Friday 9 January 2015

Maha Shivaratri 2015 will fall on Monday , 16th -- 17th February 2015


12 JYOTIRLINGAS OF LORD SHIVA's photo.


Maha Shivaratri 2015 will fall on Monday , 16th -- 17th February 2015 commonly referred to as Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivaratri – literally means the night of Shiva, and is celebrated on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar every year. Even though there are a number of legends pertaining to this auspicious occasion, there is just one motive behind the festival – pleasing the all powerful Lord Shiva.

It is written in the Shiva Purana that doing abhisheka of the Lord Shiva Linga with six dravyas such as cow milk, yoghurt, sugar, honey, ghee and Gange water while reading Sri Rudram , Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva. Milk is for the approval of cleanliness and faithfulness, yogurt for wealth and offspring, honey for sweet tongue, ghee for success, sugar for pleasure, and water for purity.

--------Marriage of Shiva and Parvati------------
According to the first legend, after Shiva’s wife Sati immolated herself, she was reborn as Parvati. Parvati tried hard to break Shiva’s meditation and win his attention - who had entered into the mode of penance since the incident. It is said that Parvati sought the help of Kamadeva - the God of Love and Passion – who asked her to dance in front of Shiva. While she was dancing, Kaamadeva shot his arrow of passion at Shiva, but this infuriated Shiva all the more.

Later, Parvati undertook severe penance to win over Shiva and was finally able to lure him into marriage through her devotion. Their marriage was sanctified a day before Amavasya in the month of Phalgun. This day of union of God Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Mahashivratri every year.

Another version of the same legend says that Parvati performed prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, women began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva - the ideal husband

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