Tomorrow night (12 February) is when Hindus all around the world will gather at religious shrines and temples to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. Shivaratri falls on the 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the months of February and March in the English Calendar.

This auspicious festival is held in celebration of the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Devotees rise before sunrise, in order to offer prayer to Surya the Sun God, and thereafter observe a fast where only fruits and water may be consumed. (Some devotees worship Lord Shiva by not consuming even a single drop of water.) Shiva devotees apply three horizontal stripes of holy ash to the forehead, representing the three eyes of Shiva; symbolising spiritual knowledge, purity and penance. Water, milk and Bael leaves are then offered to the lingam (sacred stone) as it is considered to be most dear to Shiva.  

Milk, Yoghurt, Honey, Ghee, Sugar, Water and Bael leaves are offered to the Lord by offering these to the Shiva Lingam; which is the embodiment and symbolism of Shiva. As stated in one of the Hindu scriptures, The Shiva Purana, the Shiva Lingam symbolises boundlessness and limitlessness of the universe. Worshipping the lingam gains grace from Shiva and allows for the individual soul to be free and unattached from worldly limitations.  

Shivaratri is also known as “The great night of Shiva”, hence the festival is celebrated throughout the night, where bhajans (hymns) are sung and Shiva dances are performed in honour of the Lord. Devotees worship the lingam five times that night, at three hour intervals starting from 6pm, 9pm, 12am, 3am and a prayer at 6am to conclude the festival and fast. Shiva and Parvati portray the perfect marriage; and married women offer penance to Shiva for a beautiful married life, while unmarried women often pray to Shiva for a husband just like Him as He is the perfect husband for Goddess Parvati and hence considered as perfection in the realms of spirituality.   

One ultimately gains blessing from Goddess Parvati when worshipping Shiva, hence Shiva worship gains prosperity as Parvati is also known in other forms as Durga and Ambe, which literally means, Goddess of the Universe.

It is said that worshipping Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri, pleases Him the most and a true devotee is blessed with Moksha (salvation) and liberation from past sins.

- Symbolism of offerings
•    Milk is for the blessing of purity and piety.
•    Yoghurt is for prosperity and progeny.
•    Honey is for sweet speech.
•    Ghee is for victory.
•    Sugar is for happiness.
•    Water is for purity.

Photograph courtesy: www.sanatansociety.com