Mahashivratri is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus and it's called the night of Lord Shiva. As per the South India Panchangam (Amavasyant Panchang), Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the Magha month. On the other hand, as per the almanac of North India (Purnimant Panchang), the festival of Maha Shivaratri is observed on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the Falgun month.
As per the Panchangam of both North as well as South, Mahashivaratri occurs on the same day. Hence, according to Gregorian Calendar, the date remains the same in the entire of India. On this day, devotees of Shiva worship him by offering Bael leaves to the Shivling, keeping fast, and staying awake the whole night.
When is Mahashivratri in 2022?
Here you can find the Date of Mahashivratri in 2022.
| Name of Festivals | Day | Date of Festivals |
|---|---|---|
| Mahashivaratri | Tuesday | 1 March 2022 |
Mahashivratri Puja Muhurat For New Delhi, India
| Nishita Kaal Puja Time | 24:08:27 to 24:58:08 |
| Duration | 0 Hour 49 Minute |
| Maha Shivaratri Parana Time | After 06:46:55 on 2nd, March |
Mahashivratri Vrat Rules According To Scriptures
In order to observe Mahashivratri Vrat (fasting), the following rules are mentioned in our scriptures:1. If the entire Nishithkaal is coming under Chaturdashi Tithi (fourteenth day as per Hindu Panchang) on the very first day, Mahashivratri is celebrated on the same day. The eighth Muhurat of the night is called Nishith Kaal. In other words, if the eighth Muhurat of the night is falling under Chaturdashi Tithi on the first day, Mahashivratri is celebrated on that day only.
2. If, on the next day, Chaturdashi Tithi touches the first part of the Nishithkaal and on the first day the Nishith Kaal is entirely coming under Chaturdashi Tithi, Mahashivratri is celebrated on the first day.
3. Apart from the above-mentioned 2 conditions, the fast will always be observed on the next day.
Legend Behind Mahashivratri Vrat
Many stories are famous about Shivaratri. As per the descriptions, Goddess Parvati had undergone a tough penance to get Shiva in her life as her husband. Mythological texts say - as the result of her hard efforts, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati got married on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Falgun. This is the reason why Mahashivratri is considered very much important as well as auspicious.
Apart from this, Garuda Purana mentions the importance of this day with a different story. According to this, one day, a hunter went out to hunt with his dog, but he got nothing. Being tired and starved, he sat down near a pond. There was a Shiva Lingam under a Bilva tree. In order to give some rest to his body, he took some leaves from that tree. By chance, some of them fell down over the Shiv Ling. After that, he sprinkled the water from the pond over his feet to clean them. Eventually, some of the water also got sprinkled over the Shiv Lingam. While doing all this, one of his arrows fell down. In order to pick it up, he bowed down in front of the Shivalingam. Like this, he completed the entire process of Shiva Puja on the day of Shivaratri unintentionally. After his death, when Yamadoot came to take his soul, people from Shiva's army came to protect him.
If the unintentional worship of Shiva on the day of Mahashivratri gives such an amazing result, how it will bless us if we do it intentionally.
Mahashivratri Vrat Puja Vidhi
1. Fill an earthen pot with water or milk. Put some Bael leaves, flowers of Datura-Aak, rice, etc. in it and then offer it on Shiva Ling. If there is no Shiv temple around then worship should be done by creating a Shivaling with mud at home.2. On this day, one should recite Shiv Purana and chant Mahamrityunjaya or 5-letter Mantra of Shiva Om Namah Shivaya. Additionally, one should stay awake throughout the night of Mahashivratri.
3. As per the classical rituals, the best time to perform Mahashivratri Pujan is?Nishith Kaal?. However, devotees can perform the Puja during all 4 Prahars of the night as per their convenience.
Mahashivaratri Puja Vidhi: Method of Worship
⦁ For the fast of Maha Shivratri, the follower is recommended to have a single meal before the main fasting.
⦁ This common fasting practice ensures that any undigested food is not left in our system on the fasting day.⦁ On the day of Shivratri, the practitioner needs to wake up early in the morning and add black sesame seeds to warm water before taking a bath with it.
⦁ Devotees believe that taking a bath with this water on the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri purifies the soul and body. It is preferred to take a bath in the Ganga river.
⦁ After bathing, the devotee should take a pledge of fasting the entire day and break it on the next day. To receive the blessing of Lord shiva.
⦁ Devotees need to be careful and they must avoid any interference in this pledge after taking a resolution.
⦁ After this, the worship of the Lord Surya, lord Vishnu, and lord shiva is followed as per the Hindu traditions.
⦁ After worshiping the three deities, the pooja vidhi begins for the day.
⦁ At the time of fasting, the devotee must abstain from any kind of food articles.
⦁ Drinking water is also not allowed if devotees are following a strict form of fast.
⦁ However, fruits and milk can be consumed during the day.
⦁ Devotees need to take a bath before the evening worship of Lord Shiva or visit the Shiva temple.
⦁ If it is not possible to visit the temple, worship can be practiced on a Shiva Linga at home.
⦁ This worship of Lord Shiv has to be done in the night and can be performed once or four times.
⦁ which means that one can divide the duration of the whole night into four prahar to perform this worship four times in a single night.
⦁ Those who have to worship shiva only one time should do it at midnight.⦁ Drinking water is also not allowed if devotees are following a strict form of fast.
⦁ However, fruits and milk can be consumed during the day.
⦁ Devotees need to take a bath before the evening worship of Lord Shiva or visit the Shiva temple.
⦁ If it is not possible to visit the temple, worship can be practiced on a Shiva Linga at home.
⦁ This worship of Lord Shiv has to be done in the night and can be performed once or four times.
⦁ which means that one can divide the duration of the whole night into four prahar to perform this worship four times in a single night.
⦁ As per the traditional worship method of Maha Shivratri, shiva linga Abhishek has to be conducted with six different materials.
⦁ These materials are:
Milk - For the blessing of purity and piousness⦁ For those who are performing the Abhishek for four prahar, the material is as follows;
Curd - For prosperity and progeny
Honey - For sweet speech.
Ghee - For victory
Sugar - For happiness
Water - For purity
* Abhishek of water for the first prahar⦁ Once the Abhishek rituals are completed, the shiva linga is to adorn with a garland that is made from Bilva leaves.
* Abhishek of curd for the second prahar
* Abhishek of ghee for the third prahar
* Abhishek of honey for the fourth prahar
⦁ It is said that the Bilva leaves helps in keeping lord shiva calm.
⦁ After that, the paste of sandalwood or kumkum is applied to the shiv linga and, lamps - dhup is lit before the linga.
⦁ Along with that, Madar(Arka) flowers and vibhuti are also used to adorn lord shiva.
⦁ After that, the paste of sandalwood or kumkum is applied to the shiv lings and, lamps.
⦁ Along with that, Madar(Arka) flowers and vibhuti are also used to adorn Lord Shiva.
⦁ While performing this worship the devotee must constantly keep chanting the "Om Namah Shivaya" mantra.
⦁ In order to reap the maximum benefit of the Shivratri fast, devotees should break their fast after taking a bath before the Chaturdashi Tithi ends.
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