MAHA SHIVARATRI 2013 – DATES AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SHIVARATRI

Even though Shivratri is one of the most widely observed Hindu holidays in India, Uttar Pradesh celebrates it with tremendous fervor and dedication. Masik Shivaratri in the month of Phalguna is called Maha Shivaratri in the North Indian calendar. The festival’s dedication to Lord Shiva, the deity of devastation, is evident from the name alone. Nearly all Hindus adore Lord Shiva because he is one of the members of the Hindu trinity, along with Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. Devotees rise early on this auspicious day of Maha Shivratri and take a morning bath. People attend the closest temple to worship Lord Shiva after changing into new clothing. The traditional bathing in water or milk that precedes the offering of kumkum, jujube fruit, bilwa leaves, flowers, and fruits to the Shiva lingum is the first step in the devotion. In many Lord Shiva temples, where a sizable number of devotees sing devotional songs and bhajans in honor of Lord Shiva for his blessings, jaagran is also performed. Sunday, March 10, 2013 is Maha Shivratri this year. On Maha Shivaratri, devotees also maintain a stringent fast during which they typically only eat fruits and milk. Some individuals refrain from consuming any water throughout their fast. Every devotee observes every ceremony, tradition, and custom associated with the celebration of Shivaratri. People think that Lord Shiva not only granted them wealth and pleasure but also freed them from the cycle of life and death and their sins. History of Shivaratri: The festival of Shivaratri is celebrated with a multitude of legends. Following is a list of a few of them. Some people think that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married on Shivaratri. Another account states that on the moonless night of Shivratri, goddess Parvati offered prayers and tapas for her husband’s wellbeing. In accordance with another tradition, Lord Shiva appeared as a “lingum” on this day to demonstrate that his existence has neither beginning or finish, after a disagreement between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over the origin and end of Lord Shiva. Shivratri has another well-known legend attached to it. On this day in the history of Samudra Manthan, Lord Shiva ingested poison to save the world. For this reason, worshiping Lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri promotes mental well-being and material success. The author has a wealth of expertise writing and publishing articles. You may find a wealth of helpful information on the dates of Maha Shivratri 2013, its historical background, how the holiday is celebrated in India, and more.