Hindu Festival Maha Shivaratri Introduction:
Maha Shivaratri is a diffrent
Festivalin india
Upavasam,jagarana,abishekam,these three are very important in this festival. Mahashiva ratri festival.
Maha shiva Ratri festivalcelebratedby Indianson maghabahula
chaturdasi. Chaturdasi is the favarate day ofLord Shiva. As per Telugu
months the day before no moon day (amavasya) is called chaturdasi.
These chaturdasis are known as masa shvaratris. So one year contains 12 masa
shivaritris. In this 12 masa shivaratris one. Masa shivaratri is very holystic,
powerful and special. That one masa shivaratri comes in the month of maghamasam.
So this maghamasa chaturdasi is called as Maha Shiva Ratri festival. As per
English calendar this festival comes in Feb or March.
How to celebrate Maha Shivaratri:
Generally in Hindu tradition they worship the God in day, and goddess in night.
But this festival Mahashiva ratri festival is different from all festivals.
People worship Lord Shiva at night in this particular festival.
Devoteesprefer to fast all the day and at night they worship the Lord
Shiva with Abishekam. In Abhishekam they use Panchamrutalu Lord
Shiva likes Abhishekam. And then they worship withDeeparadhanaand
put vibudhi on his fore head they use GogupuluandMaredu Dalalufor
Puja. At last putNivedyam.
After puja they do Jagarana. In Jagarana they spend their time with chants Lord
Shiva Strotras,Shlokas,Keertanas,Bhajanas.
In the time between puja and Jagarana people eat Prasadam. At midnight
some people do again Abhishkam and puja to shiva they watch Deepam
glowing all over the night.
History of Maha Shivaratri:
when the pralayam (the nature wipes out everything) happened the whole universe
was in a dark night. Tthere is nothing in the universe except darkness.
Then Lord Shiva created a God of new creation Sri Narayana. Sri Narayana takes
birth in that darkness and opened his eyes. He saw everywhere water and
darkness. He did not understand what to do. Then Aakashavani orders him to do
Japam of Omkara. Then he swa a banyan leaf floating on water. He lay down on
that banyan leaf and doing the Japam of Omkara Banyan leaf is known as
Vatapatram in Sanskrit.
To Read Complete History of Maha Shivaratri Festival...
Story of Gunanidhi:
There was a story in Shiva Puranam that tells how much powerful worship lord
Shiva at Maha Shiva Ratri festival.
Once upon a time a Brahman lived in Kapilyapuram named yagnadattudu. He followed
strict Brahman rules and he was expert in all the Vedas and puranas.
His wife’s name is somidevamma. She is a strict follower of her husband.
They didn’t have children. So they always worship gods that. After a long time
they had a son namedGunanidhi.
When Gunanidhi was five years his father send him to Gurukulam for
education. He wants that his son also become a great
Panditaas he. But
Gunanidhi didn’t have any intrest in education. He made bad friendships and he
turned to gambling, playing, and wildm, unritual conduct. Her mother loves son
very much. So she didn’t tell all these matter to her husband. So he didn’t know
about his son’s bad habits.
One day Gunanidhi stolen a golden bracelet with diamonds and he sold that to a
merchant. For money. He used that money for his bad habits like drinking having
prostitutes, base gambling and so on. The merchant is a very close neighbour to
yagnadattudu.He told all the matter about his son.
Yagnadattudu had very angry on his son and go to home. He abused his wife
that you didn’t tell me about our Pandit a Vedic scholar, who is a expert in
Vedic knowledge son. The cause of all this is you. He was shouted on his wife.
Gunanidhi watched all this by window and ran away from that village. He
travelled all the day and at last he stopped walking at a temple of shiva. He
sitted in that temple and thought I don’t have any money. But I felt very hungry
what to do? Then the villagers come there with lots pedding and sweets. That day
was Maha Shiva Ratri festival. So all villagers come to temple to worship God
Shiva. Then gunanidhi thought that after offering eatables to Lord Shiva, they
give me prasadam. So I wait for a while all devotees worshiped the Shiva and
started singing keertanas and Bhajanas Gunanidhi also sung with them. He did
Jagarana with that devotees. After that all devotees steps on by one. Then
gunanidhi entered into temple to steal eatables. The lamp was burning very
dimly.
To see puddings clearly he tore a piece of cloth from his dhoti (lower garment)
and put that piece in the lampas a wick. Then he gleefully took plenty of sweets
and hurried out but he put his foot on someone in that dark night. That devote
woke up and shouted thief. The he hurrely ran that side and this side for his
life. But slips on the statue of
Nandi Broke his head and he died.The
angles of death were on the spot at once with nooser and clubs and bound him.
But then ministering angle of Shiva appeared and said the boy could not be
But Lord Shiva’s attending angels said this young man kept the lamp lit by
adding a wick to it at night.
He also come to listen to the names shivas though inadvertently waiting for food
he witnessed proper worship and observed a fast with his mind well focused (on
food). Let him go to kailasa and enjoy great pleasures. He has become a great
favourite of Lord Shiva.
And the Gunanidhi went along with the angels of shiva to enjoy all sorts of
pleasures.
In his next birth Gunanidhi born as a king named arindamude in kalinga country.
As a devotee of Shiva he built cots of temples of Shiva. He become a best king
for his people. He did all better things for people. Like he named as best king
and died.
After this he burn as son of vishravudu and devavarni vishravudu was a manasa
son of Brahma. The name of vishravanudu is the name of gunanidhi in this birth.
He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. So he made Tapasya for Shiva. Shiva
appeared to Vishravana and gave many boons and gave a city named Lankapuri built
by
Vishwakarma.
Vishravanas father vishrundu had another wife named Kikasi. Kikasi had three
Rakshasa (The demons of Indian mythology) sons. Their names were Ravana,
Kumbakarna and Vibhishana. Ravana was jealous with Vishravana. So he attacked on
him and took over the Lankapuri. Ravana also a great devotee of Shiva.
After this vishravana went to Kashi and made Tapasya for Lord Shiva. By
satisfying his devotion Lord Shiva appears and said to him that, ravana is my
dearest devotee. So I could not say anything to oppose him. I will give another
fantastic city named Alakapuri and from today you are
God of treasure KUBERA.
This is the story of Gunanidhi who becomes the God of treasure Kubera with
blessing of Lord Shiva.So worship Lord Shiva on Maha shivaratri and make your
life happy.
Maha Shivaratri Special Recipes:
Sabudana Payasam
Maha Shivaratri Special Events:
Generally in Hindu tradition they worship the God in day, and goddess in night. But this festival Mahashiva ratri festival is different from all festivals. People worship Lord Shiva at night in this particular festival.
To Read Complete Maha Shivaratri Speical Events...
