Maha Shivratri, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, will be celebrated on February 21 this year. Devotees keep a day-long fast and break it only on the next day. The day and night of Maha Shivratri call for celebrations, devotion, recitation of shlokas and the simple but repeated utterance of the mantra - OM Namah Shivaya. Read on to know more about the rules of fasting for Maha Shivratri.
1) Devotees must rise early and take a bath.
2) After wearing clean and fresh clothes, one should spare some time for praying.
3) One must do Sankalpa (vow) to perform the vrat without getting distracted, followed by Dhyana (meditation). The next step is to invoke Lord Shiva and request him to accept their humble offerings.
4) Visiting a temple is recommended because collective prayers work wonders and spread heavenly vibrations.
5) One of the most common rituals is the offering of water or raw milk to the deity. Water or milk is poured on the Linga form of Shiva or his idol. Devotees may also offer Bilva leaves, Datura flower and fruits, the white crown flower etc.
6) Consumption of rice, wheat or pulses is strictly prohibited. It is a period of austerity, and hence, one must opt for fruits or milk. However, one may have vrat food preparations such as has kuttu or singhare ki puri or parantha, sabudana khichdi or vada, jeera aloo or sama ke chawal ki khichdi etc. And most importantly, one must avoid regular salt, and instead use rock salt or Sendha Namak while cooking vrat recipes.
7) Fasting helps the body and mind get rid of toxins. Hence, food that ignites Rajas or Tamasic gunas are avoided. During vrat, consumption of sattvic food is encouraged. However, wheat, pulses or rice must be strictly avoided.
8) During the vrat, people practice celibacy. The vrat is meant for governing the mind and body and exercising self-restraint and control.
9) In the evening, people must take a bath before performing the puja. Moreover, devotees usually remain awake all night. This ritual is inspired by a legend associated with the Samudra Manthan episode. Apart from the Amruta (divine nectar), a poison named Halahal also surfaced from the ocean bed. To ensure that it doesn't get combined with the nectar, Lord Shiva consumed the venom without even thinking of the impact it would have on his body. Hence, Parvati held his throat and made sure it doesn't reach his stomach. Devi Parvati, who was worried, kept a fast and remained awake all night to pray for her husband's well-being. And since Lord Shiva's neck turned blue because of the poison, he is also known as Neelkantha.
10) Keeping a vrat helps a devotee keep his senses in his control and cleanse his mind and body from things that are toxic to one's well-being.
Things to know about Maha Shivratri Vrat and fasting rules:
1) Devotees must rise early and take a bath.
2) After wearing clean and fresh clothes, one should spare some time for praying.
3) One must do Sankalpa (vow) to perform the vrat without getting distracted, followed by Dhyana (meditation). The next step is to invoke Lord Shiva and request him to accept their humble offerings.
4) Visiting a temple is recommended because collective prayers work wonders and spread heavenly vibrations.
5) One of the most common rituals is the offering of water or raw milk to the deity. Water or milk is poured on the Linga form of Shiva or his idol. Devotees may also offer Bilva leaves, Datura flower and fruits, the white crown flower etc.
6) Consumption of rice, wheat or pulses is strictly prohibited. It is a period of austerity, and hence, one must opt for fruits or milk. However, one may have vrat food preparations such as has kuttu or singhare ki puri or parantha, sabudana khichdi or vada, jeera aloo or sama ke chawal ki khichdi etc. And most importantly, one must avoid regular salt, and instead use rock salt or Sendha Namak while cooking vrat recipes.
7) Fasting helps the body and mind get rid of toxins. Hence, food that ignites Rajas or Tamasic gunas are avoided. During vrat, consumption of sattvic food is encouraged. However, wheat, pulses or rice must be strictly avoided.
8) During the vrat, people practice celibacy. The vrat is meant for governing the mind and body and exercising self-restraint and control.
9) In the evening, people must take a bath before performing the puja. Moreover, devotees usually remain awake all night. This ritual is inspired by a legend associated with the Samudra Manthan episode. Apart from the Amruta (divine nectar), a poison named Halahal also surfaced from the ocean bed. To ensure that it doesn't get combined with the nectar, Lord Shiva consumed the venom without even thinking of the impact it would have on his body. Hence, Parvati held his throat and made sure it doesn't reach his stomach. Devi Parvati, who was worried, kept a fast and remained awake all night to pray for her husband's well-being. And since Lord Shiva's neck turned blue because of the poison, he is also known as Neelkantha.
10) Keeping a vrat helps a devotee keep his senses in his control and cleanse his mind and body from things that are toxic to one's well-being.
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