Shivaratri 2020 is on 21 February, Friday
Mahashivaratri could be a great day for the devotees of Lord Shiva. On this day, devotees praise Lord Shiva so that their wishes are often fulfilled. Devotees offer Belvedere, fruits, flowers, milk, and water to Lord Shiva on Shivratri. This special day of Shivratri many people organize Rudhrabhishek. It is believed that executing Rudrabhishek on Shivratri brings heaps of results. In this post, I am sharing some information on What Maha Shivaratri is and How Mahashivratri Celebrated in India.
Importance of Maha Shivaratri
Mahashivaratri is very valuable for seekers who obey the spiritual path. It is also extremely necessary for those who are in family situations and influenced by the world’s ambitions. In family situations, people celebrate Mahashivratri as a Celebration of Shiva’s Marriage. People surrounded by worldly ambitions celebrate Mahashivaratri to conquer their enemies. But, for the seekers, it is the day when they merge in Mount Kailash. He became stable and stable like a mountain. In the Yogic tradition, Shiva is not worshiped like any god. He is considered Adiyogi, before which Guru Gyan started. It was the day of Maha Shivaratri. All the activities within him calmed down. They became completely stable, so the seekers celebrate Mahashivratri as a night of determination.
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated once in the year mainly in the worship of Lord Shiva. This day is also celebrated as the marriage of Lord Shiva. The festival of Shivaratri is at the end of winter (February end) or at the beginning of summer (March starting). On this day people pray that they stay away from darkness and ignorance in life. This auspicious day will be celebrated on 21 February in 2020.
How is Maha Shivaratri Celebrated in India?
Before we discussed the Importance of Maha Shivratri and now we will get to know How Maha Shivratri Celebrated in India. Auspicious occasions are celebrated in several ways in various cultures and regions. In Tamil Nadu, Mahashivratri is celebrated in the Annamalai temple. Devotees of Lord Shiva walk around Shiva’s temple located on the top of a 14 km shoeless hill at Girivalam or Giri Pradakshina.
The city of Mandi (HIMACHAL PRADESH) hosts the Mandi fair, which is visited by devotees from everywhere from India. Around 200 Hindu gods are believed to assemble in Mandi on this day.
In West Bengal, an unmarried woman goes to Tarakeswar to visit a religious place in search of an ideal husband.
Women devotees pray to the Shivling with milk, praying for the well being of their sons and husbands. Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, prayed that her husband should not do any kind of evil on this day. Since then, Maha Shivaratri is considered a lucky day for women.
Devotees wake up early in the morning to dip in the holy Ganges or any other holy water. Purification rituals are performed like the worship of Sun, Shiva, and Vishnu. After bathing, clean clothes are worn and then the devotees offer water to the Shivling. Devotees decorate temple and Shivling with marigold flowers. All these prayers to Lord Shiva with fruits and incense sticks are done to save the world from all evils. Hope now you can know “How is Maha Shivaratri Celebrated in India”
During Mahashivratri Best Place to Visit in India 2020
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh:
The town of Varanasi is one of the famous Shiva temples in India. Since the festival is celebrated with vast faith within the city. Millions of devotees come from across the country to celebrate this celebration. I recommended this place if you are planning to go to Varanasi on a holiday trip.
Haridwar, Uttarakhand:
Haridwar is known for its temples and ghats. Visitors can also visit many other temples and enjoy river rafting in Rishikesh.
Mandi, Himachal Pradesh:
There is a temple of Bhootnath in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) and the biggest Maha Shivaratri celebrations in India are held here. This tradition was started 500 years ago by the royal family of Mandi city.
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh:
The festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great eagerness in Andhra Pradesh. Devotees chant fasts and mantras to mark this auspicious festival.
Guwahati, Assam:
Guwahati, the capital of Assam attracts thousands of devotees at the festival. Umananda could be a notable temple within the city.
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh:
The festival of Maha Shivaratri is widely known with great eagerness in Ujjain, the celebration continues for 9 days.
Importance of Shivaratri
Light is a small phenomenon in your mind. Light is not constant, it is always a limited chance because it shrinks and ends. We all know that the Sun is the biggest source of sunshine on this planet. You will be able to even create a shadow of darkness by stopping your light by hand. But darkness is everywhere, it is present everywhere.
The immature mind of the world has always described darkness as evil. But when you say divine energy everywhere, you simply call it darkness. Because there is only darkness everywhere. It does not need anyone’s assistance. Light is constantly generated from a source that is burning. It has a starting and an end. It constantly comes from a limited source. There is no source of darkness. It is a source in itself. It is universally.
Consequently, when we say Shiva, we mean that infinite emptiness of existence. All conception reduces in the lap of this vacancy. In Indian culture, all antique prayers were not only on saving or improving you. All ancient prayers say, “Lord, destroy me so that I can be like you,” so when we say that Shivaratri, which is the darkest day of the month, is an opportunity for a person to submerge their boundaries. it is. After doing so, experience the infinite source of creation, which exists as a seed in every human being.
Mahashivratri – Night of Awakening
Maha Shivaratri is an occasion when you can connect yourself to the experience of infinite emptiness inside every human being. That is the source of all creation. Shiva is called the destroyer and on the other hand, he is also the most kind.
In Yogic legends, he looks like the greatest in many places. His forms of kindness have been different and wondrous. Also Mahashivaratri a special night to get something. It is our wish and blessing to experience the infinite expanse. That we call Shiva for at least a bit this night. It should not just stay awake all night. It should be a night of awakening for you, a night full of awareness and thankfulness!
“Jyotirlinga” – Jyotir Lingam means, ‘Tej of Lord Shiva’. There is a religious representation of the Supreme Lord Shiva and 12 Jyotirlingas in India.
Following are the 12 Jyotirlingas
- Somnath Temple, Saurashtra, Gujrat
- Srishailam, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh
- Ujjain, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
- Parali Vaidyanath Temple, Maharashtra
- Bhimashankar, Dhakini, Maharashtra
- Rameshwaram Temple, Tamilnadu
- Nageshwar Temple, Dharukavanam, Maharashtra
- Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Tryambakeshwar Temple, Maharashtra
- Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
- Grishneshwar Temple, Maharashtra
