Mahaa Shivraatri (महा शिवरात्रि) is the most special night (रात्रि) to vow devotion (व्रत) to Shiv. As per Shiv Puraan (Kotirudra Samhita, chapters 37-38), Agni Puraan (chapter 193) and Naardeeya Puraan (Poorv Khand
or part 1, section 4), it occurs on the fourteenth day (चतुर्दशी) of
the waning moon (कृष्ण पक्ष) in the month of January/February
(माघ/फाल्गुन).
Mahaa Shivraatri is a day to commemorate worship of Shiv by none other than Brahma and Vishnu (Shiv Puraan, Vishveshwar Samhita, chapters 5-9). Brahma and Vishnu got into a fight once. Fearful of immense destruction, all the demigods approached Shiv to pacify the two. Shiv appeared amidst the fighting duo in the form of a Jyotirling (ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) or an infinite pillar of radiant energy. Brahma and Vishnu got distracted by that and tried to find the pillar's origin and measure its length and width but failed. Humbled by this experience, they worshiped Shiv. That day became popular as Mahaa Shivraatri.
The following mantra is considered the embodiment of Shiv himself:
Mahaa Shivraatri is a day to commemorate worship of Shiv by none other than Brahma and Vishnu (Shiv Puraan, Vishveshwar Samhita, chapters 5-9). Brahma and Vishnu got into a fight once. Fearful of immense destruction, all the demigods approached Shiv to pacify the two. Shiv appeared amidst the fighting duo in the form of a Jyotirling (ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग) or an infinite pillar of radiant energy. Brahma and Vishnu got distracted by that and tried to find the pillar's origin and measure its length and width but failed. Humbled by this experience, they worshiped Shiv. That day became popular as Mahaa Shivraatri.
The following mantra is considered the embodiment of Shiv himself:
Om Namah Shivaya
ॐ नमः शिवाय
A hunter named Gurudruh (गुरुद्रुह) obtained Shiv's blessings when he accidentally sprinkled water and bilwa/bael (बिल्व/बेल) tree (scientific name Aegle Marmelos) leaves on Shiv (Shiv Puraan, Kotirudra Samhita). Therefore, these items are offered to Shiv. Fasting throughout the day and staying awake for worship during the night is prescribed.
A widespread fallacy is that Shiv married Paarvati (पार्वती) on Shivraatri but as per Agni Puraan (chapter 178), the marriage happened on the third day (तृतीया) of the waxing moon (शुक्ल पक्ष) in the month of Chaitra (चैत्र) or March/April and not on Shivraatri.
A widespread fallacy is that Shiv married Paarvati (पार्वती) on Shivraatri but as per Agni Puraan (chapter 178), the marriage happened on the third day (तृतीया) of the waxing moon (शुक्ल पक्ष) in the month of Chaitra (चैत्र) or March/April and not on Shivraatri.
तृतीयायां चैत्रशुक्ले ऊढ़ा गौरी हरेण हि ... ||2||
Agni Puraan, Chapter 178
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