Lord Shiva is known by several names like Mahadeva, Bholenath, Neelkantha, Devadidev, Kedarnath, Ashish, Shankara, Pashupatinatha, Nataraja, Aghori, Jattadhari and many more. Lord Shiva is said to dwell on the mount Kailasha since ages. He also loves to dwell in the Hindu graveyard. He is said to be the destroyer of the evil. He along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma is known as Trideva. Devotees of Lord Shiva are known as Shaivites. Lord Shiva is seen with a trishul (trident) in one hand, serpent around his neck, and moon on his jata in the head and Ganga flowing from his jata. He is seen riding a bull called Nandi. Lord Shiva is seen wearing a piece of cloth made of tiger skin and garland made of roodraksha. Lord Shiva is said to be the master of everything. He is said to be the beginning as well as the end.
Lord Shiva first married Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksha but she sacrificed herself in the fire when her father did not invite Shiva to a yagnya where all the saints, sages, gods, goddesses and demi-gods were invited and Daksha insulted Shiva very badly in front of everyone which could not be tolerated by Sati and thus she ended her life which made Shiva very much grief stricken and years later Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati, the daughter of King Himavan and Queen Mainavati. She was the re-incarnation of Goddess Sati.
Shivaratri or Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Lord Shiva is an annual festival celebrated world-wide which falls in the months of February – March (phalguna). According to some legends, it is believed that, the wedding night of Lord Shiva and Parvati is known as Maha Shivaratri, whereas, according to some other legends, Mahashivaratri is believed to be the time when a war amongst the Gods and the Demons in the ocean took place which is known as “Samudra Manthan”. Many precious items came out which both the parties took equally but along with everything, a deadly poison “Halahal” also came out which no one agreed to take and thus it was Lord Shiva who in order to protect the universe churned the deadly “Halahal”. In order to stop the poison from spreading further in Shiva’s body, Goddess Parvati pressed his neck with her hand and stopped it from spreading. She then gave him the name of Neelkantha (one with a blue throat) by Parvati. It is believed that it took place where the Neelkantha Mahadeva Temple is located. Again, due to some legends, Mahashivaratri is said to be the night when Shiva performed the dance of creation and destruction known as the “Tandava” dance and his dancing form is known as “Nataraja”.
On this day, people fast for a whole day and night and offer puja and prayers. Shivaratri is celebrated at home or in temples and it is also celebrated by making a temporary temple like structures as like in other festivals.
In many places, fairs and processions are also organized to mark the event. On this day many people don’t go to sleep rather spend the whole night offering puja, singing songs, dancing and meditating.
It is said that, Lord Shiva can be easily pleased if one pours milk, curd, honey and ghee along with bilva leaves on a shivalinga. People can even smear Vibhuti (holy ash) in the shivalinga.
One can offer dhutura flowers and their seed to Shivalinga as it is Lord Shiva’s favourite. One must chant the hymn “Om Namah Shivaya” while offering puja on the Shivalinga. In temples, devotees also offer “Bhaang” (a form of addictive mixed with milk) as Prasad to Lord Shiva.
Though there are idols of Shiva for worship but he is mostly worshipped in the form of a Shivalinga. Most people also believe that if girls who are eligible to get married if does fasting on this day and offers puja to Lord Shiva then he will be pleased and the girl will get a good life partner like him.
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