Maha Shivaratri
Maha Sivaratri is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Phalguna (February-March) in the Hindu calendar. This day is regarded as one of the auspicious day all over India. According to Hindu religious scripture this day is considered as Lord Shiva’s favourite day. So from that day Maha Shivaratri is celebrated all over India.
Legend days, it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivaratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga.
MAHA SHIVARATRI PUJA
Maha Shivaratri puja is associated with various traditions and customs. Devotees observe strict fast on this day, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk. Some do not consume even a drop of water. Especially, women observe fast with a great religious feeling. While married women pray for the well being of their husband unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal husband. On this day, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, wear fresh, clean clothes and visit the nearest Shiva temple to worship the God. On Shivaratri, worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the day and night. Every three hours priests perform ritual puja of Shivalingam. Devotees circumambulate the Shivalinga, three or seven times, and then Shivalingam is given a special bath with milk, yoghurt, honey, sandalwood paste and rose water. Puja, meditation and chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ accompany the ritual bath. Following the bath, vermilion paste is applied on the linga. Thereafter, Bilwa leaves, which have to be a stalk with three leaves, are kept on top of the Shivalinga. Ber or jujube fruit is a special offering to the God on this day. Devotees also decorate the linga with flowers and garlands and offer incense sticks and fruit. Devotees stay awake and spent the night (jagara) in Shiva temples by chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, singing hymns and verses in praise of Lord Shankar and lighting Diyas in the name of Lord Shiva. Devotees observing vrat on Shivaratri break it only the next morning by partaking prasad offered to Lord Shiva. But in some places devotees break their brat when Mahadweepa (big Diya) on the top the famous Shiva Temples of India gets lighted, after the completion of all puja rituals.
MAHA SHIVARATRI IN ODISHA
In Odisha Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with a great religious fervour and devotion. Major centers of Shivaratri celebrations in Odisha are Lingaraj Temple and Hattakeswar Temple near Atri. Shiva temples located at Mahendragiri, Gupteswar, Kapilas, Bhubaneswar and Khiching also draw a large of devotees from across the State. In Odisha Maha Shivaratri is called as Jagara by many. Shivaratri celebration at Lokanath Temple, Puri is very famous. According to a legend popular in Odisha, long ago, Puri was a center of Shiva worship. It is believed that Lord Ramachandra himself installed the Lingam in the Lokanath Temple. This lingam is kept submerged, in a vat of water for the whole year. It can only be seen on Pankoddhar Ekadashee or Pankojjala Ekadashee, three days before Shivaratri, when the water is removed from the vat. On that day, thousands of devotees come for a darshan. In some places big fairs are arranged where large varieties of goods and implements are bought and sold. Some places are also found with Bhajan Sandhya (Musical Night on Shiva Vandana)
