Maha Shivaratri - Significance and Story behind It

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivratri, or the great night of Lord Shiva, is the famous Hindu festival. This festival is celebrated on the thirteenth or fourteenth day of the Maagh Hindu month which comes in February or March. On Maha Shivratri, people stay up the during the night and have fast.

Fourteenth day of each month of the Hindu calendar is called as Shivaratri. However, the fourteenth day of Maagh is celebrated as Maha-Shivaratri. Maha Shivaratri is a national holiday in India.

While praying Lord Shiva, people use beal tree leave and milk.

Who is Lord Shiva?

As per Hindu religion, Lord Shiva is one of the three God, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva normally wear tiger skin. His hair holds the holy Ganga.

Why Maha Shivaratri is Celebrated?

There are different stories about Maha Shivaratri. Few people consider that on this day, Lord Shiva married to Parvati. Hence, Hindus celebrate this holy day as Maha Shivaratri.

There is another mythology about Maha Shivaratri. There is an old story about demons and the gods. Demons were power hungry whereas god was helping and caring for people. Demons and Gods planned to churn the Ocean to get Amrit. For churn, they choose mountain Mandara as churning pole and serpent Vasuki as churning rope. While churning, Gods one side and demons on the other side, churned the ocean.

When Gods and demons churned the ocean, Vasuki spat venom. Venom was threatening and destructing in nature for the world. To save the world, Lord Shiva gathered the venom and drunk it. Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, grabbed his throat so the poison would not enter his stomach. This burn Lord Shiva throat. That is the reason, we see his throat as dark blue. While churning the ocean, Gods get the Amrit.

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