Maha Shivratri, also called the Great Night of Shiva, is one of the largest and most significant among the sacred festivals of India
FR APOLLO CARDOZO S J
Maha Shivratri, also called the Great Night of Shiva, is one of the largest and most significant among the sacred festivals of India. It is celebrated with great devotion and fervour by the Hindus in honour of Lord Shiva on the 14th day in the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna of the Hindu calendar. It takes place just before the arrival of spring, usually in February or March in the Western calendar. This year, it will be celebrated on March 11.
The name ‘Maha Shivratri’ also refers to the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance. It is observed to mark a remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance in life and in the world. It is an important Hindu festival particularly in the Shaivism tradition.
LEGENDS
According to one legend, Maha Shivratri is the wedding day of Lord Shiva with the goddess of fertility, love and beauty - Parvati, who is also known as shakti (power). Hence, it is a celebration of this sacred union. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivratri that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava (the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction of the earth).
Another legend says that the day is celebrated as the day when Brahma and Vishnu got into a tussle about the supremacy over each other. This made Lord Shiva angry, who punished them by taking the form of a massive fire that spread across the length of the universe. To prove their prowess, Brahma and Vishnu then seem to have got into the race to find the end of the fire, but only to be dismayed. Brahma then resorted to a lie that he had found it, which furthered angered Shiva and then cursed him that in future no one would pray to him.
SIGNIFICANCE
Maha Shivratri is very significant for people who are on the spiritual path as it is a time for introspection. Those in a family situation observe it as Shiva’s and Parvati’s wedding anniversary and those who are ambitions in the world, see the day, as the day when Shiva conquered all his enemies.
Maha Shivratri is also considered very auspicious for women, who pray for the well-being of their husbands and the unmarried pray for a husband like Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal husband.
They throng Shiva temples to perform the traditional Shivalinga puja and seek the deity’s blessings. There is also a belief that those who worship Lord Shiva on this day receive the grace of the Lord and attain ‘moksha’ (salvation). Fasting on this day is said to equal the benefits of a whole year’s rigorous prayer.
CELEBRATIONS IN GOA
Maha Shivratri is one of the prime festivals for Hindus in Goa and hence, temples dedicated to Lord Shiva spread across the State are decorated with flowers and illumined with lights, as at the Shiroda and Ramnath temples in Ponda, temples at Sanguem, Harvalem, Kavlem, Mangeshi, Khandepar, Kullem and Shirgao.
RITUALS
Hindus wake up early and take a dip in a water body close to a Shiva temple. They wear fresh new clothes and visit the nearest Shiva temple and worship the Shiva linga. During the ritual worship, Lord Shiva is offered Bel (bilwa or bilva patra) leaves, special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconuts.
Amid the ringing of temple bells, devotees bathe the lingam with milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water and read verses in praise and devotion of Lord Shiva, along with the intense chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivay’, the sacred mantra of Shiva that is said to free people from all their sins.
Following the bath, vermilion paste is applied on the linga. The priests perform puja of Shivalingam (a ritual of pouring water or other sacred substances on a statue of a deity while also chanting mantras) every three hours.
At several Shiva temples across the State, the devotees have a jagrann (night-long vigil), where the devotees sing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva. On the following morning, they break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.
(The writer is former director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr at Porvorim)
