Importance of Maha Sivaratri
Festival of Mahashivaratri is the
most important festival for the millions of devotees of Lord Shiva. The
festival has been accorded lot of significance in Hindu mythology. It says that
a devotee who performs sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of
Shivratri is absolved of sins and attains moksha.
Importance
of Shivaratri in Hinduism:
Festival
of Mahashivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to sacred
scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on
the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva
the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when
his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees
pleases him the most.
Even till date, devotees of Lord
Shiva perform the ritual worship of Shivratri with care and devotion. They
observe day and nigh fast and give sacred bath to Shiva Linga with honey, milk,
water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on a
Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and
sincerity absolves a devotee of past sins. The devotee reaches the abode of
Lord Shanker and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of
birth and death and attains moksha or salvation.
Shivaratri
for Women:
Mahashivratri
Festival is also considered to be an extremely significant festival by women.
Married and unmarried women observe fast and perform Shiva Puja with
sincerity to appease Goddess
Parvati who is also regarded as ‘Gaura’ -
one who bestows marital bliss and long and prosperous married life. Unmarried
women also pray for a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal
husband.
Shivaratri
Fast
Shivaratri Fast is considered to
be the most important fast for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Shiva Purana goes on
to say that if a devotee observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure
devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Every year
devotees observe Maha Shivaratri fast with devotion and sincerity. Though many
go on a diet of fruits and milk, some do not consume even a drop of water all
through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival.
Merits of Mahashivratri Vrat:
According to Hindu mythology,
observance of mahashivratri Vrat with discipline helps a devotee to control the
two great natural forces that afflict a man, rajas guna (the quality of
passionate activity) and tamas guna (the quality of inertia). When a devotee
spends an entire day in the Feet of Lord and worships with sincerity, his
motion is controlled and evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas are
ignored and subdued. Besides, when a devotee observes vigil throughout the
night (jaagran) he manages to conquer the evils of Tamas Guna too. It has also
been mentioned that when a devotee observes a round of worship every three
hours, the Shivaratri Vrata becomes perfect.
Devotees of Lord Shiva believe
consider Shivratri fast to be extremely auspicious and rate it equal or more
than performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. Some believe that a devotee who observes a
Shivaratri Fast with sincerity and utters the name of Lord Shiva with perfect
devotion is absolved from all sins. Such a devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shiva
and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and
death.
Very very happy Maha Sivaratri to all …..God bless you all.
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