Mahashivratri 2022- The Association of Shiv Shakti

Mahashivratri — A day to dispel ignorance, a day to awaken the inner Shiva and a day to unite with Mahashakti.

Entire atmosphere is soaked in the devotion of Mahadev along with Ma Parvati and Nandi- white bull, the Vahana of Shiva.

Further, let’s get to the depth of the festival and know what Mahashivratri is, why do we celebrate it, 12 jyotirlinga and different rituals related to Shivratri.

When is Maha Shivratri 2022?

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Nishita Kaal Puja Time — 12:08 AM to 12:58 AM, Mar 02

Duration — 00 Hours 50 Mins

Parana Time — 06:45 AM, Mar 02

Shivratri 2022- 4 Prahar Puja timings-

Ratri First Prahar Puja Time — 06:21 PM to 09:27 PM

Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time — 09:27 PM to 12:33 AM, Mar 02

Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time — 12:33 AM to 03:39 AM, Mar 02

Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time — 03:39 AM to 06:45 AM, Mar 02

What is Mahashivaratri?

Every month on Chaturdashi tithi of Krishna Paksha, Shivratri is observed. But Falgun Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha is Mahashivratri.

Lord Shiva went into deep mourning and isolation after the death of Sati, his first wife. But He was unaware that she had incarnated as Parvati. King of Gods, Indra, asked Kama Deva to awake Shiva from meditation. The Kama Dev reaches Lord Shiva and shoots an arrow of desire. When Shiva opened his third eye, the Kama Deva turned to ashes.

From the childhood, Maha Shakti Parvati meditated intensely to win Mahadev, and She begins to live like an ascetic and spent Her time in austerity. This drew the attention of Shiva. In order to test Her dedication towards Him, LordShiva came to her in Brahmachari Avatar, and tried to discourage her by saying ill about Shiva.

Parvati refuses to listen anything against Shiva and insists on her resolve.

Janm koti lagi ragar hamaari |

Barau sambhu na ta rahau kuaari|| (Ramayan)

‘’I will have this stubbornness for crores of births that either I will marry Shiva or else I will remain unmarried’’.

Seeing the dedication of Parvati, Shiva finally accepts her and took Suntantarka Avatar to ask her father Himalaya for marriage with Parvati. This union of Adiyogi and Adishakti is celebrated as Mahashivratri.

Shiva dedicates the following hymn in Parvati’s honor,

I am the sea and you the wave,

You are Prakṛti, and I Purusha.

Why Do We Celebrate Maha Shivaratri?

Prernamurti Bharti Shriji imparts that “The Shivling was first worshipped by Lord Vishnu and Brahmaji since then, the worshiping of Linga has been continuing till today. This date was known as Mahashivratri with the birth of Shivling on the Chaturdashi date of Falgun Shukla Paksha”. This is one of the reasons we anoint Shivling and celebrate Mahashivratri festival.

How to celebrate Maha Shivaratri 2022?

1.First and the foremost thing while celebrating Mahashivratri 2022 is fasting.

2.Secondly abstaining oneself from worldly pleasures.

3.Indulging in pure devotion of Lord Shiva while observing Ratri Jagran or night vigil.

Shivratri Video | Prernamurti Shriji

Maha Shivratri and fasting

On Mahashivaratri one must fast, the reason which Shriji describes is — “The body nurtures and develops from food itself, but unnecessary food takes the form of disease.

When we fast, then we are unable to work with that much enthusiasm because the body lacks energy due to fasting and thus the mind automatically becomes calm.

Fasting is an austerity and none achieves anything without austerity. A calm mind quickly inclines towards God. Therefore, there is a rule of fasting.”

What Is the Significance of Ratri Jagran on Mahashivratri Night?

Mahashivratri night itself holds very important significance. In the daytime, one gets entangled, is away from God and is indulged in work (Samsara). He is more extrovert than being introvert and at night when peace prevails everywhere, then the mind comes from Samsara to Parmatma. That is why Mahashivaratri is celebrated at night only to get reposed in the essence i.e., Shiva, says Prernamurti Shriji.

Mahashivratri Story | Prernamurti Bharti Shriji

Shivratri Around The World

1. Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh it is as an age-old tradition to take a dip in the Shiv Sagar Tank, Khajuraho. There is a Shiva temple close to the tank where the devotees pray to Shiva.

2. West Bengal

On Mahashivratri, the devotees of Shiva make four Shiva Lingam of sand bought from the Ganges. These Shivlings are then worshipped at four different times. First, one of the Shivlings is bathed with milk. The next time, the Shivling is anointed with curd. Then the third time, Abhishek is performed with ghee and then finally with honey.

3. Karnataka

Maha Shivratri is celebrated with pomp and gaiety in the southern region of Karnataka. Sri Shidlingappa′s “Mela” takes place to mark the Mahashivratri festival. Mahadev is taken to the river in a palanquin along with drummers and then worshipped. Lingayats, devotees of Shiva cult, worship Lingam on Mahashivratri. Following a convention, married ladies wear a Linga made of gold or silver on their body.

4.Kashmir

Kashmiri pandits celebrates this festival on 13th day of phalgun krishna Paksha as Herath.

