{"id":3626,"date":"2021-02-02T09:04:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T09:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?p=3626"},"modified":"2021-03-19T14:00:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T14:00:40","slug":"maha-shivaratri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?p=3626&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Maha Shivaratri"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-2a7fccf ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p data-block-type=\"core\"><em>Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar on the 14th day of the waning phase of the moon Falgun (February-March). The ceremony and the celebration takes place on the night between the 14th and the 15th. One belief is that this is the day when Shiva and Parvati got married. Furthermore, it is believed that this is the night when Shiva performed Tandava \u2013 the dance of the primordial creation, maintenance and destruction. In Linga Purana it is said that on this day Shiva manifested himself in the form of Lingam.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-3fdf028 ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-divider ugb-divider ugb-24f4fb0 ugb-divider--v2 ugb-divider--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-24f4fb0 hr.ugb-divider__hr{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><hr class=\"ugb-divider__hr\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-f38d9ca ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-feature ugb-feature ugb-52d7ea8 ugb-feature--v2 ugb-feature--design-plain ugb-main-block\"><style>@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-52d7ea8 .ugb-img{width:467px;height:auto !important}}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-feature__item\"><div class=\"ugb-feature__content\"><p class=\"ugb-feature__description\">There are many stories and legends related to Maha Shivaratri, and one of the most popular is the one about Lord Shiva drinking poison in order to save the world, and this is where the blue throat of Lord Shiva comes from \u2013 Nil Kant Mahadev, as depicted on many images. Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean to get Amrita \u2013 the Nectar of Immortality. They used the Snake Vasuki as the stirring, churning rope. When Amrit was almost at the point of being extracted, the first thing that came out of the mouth of the snake was a deadly poison. Control over the poison was lost, so it threatened to destroy the entire world with its vapors and immerse it into darkness. When they realized what happened, Devas ran for help both to Brahma and Visnu, but nobody could help them. Finally Lord Shiva drank the entire poison in order to save the Universe. The poison remained in his throat. Even though he was strong enough to neutralize it, he had to stay awake the entire night, so in order to keep him awake, Gods kept him company and entertained Him with songs and dance. In memory of this, on that day the devotees of Shiva stay awake all night and close to their Lord. This story has a deeper symbolical meaning. Devas and Asuras represent different people, the good and the bad ones. The Ocean of Milk represents the perfect world full of peace and happiness for all. Amrit represents happiness, and the poison is human selfishness and greed. Shiva symbolizes Atma \u2013 the Self. People do many things in order to be happy and often they are overpowered by their own selfishness and greed that destroy all efforts at keeping the peace and happiness. Therefore the only way to attain peace and happiness and overcome greed and selfishness is to meditate on Atma, the Divine Self, in the night, because it is the only time when a man is undisturbed by the material world.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"ugb-feature__image-side\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ugb-feature__image ugb-img wp-image-2836\" src=\"http:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/pexels-elina-sazonova-2072577.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/pexels-elina-sazonova-2072577.jpg 467w, https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/pexels-elina-sazonova-2072577-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-3c474d9 ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-divider ugb-divider ugb-318e024 ugb-divider--v2 ugb-divider--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-318e024 hr.ugb-divider__hr{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><hr class=\"ugb-divider__hr\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-6a080a1 ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p data-block-type=\"core\">The second story relates to a hunter who shot many birds and got stuck in the woods in the evening. To protect himself from wild animals and survive the night which came upon him while he was hunting, he climbed the tree called Bilva \u2013 bael. In order to stay awake, the hunter was picking leaves one by one and throwing them to the ground. It happened so that under that tree, whose leaves were holy, was a Shiva Lingam, so it turned out that the hunter was doing Pooja to Lord Shiva the entire night. Shiva was very pleased by the hunter and saved him despite the hunter\u2019s past of killing so many birds. This story, as all others, has many different versions, but the point is the same \u2013 no matter what the sins and the way of life, the one who observes fasts, prayers and pooja in the night of Shivaratri is granted great mercy from Lord Shiva. In memory of this story, the ceremony of Maha Shivaratri includes the offering of bael leaves as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p data-block-type=\"core\">According to the tradition, the day of Maha Shivaratri is observed with severe fasting, meditation and prayer. The night is observed with the vigil in the temples and ashrams, together with mantra singing, meditations and abisheka performed every three hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-f355c80 ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-divider ugb-divider ugb-9f8cf65 ugb-divider--v2 ugb-divider--design-basic ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-9f8cf65 hr.ugb-divider__hr{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><hr class=\"ugb-divider__hr\"\/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-spacer ugb-spacer ugb-b04a730 ugb-spacer--v2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-spacer--inner\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-columns ugb-columns ugb-f3c8487 ugb-columns--design-plain ugb-columns--columns-2 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-columns__item ugb-f3c8487-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-column ugb-column ugb-f94c866 ugb-column--design-plain ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-f94c866 > .ugb-inner-block > .ugb-block-content > *{justify-content:center !