Mahashivratri 2024 Vrat Vidhi and Significance: How To Observe Maha Shivratri Fast? Know All About the Hindu Festival Dedicated to Lord Shiva
Maha Shivratri is celebrated to honour Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for health, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment. Observing the Maha Shivratri fast is considered a way of purifying the body and mind and is believed to bring devotees closer to Lord Shiva.
Maha Shivratri, which translates to "Great Night of Shiva," is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva. This festival holds immense spiritual significance and is observed with great devotion and fervour by millions of devotees across the world.
Maha Shivratri is celebrated to commemorate the day when Lord Shiva is believed to have performed the "Tandava," or the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. It is believed that on this night, Lord Shiva also got married to Goddess Parvati. Therefore, Maha Shivratri is considered a day of great spiritual significance and is believed to be an auspicious occasion for seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.
How to Observe Maha Shivratri Fast?
One of the key observances of Maha Shivratri is fasting, which is considered to be a way of purifying the body and mind. Devotees observe a strict fast on this day and abstain from consuming food and water for the entire day. Some devotees also refrain from consuming any form of dairy products and opt for a diet consisting only of fruits and water.
To observe the Maha Shivratri fast, devotees wake up early in the morning and take a ritual bath, preferably in a river or a sacred water body. They then visit a Shiva temple and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Throughout the day, devotees engage in various forms of worship, such as chanting mantras, singing bhajans, and reading scriptures dedicated to Lord Shiva. 5 Things To Offer to Lord Shiva and Receive His Divine Blessings on Mahashivratri Festival.
As the day progresses, devotees continue their prayers and meditation, focusing their thoughts on Lord Shiva and seeking his blessings. In the evening, devotees gather at temples for the "Rudra Abhishekam," a ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam with water, milk, honey, and other sacred substances.
The fast is broken the next day, after the sunrise, with a meal that is simple yet nutritious. Devotees offer prayers and thanks to Lord Shiva for his blessings and for granting them the strength to observe the fast.
Mahashivratri Vrat Vidhi (Watch Video)
Mahashivratri Vrat Katha (Watch Video)
In conclusion, Maha Shivratri is celebrated to honour Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for health, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment. Observing the Maha Shivratri fast is considered a way of purifying the body and mind and is believed to bring devotees closer to Lord Shiva.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2024 04:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).