Mahashivratri, also known as the night of Lord Shiva, is celebrated with great devotion in most parts of India. Devotees observe fast during the day and stay awake during the night performing abhishek/puja to Lord Shiva who manifests in the form of the Linga.
Mahashivratri falls on the 14th day of the fortnight in the month of Phalgun. This night of Mahashivratri is considered highly auspicious in Hinduism. It is believed that one is atoned for his or his past sins if one prays to the Lord with complete devotion and surrender on this particular day. It is also believed that the planets are aligned in such a way that it makes it conducive for people on the path of spirituality to attain moksha or liberation from the circle of life and death.
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There are many stories that takes us to the origin of this festival. A popular tale among them is of a tribal villager who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Once he ventured into the forest to collect fire-wood and by the time he returned it was nightfall and he lost his way. Fearing harm from the wild animals around, he climbed up a tree. To keep himself awake and get rid of his fear, he began to pluck the leaves of a bel-tree and cast them on the ground while chanting the name of Lord Shiva. It so happened that there was a Linga below the tree and the bel-leaves fell upon the Linga; the act done unknowingly was indeed a deep form of worship of the Lord. It is said that pleased with the devotion, the Lord blessed him with material and spiritual bliss.
Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/
Mahashivratri falls on the 14th day of the fortnight in the month of Phalgun. This night of Mahashivratri is considered highly auspicious in Hinduism. It is believed that one is atoned for his or his past sins if one prays to the Lord with complete devotion and surrender on this particular day. It is also believed that the planets are aligned in such a way that it makes it conducive for people on the path of spirituality to attain moksha or liberation from the circle of life and death.
There are many stories that takes us to the origin of this festival. A popular tale among them is of a tribal villager who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Once he ventured into the forest to collect fire-wood and by the time he returned it was nightfall and he lost his way. Fearing harm from the wild animals around, he climbed up a tree. To keep himself awake and get rid of his fear, he began to pluck the leaves of a bel-tree and cast them on the ground while chanting the name of Lord Shiva. It so happened that there was a Linga below the tree and the bel-leaves fell upon the Linga; the act done unknowingly was indeed a deep form of worship of the Lord. It is said that pleased with the devotion, the Lord blessed him with material and spiritual bliss.
Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
One day he went deep into the
forest to collect firewood. However he lost his way and could not return home
before nightfall. As darkness fell, he heard the growls of wild animals.
Terrified, he climbed onto the nearest tree for shelter till day-break. Perched
amongst the branches, he was afraid he would doze and fall off the tree. To stay
awake, he decided to pluck a leaf at a time from the tree and drop it, while
chanting the name of Shiva. At dawn, he realized that he had dropped a thousand
leaves onto a Linga to keep himself awake, the tribal plucked one leaf at a time
from the tree and dropped it below which he had not seen in the dark. The tree
happened to be a wood apple or bel tree. This unwitting all-night worship
pleased Shiva, by whose grace the tribal was rewarded with divine bliss. This
story is also recited on Mahashivaratri by devotees on fast. After observing the
all-night fast, devotees eat the Prasad offered to Shiva.
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/shivratri/origin.htm#YmXEk6SOrljotGbi.99
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