A NUMBER of myths go with the ritual of the Maha Shivratri, celebrated on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar, when people worship Lord Shiva. Some believe that when Parvati asked Shiva, after the completion of the universe that which ritual pleased him the most, he said that 13th night of the new moon, during the month of Maagha, is his most favourite day. Parvati told a friend about this and word spread thereafter and Shiva is worshipped on his favourite day after that.

The second myth is that on that day Parvati prayed and meditated for the well being of her husband and as a result on the same night every year, women pray for their husbands, brothers and also for their husbands to be. Some also say that this the day when Shiva and Parvati married each other. Whatever the reason, Maha Shivratri is a day when followers of Shiva pray to him and ask for boon as they believe that once they please him, he would surely reward them.

As many of you might already know, on this day people observe a fast of not eating or drinking anything. Shiva temples are frequented by worshippers early in the morning after taking a bathe in a river (especially Ganga). This is an important part as Hindus believe in the act of purification before worshipping their idol. They carry a pot of water with them after wearing fresh clothes and bathe the idol or in this case Shiva. Some also take milk with them and after the water bathe the lingam with milk, and honey. After that wood apple or Bel leaves are offered to the idol that represents the purification of the soul. Offering of flowers and fruits are the next step in the worship act to be followed by the lighting of the incense and lamp.

Lord Shiva is worshipped all around India. All over Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu Lord Shiva is called the Adi or the first Guru and people believe that from him the yogic tradition originates. People of these regions believe that the planetary positions of the night are such that there is a powerful natural upsurge of energy in the human system and beneficiary to stay awake the entire night.

Sahasrakalasabishekam or 10-day puja is also conducted on the eve of Maha Shivratri. For 10 days pots of holy water with mantras are recited by learned Brahmins seated on the Mukhamantapam. Chants of “Namah Shivaya”, “Hara hara Mahadeva”, and “Sambho Mahadeva reverberate in the temples. More or less the rituals and the mantras are the same for the worship of Lord Shiva. In places like Varanasi, also known as Kashi, it is a celebration of a sort where the Vishvanath Temple is decked for the occasion. In Kashmir valley, considered an important centre of Shaivism, the festival is celebrated as ‘Hairath’.