It is the day Lord Shiva married to Goddess Parvati. Maha Shivarathri is also called as ‘Shivarathri’ or ‘Great night of Shiva.’People believe that offering fast brings good luck into their lives. Maha Shivaratri is the wonderful opportunity for the followers of Lord Shiva, to praise the God and seek his blessings. The fasting involves refraining from eating any food and not sleeping throughout the night.
Happy Maha Shivratri 2016: Maha Shivratri Fasting Rules Procedure What to Eat?
Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival which is celebrated by people following Hinduism in India. It is celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivaratri festival is also widely known as ‘Shivaratri’. It means the ‘Great Night of Shiva’. The Mahashivratri fasting begins on the morning of Shivratri and ends next day morning or the Amavasya morning. There are many mythological legends associated with this day. According to a popular legend, when a hunter could not find anything to kill for his food in a forest, he waited on the branch of a Woodapple tree.
No meal is eaten after sunset on Shivaratri day. But many people don’t know what to eat on this day. So here we have listed some recipes which you can eat during the fasting. Though many go on a diet of fruits and milk, some do not consume even a drop of water all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival.
This poison was very dangerous for the universe. So, Lord Vishnu suggested the gods to call Lord Shiva, as only he was able to drink it. To save universe from this very toxic poison, Lord Shiva drank it all. But, it stayed in his throat, as Parvati pressed his neck and the poison didn’t affect him. The neck of Lord Shiva became blue because of the poison. Thus, he was named as Neelkantha.
According to olden days information, devotees should bathe him with milk, curd, butter, and honey. They should offer Bael leaves to him and fast all day & night. After completing the rituals, devotees first feed the Brahmins in the morning; and all the rituals should be followed strictly.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:
Bathing the Shiva Linga with water, milk and honey. Woodapple or bel leaves are added to, which represents purification of the soul;
Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiva Linga after bathing it. This represents virtue;
Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
Burning incense, yielding wealth;
The lighting of the lamp which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
And betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.
0 comments:
Post a Comment