Today is Maha-Shivaratri
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
India
February 22, 2009 5:12pm CST
Hello everyone here Ji,
Today is Lord-Shiva day, Maha-Shivaratri,[b]"Mahashivaratri (also called Shiva Ratri) is the Great Festival of Shiva. It is held on
the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna, which falls on Feb-23-09.
Mahashivaratri is especially important to Saivites (devotees of Shiva), but it is
celebrated by most Hindus.
The day of Mahashivaratri is spent in meditation on Shiva and fasting (some may take
water or fruit). Temples dedicated to Shiva are filled with devotees offering prayers.
The Shiva linga at the temple or in one's home is bathed with milk, honey and water,
and offerings are made to Shiva in the form of Bilva leaves, fruits, and other
specially prepared foods. Offering Bilva leaves to Shiva on Mahashivaratri is
considered especially auspicious.
Devotees sing hymns and chant mantras, especially Om namah Shivaya. Some sit around a
sacred fire and toss offerings of grain into the flames while chanting to Shiva. After
fasting and meditating throughout the day, a vigil is held all night with continued
prayers and meditation.
Various legends are associated with the holiday of Mahashivaratri. One is the popular
legend of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, in which the gods inadvertantly unearthed
a poison that threatened to destroy the world. Shiva saved the day by drinking the
poison, which accounts for his blue throat in some Hindu art.
It is said that Shiva was strong enough to handle the poison, but he had to stay awake all night as part of his healing. The other gods helped get him through the night by entertaining him with dances and other distractions. This is commemorated on Mahashivaratri, when Shiva's followers keep him company through the night.
Another legend tells the story of a hunter who climbed a Bilva tree to escape a hungry
lion. The lion sat down beneath the tree and waited for the hunter to fall. As he
waited in the tree all night, the hunter plucked leaves from the Bilva tree to stay
awake. The leaves, which are sacred to Shiva, fell on a Shiva linga that happened to be
at the base of the tree. Shiva was pleased by the offering, inadvertant though it was,
and saved the hunter. This event is commemorated on Mahashivaratri by staying up all
night and offering Bilva leaves. "[/b]
May god bless you and have a great time.
2 people like this
6 responses
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
23 Feb 09
Hello my friend freethinkingagent Ji,
So nice of you showing me interest in our festivals. You may follow link below, for more. may god bless you and have a great time.
http://www.indif.com/nri/Kathas/sakat_chauth/sakat_chauth_katha.asp
http://www.indif.com/nri/Kathas/sakat_chauth/sakat_chauth_katha.asp
@Mitraa (3183)
• India
26 Feb 09
Yes, (Sorry for the undue discontinuity... Jai ho Shivjee ki!) Due to the heavy poison Lord Shiva became severely ill and unconscious and this was happened at a sea shore. All the living beings were in a state of sorrow and despair! The Devas took care of Him with well treatment and after a long time, Lord Shiva completely digested the large poison and showed symptoms of recovery due to His strong yogic power! But His throat remained blue colour as the effect of poison, naming Him later as Neelakantha (Means blue coloured throat). When He regained consciousness, the Devas were extremely happy to celebrate the occasion. That particular day was this day, the late evening of the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna. To communicate this happy message among all at a distance, Devas illuminated a torch with fire and took it to the nearby highest place, as this was the early method of long distance communication particularly at night hours. So to commemorate that we now-a-days find that the torch of fire (Mahaa Deepa) is lifted by skilled persons to the top of the Shiva temple at that auspicios moment of the late evening hours of 'Mahaa Shivaraatree' celebration. Also to sympathise for Lord Shiva's illness, devotees keep fasting for the day and light earthen lamps with ghee as fuel at Shiva temple and take prasad after viewing the fire torch on the temple only.
This is in brief about the fact of 'Mahaa Shivaraatree'. Thanks for this nice posting and have a good day!
1 person likes this
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
27 Feb 09
Hello my friend Mitraa Ji,
So nice of your response in two parts. Well done. I think you may still add the same
with following site , and know more, what legend says more about Samundra-manthan :
http://www.mahashivratri.org/samudra-manthan.html
[b]"Samudra Manthan
This very popular Shivaratri legend from Puranas explains why people stay awake all
night on Shivaratri. Besides, it also tells us why Lord Shiva is also known as
Neelakantha.
Legend Behind Samudra Manthan
Once Indra - the King of Gods, while riding on an elephant came across Durvasa Muni
who offered him a special garland. Indra accepted the garland but put in on the trunk
of the elephant. The elephant was irritated by the smell and it threw the garland on
the floor. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and
was to be treated as prasada. Durvasa Muni cursed Indra and all devas to be bereft of
all strength, energy, and fortune.
In battles that followed this incident, devas were defeated and asuras (demons) led by
Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from Lord Vishnu who advised
them to treat asuras in a diplomatic manner. Devas formed an alliance with asuras to
jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them.
Lord Vishu told Devas that we would arrange that they alone obtain the nectar.
The Churning of the Ocean
The churning of the milk - ocean was an elaborate process. Mount Mandara was used as
churning rod and Vasuki, the King of Serpents, became the churning rope. Lord Vishnu
himself had to intercede in so many ways to aid the Devas. All kinds of herbs were
cast into the ocean and many great beings and objects were produced from the ocean and
were divided between asuras and gods. It is said that following things emerged from
the Samudra Manthan"
[/b]
may god bless you nad have great time.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
23 Feb 09
Hello my friend lakota12 Ji,
So nice of you. may god bless you and have a great time.
@Mitraa (3183)
• India
26 Feb 09
An important concept about the celebration of this great festival 'Mahaa Shivaraatree' is like this:
When the Devas and the Daityas performed 'Saagar Manthan', many rare and valuable items were produced like, Chandra ( The Moon), Laxmee, Nectar etc and at the same time, a lot of poison was produced. To save this earth from the poison, Devas requested Mahaayogi Shiva to consume this large poison.
When Shiva took it, it very seriously acted with Him! Gradually in wgrn Sgu
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
26 Feb 09
Hello my friend lampar Ji,
So nice of you for encouraging me for such topics. If you wish to know more, please log
on : For more log on to:
http://www.mahashivratri.org/samudra-manthan.html
http://www.hindujagruti.o.
May God bless you and have great time.
@maygodblessu44 (7336)
• India
23 Feb 09
Hello my dear mathss1 Ji,
So nice of you for showing interest in our festivals. As your country i sun-specified in your prodile, I just could not link up 'guy' with 'God'. Lord Shiva is our God, who took poison after churning Ocean, others took nector., and held it in neck, so He i salso known as 'Neel-kanth'.
For more log on to :
http://www.mahashivratri.org/samudra-manthan.html
Samudra Manthan
This very popular Shivaratri legend from Puranas explains why people stay awake all
night on Shivaratri. Besides, it also tells us why Lord Shiva is also known as Neelakantha.
May God bless yoiu anmd have a great time.