5.Mauritius

The Mauritian devotees celebrate Mahashivratri festival by observing 10 days of abstinence proceeding the celebration. A few days preceding the celebration of Maha Shivaratri, many devotees start their pilgrimage to Ganga Talao to collect sacred water. Once the devotees reach Ganga Talao, they pray at the banks of the lake and collect water. The sacred water is anointed on the Shivalinga at the Mandir.

Rudra Ashtakam | Prernamurti Bharti Shriji

Lord Shiva Pilgrims — The 12 Jyotirlingas

Somnath 

Among the 12 Jyotirlingas, Somnath is considered as the first one because the deity is supposed to be self-born and is always Jagrut (awake) here.

Mallikarjuna Temple

Visiting this Jyotirlinga blesses one with innumerable wealth and fulfils all the desires.

Mahakal Ujjain

Avanti Nagar is Shiva’s favorite town. Those who visit the Mahakal temple and take a glimpse, will never be touched by sorrows even in their dreams. All their desires would be fulfilled by praying to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. Devotees would attain moksha.

Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga

This is the most precious shrine located on Omkar shaped island and Adi Shankaracharya says that- “I pay my obeisance to the One, Who is the savior of the good people and the great One, Who always resides at the Holy merging point of Kaveri and Narmada, i.e., Omkar Shiva”.

Vaidyanath Temple, Parali

Once Ravana asked Shiva to come along in Lanka. Then Lord Shiva advised him to take this Lingam and warned not to drop or keep it anywhere except Lanka, then only He will come to Lanka along. When he was carrying that Shiv-Linga, he wanted to relive himself by urination, so he bid a cowherd boy to hold the Lingam. That boy couldn’t hold the Lingam because of its weight thus he kept it there and since then at that place, Lord Shiva resides there in the form of Vaidyanath.

Nageswara Jyotirlinga, Darukavanam

This temple is constructed by Pandavas here, the idol of Nandi is not there in the front of Mahadev rather there is Nandikeshwara temple at the back of the main temple. On the four sides of the main temple, minor temples for all the 12 Jyotirlingas are constructed. In all, there are 108 Shiva temples, and 68 shrines are located on this shrine.

Kedarnath temple

It’s one of 4 Dham and is open for darshan only from Vaishakh to Kartik month due to snow fall. When the Dham closes Nandi Deep keep on illuminating, and when it reopens devotees takes a glimpse and feel blessed.

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Nasik

The tenth one is known as Tryambakeshwara. Shiva in this temple’s Grabhagriha is not worshipped with Abhisheka with water unlike others. This shrine has 3 different Lingams, which denote the Trideva, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, hence Tryambakeshwara. The pond inside the Shrine is called Amritavarshini. A huge idol of Shiva has been installed in the temple’s tank, which is one of the attractions of this temple. Of these 3 Lingam, the Linga of Shiva has a constant shower of water from a natural source above.

Rameshwaram 

Taking Gangajal to Rameshwaram, is considered as a very auspicious thing to do after the pilgrimage of the four holy shrines. After taking a holy dip in Ganga, the Gangajal is carried and offered to Lord shiva of Rameshwaram. After this a little sand from here is carried to Ganga and immersed there. Completing this ritual is believed to make one’s pilgrimage complete and successful.

Bhimashankar Temple

In the ancient times, Lord Mahadev Himself came to destroy Tripurasur as he harassed everyone in heaven and hell. Lord Shankar took Virat Avtar. Tripurasur feared when he saw this Rudra Avatar. The fight went on. In the end, Lord Shiva killed the wicked demon and set the Tribhuvan, free. Shankar in the form of Virat was very tired. To relax, He settled here on the Sahyadri mountains and sweat started pouring down from Shiva’s huge body. And collected in a pond or Kund. The river that started from there is known as Bhima, which can be seen even today. Devotees then prayed to Bhimakaya Shiv: “In order to save the virtuous people, reside here forever”. Bholenath listened to the bhakts and stayed there as a Jyotirlinga forever.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

It is located in the city of Moksha, Varanasi. This city is dedicated to Lord Shiv and devotees can feel a sense of beatitude when they enter the sanctorium. Recent revival of the routes and construction of Kashi Vishwanath corridor have increased the ease of the Shivbhakts. Kashi echoes “Bam bam bhole”

Grishneshwara Jyotirlinga, Ellora

Once Parvati was about apply vermillion and saffron on her head, in Kamyavana. She kept it in her left palm and mixed the water of Shivalay in it and started to mix them both. Suddenly, vermillion turned into a Shivalinga, and a great light appeared in it. 

Lord Shiva said: “This Linga was hidden in the Patal Lok.” And removed it with his Trishul.

Parvati kept that radiant light in stone Linga and placed it there. This complete Jyotirlinga is called Kunkumeshwar. But since Parvati ma created this Linga with her thumb. She named it Grishneshwara.

This is all about Mahashivratri 2022. Hope you have read it and enjoyed it as well.

Having any queries regarding it? Please feel free to ask us in the comments section.

Happy Mahashivratri!

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