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-column__item ugb-f94c866-column-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-column__content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-video-popup ugb-video-popup ugb-40a90da ugb-video-popup--v3 ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-40a90da .ugb-video-popup__wrapper{background-color:#000000;background-image:url(http:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/hrtprilogsivaratri.jpg);background-position:top left}.ugb-40a90da .ugb-video-popup__wrapper:before{background-color:#000000;opacity:0.3}.ugb-40a90da .ugb-video-popup__wrapper:hover:before{opacity:0.6}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-video-popup__wrapper ugb--has-background-overlay\" data-video=\"http:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/hrtprilogsivaratri.jpg\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ugb-video-popup__overlay\" aria-label=\"Play\"><\/a><span class=\"ugb-video-popup__play-button\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 256 320\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"ugb-play-button-normal\" width=\"30\" height=\"30\"><path d=\"M0 0v320l256-160L0 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-column ugb-column ugb-0856e2a ugb-column--design-plain ugb-main-block\"><style>.ugb-0856e2a > .ugb-inner-block > .ugb-block-content > *{justify-content:center !important}<\/style><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><div class=\"ugb-column__item ugb-0856e2a-column-wrapper\"><div class=\"ugb-column__content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ugb-heading ugb-heading ugb-1732646 ugb-main-block\"><div class=\"ugb-inner-block\"><div class=\"ugb-block-content\"><h2 class=\"ugb-heading__title\">Abisheka<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p data-block-type=\"core\">There are many different ways to express devotion and love towards God. Pooja is a type of prayer, a ritual which sometimes includes all the three ways, the physical \u2013 kaya, through the speech \u2013 vatcha, singing mantras and bhajanas, and mental \u2013 mansa \u2013 japa or meditation. There are many types of pooja, and abisheka belongs to Sodasopachara pooja. Abisheka is a ceremony of bathing a specific deity, especially by pouring libations on it. Unlike abisheka, where water or nectar is used, the element through which a havan is performed is fire, the flame. There are more ways of performing abisheka, from the simple pouring of water to the bathing of what is worshipped in a specially prepared nectar. The nectar is sometimes enriched with sandal paste or powder, as well as rose water or coconut milk, according to the tradition of the particular area. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p data-block-type=\"core\">During abisheka, people sing matras and pray mentally for blessing \u2013 in this case the blessing of Lord Shiva. The exact way of performing Maha Shivaratri pooja is described in Shiva Purana. The abisheka of the Shiva Lingam is part of that pooja. Abisheka is performed with a nectar that consists of milk, joghurt, honey and sugar, water and ghee. Milk represents the blessing of purity and holiness, joghurt is for prosperity, honey to speak nice words, sugar for happiness, water for purity and ghee for victory. During abisheka people sing \u201cOm Namah Shivaya\u201d or Maha Mrityujaya Mantra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar on the 14th day of the waning phase of the moon Falgun (February-March). The ceremony and the celebration takes place on the night between the 14th and the 15th. One belief is that this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[122],"tags":[92],"class_list":["post-3626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festivals","tag-festivali"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash.jpg",1920,1293,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x202.jpg",300,202,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-768x517.jpg",768,517,true],"large":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-1024x690.jpg",1024,690,true],"thumblist":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"meccarouselthumb":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-474x324.jpg",474,324,true],"gridsquare":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-391x260.jpg",391,260,true],"tileview":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x400.jpg",300,400,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-1536x1034.jpg",1536,1034,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash.jpg",1920,1293,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable":"<p>Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar on the 14th day of the waning phase of the moon Falgun (February-March). The ceremony and the celebration takes place on the night between the 14th and the 15th. One belief is that this is the day when Shiva and Parvati got married. Furthermore, it is believed that this is the night when Shiva performed Tandava \u2013 the dance of the primordial creation, maintenance and destruction. In Linga Purana it is said that on this day Shiva manifested himself&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list":"<a href=\"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?cat=122&#038;lang=en\" rel=\"category\">Festivals<\/a>","author_info":{"name":"Swami Vivek Puri","url":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?author=1"},"comments_num":"0 comments","featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash.jpg",1920,1293,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x202.jpg",300,202,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-768x517.jpg",768,517,true],"large":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-1024x690.jpg",1024,690,true],"thumblist":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"meccarouselthumb":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-474x324.jpg",474,324,true],"gridsquare":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-391x260.jpg",391,260,true],"tileview":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-300x400.jpg",300,400,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash-1536x1034.jpg",1536,1034,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rohan-reddy-hjciwqiJbD8-unsplash.jpg",1920,1293,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Maha Shivaratri means the Great Night of Shiva, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar on the 14th day of the waning phase of the moon Falgun (February-March). The ceremony and the celebration takes place on the night between the 14th and the 15th. One belief is that this is the day when Shiva and Parvati got married. Furthermore, it is believed that this is the night when Shiva performed Tandava \u2013 the dance of the primordial creation, maintenance and destruction. In Linga Purana it is said that on this day Shiva manifested himself&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?cat=122&#038;lang=en\" rel=\"category\">Festivals<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Swami Vivek Puri","url":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/?author=1"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3626"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3630,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3626\/revisions\/3630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanatankultura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}