Shivaratri or Sivarathri (Great Night of Shiva or Night of Shiva) is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon).
The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil. Cannabis is traditionally used as an offering for Lord Shiva and his followers. Per scriptural and discipleship traditions, the penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach the goal more swiftly and avoid rebirth.
Maha Shivaratri is the prime time for every soul to get into the primordial consciousness of non-existence or Nirvana. One is required to keep vigil during the night in order to receive Lord Shiva's grace and blessings.
Lord Shiva incarnates in the form of the Shiva Lingam during his great night on every year. Shiva Lingam is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The power of lingam is the most glorious occurrence created by God in its vast array of creation. Shiva Lingam is symbolic of the creative power of the universe. It denotes the truth that God does not have any definite form.
The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil. Cannabis is traditionally used as an offering for Lord Shiva and his followers. Per scriptural and discipleship traditions, the penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach the goal more swiftly and avoid rebirth.
Maha Shivaratri is the prime time for every soul to get into the primordial consciousness of non-existence or Nirvana. One is required to keep vigil during the night in order to receive Lord Shiva's grace and blessings.
Lord Shiva incarnates in the form of the Shiva Lingam during his great night on every year. Shiva Lingam is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The power of lingam is the most glorious occurrence created by God in its vast array of creation. Shiva Lingam is symbolic of the creative power of the universe. It denotes the truth that God does not have any definite form.
