut representing the head of Shiva. The uncut shank of the
coconut symbolises his tangled hair and the three spots on the fruit Shiva's
three eyes. In Kashmir, the festival is held for 15 days. The 13th day is observed
as a day of fast followed by a family feast. All through the day the devotees
keep severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya",
make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells.
They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories,
hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong
worship.
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 the
male and female sexual organs. Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship
it throughout the night. It is bathed every three hours with the five sacred
offerings of a cow, called the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter
and dung. Then the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd,
honey and sugar are placed before the lingam. Dhatura and jati, though poisonous
fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered to him.
Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as
the "Mahamrityunjaya Stotra", "Shiva Mahimna Stotra" of
Pushpadanta, Ravana's "Shiva Tandava Stotra", or hundreds of other
hymns in praise of the great Lord Shiva, are sung with great fervour and devotion.
People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra (5-letterd hymn)- "Om
Namah Shivaya". Many pilgrims dock to the places where there
are Shiva temples.
Shivaratri Celebrations in Temples
After the ritual bath of the Shiva idol
or the Shivalingam (phallus), popularly in the sacred waters of river
Ganga, devotees pay a visit to the nearest Lord Shiva temple carrying the traditional
puja items like milk, water, bel leaves, fruits, incense stick, oil/ghee lamps
etc. Due to massive popularity of the festival several stalls selling puja items
come up outside the temple and do a thriving business.
In the bigger and more popular Shiva
temples there is massive rush of devotees. Long queues can be noticed as devotees,
mostly women, wait for their turn to perform puja. Since, bathing of Shiva Linga
with milk is part of the Shivaratri Puja tradition; little rivers are formed
due to the excessively overflowing milk and fruit in the Shiva temples on this
day.
Ritual worship of Shiva Lingam is done
by temple priests every three hours all through the day and night of Shivaratri
Festival. Shouts of "Shivji ki Jai" (glory and victory be
to Lord Shiva), "Har Har Mahadev", "Jai Bholenath",
chanting of the mantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and ringing
of temple bells make the atmosphere religious and devotional.
Nightlong vigil on Shivratri or the Jaagran
is celebrated by singing of devotional hymns and songs in worship of Lord Shiva,
and, it is only in the following morning that, the devotees break their fast
by consuming prasad offered to the Lord.
Shivaratri Celebrations by Women
Shivratri Festival is specifically awaited
by Hindu women. On Shivaratri, married and unmarried women perform puja with
great faith, as Goddess Parvati who is also called 'Gauri', is regarded
as the giver of 'suhaag' (force of chastity in married women), good
husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life. One can therefore
see find women enthusiastically observing the fast and performing the rituals
of Shiva Puja on the day.
Tradition of Drinking Thandai
Since Lord Shiva is regarded as an ascetic
god, Maha Shivratri is very popular with ascetics. Thandai, a drink
made with bhang (cannabis), almonds, milk and/or many other ingredients,
is essentially drunk, specially by he devouts of North India, on the day of
Shivaratri, as cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva.
