Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva',
Very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship (puja) and hence hope for favours...
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva',
Very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga worship (puja) and hence hope for favours from God. Devotees bathe at sunrise, preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water source (like the Gangotri or Pure Ganga Water). This is a rite of purification, which is an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing clean clothing after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water (like Sombu Ganga Jamuna) to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. Women and men both offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of “Om Nama Shivaya” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circulate the lingam three or seven times and then pour water over it. Some also pour milk over it.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:
Tripundra refers to the three horizontal stripes of holy ash applied to the forehead by worshipers of Lord Shiva. These stripes symbolise spiritual knowledge, purity and penance (spiritual practise of Yoga). They also represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.
Wearing a mala (rosary) made from the rudraksha seeds of the rudraksha tree (said to have sprung from the tears of Lord Shiva) when worshipping Lord Shiva is ideal. A rudraksha seed is mahogany-like colour, or could sometimes be black. They might also have traces of sacred sandalwood powder, turmeric, kumkum, or holy ash if the rosary is used in worship ceremonies or annotations.