Legends
There are many legends associated with Maha
Shivratri - Marriage of Shiv and Shakti, Samudra
manthan , Appearance of Shiv on Earth in form of
Lingam and Ganga's descent from the heavens to the
earth.
All these legends signify that this day is the favourite
day of Lord Shiva and also throw light on the
greatness of Lord Shiv and his supremacy over all
other Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
Mahashivaratri also marks the night when Lord Shiv
performed the ' Tandava ', the cosmic dance.
According to another legend of Samudra manthan ,
Shiv saved the world from the disastrous effects of a
poison that emerged as a by product of churning of
sea (Samudra manthan), by consuming whole of it.
Shiv could arrest the poison in his throat by his Yogic
powers and it could not go down his body. His neck
turned blue due to effect of poison on his throat and
thenceforth he is also called as Neela Kantha or The
blue Throated.
Lord Shiva's favourite day
After creation was complete, Parvati asked Lord Shiva
which devotees and rituals pleased him the most.
The Lord replied that the 14th night of the new moon,
in the dark fortnight during the month of Phalgun, is
his most favourite day. Parvati repeated these words
to her friends, from whom the word spread over all
creation.
Rituals of Maha Shivratri
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 the God. Devotees bathe at sunrise,
preferably in the Ganga, or any other holy water
source (like the Shiva Sagartank at Khajurao). 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 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
“Shankerji ki Jai” meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees
circulate the lingam three or seven times, and then
pour water over it. Some also pour milk over it.
