An Indian Hindu devotee pay his respects at a Shivling or idol of Lord Shiva at a temple in Amritsar on March 9, 2013 on the eve of Maha Shivratri festival. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction. AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Hindu devotees offer prayers at a Shivling or idol of Lord Shiva at the Shivala Temple in Amritsar on March 9, 2013 on the eve of the Maha Shivratri festival. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction. AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Hindu devotees pour milk over a Shivling or idol of Lord Shiva at a temple in Amritsar on March 9, 2013 on the eve of Maha Shivratri festival. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction. AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
An Indian spiritual woman lights a lamp during the inauguration of a 17 feet high Shivling, an idol symbolic of Hindu God Shiva, made from 505 kilogram of chocolate ahead of Mahashivratri festival in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, March 8, 2013. Hindus across the world will celebrate Mahashivratri or Shiva's night festival on March 10. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
An Indian Hindu man dressed as Lord Shiva hold an 'ajgar' - snake - as he takes part in a religious procession on the eve of the Maha Shivratri festival in Jalandhar on March 9, 2013. Hindus mark the Maha Shivratri festival by offering special prayers and fasting to worship Lord Shiva, the lord of destruction. AFP PHOTO/SHAMMI MEHRA (Photo credit should read SHAMMI MEHRA/AFP/Getty Images)
Maha Shivaratri (also Shivratri) is celebrated on March 10, 2013 by Hindus all over the world. This festival glorifies the Hindu god Shiva, believed to be the lord of cosmic destruction and dance. The festival is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon during the Hindu lunar month of Phalguna.
The celebration of Maha Shivaratri begins with a night vigil leading up to the day of the festival during which many Shiva devotees fast and offer special prayers. Shiva is worshiped in the form of a lingam, a phallic symbol with a yoni that represents female creative energy. Together it represents the union of organs, and the totality of creation. Flowers, incense and other offerings are made, while prayers and bhajans are chanted. Bhang, an intoxicant made from the cannabis plant is consumed by many on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
The celebration of Maha Shivaratri is attributed to several tales in Hindu mythology.One of the most popular tales traces its origins to samudra manthan, or churning of the ocean of milk. According to this belief, when the gods and demons were churning the ocean of milk to obtain amrita (drink of immortality), they came across many unusual substances including a deadly poison. Terrified, the gods approached Shiva for help, and out of compassion for all living beings, Shiva swallowed the poison. The poison was so potent that it turned his neck to blue.
One of the most famous prayers recited to lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri is the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the death-conquering mantra. Below are the words of the mantra in Sanskrit and a translation:
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
Translation: We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper.
Click through the slideshow to listen to famous prayers dedicated to lord Shiva -- Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, Om Namaha Shivaya and Shiva Tandav Stotram. Lyrics and translation are provided.
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