| Amid the sordidness of mundane life, a quest for | | | | the Sun, creating a perfect moment for the |
| peace and prosperity seems to be a wild goose | | | | communion between two sustaining forces, one being |
| chase, as Man's unquenching thirst for love, lust and | | | | the source of life with beauty, warmth and passion |
| power leaves him nowhere but in a dreary desert of | | | | and the other being Shiva himself exuding light ,strength |
| ceaseless profligacy. But it is fast, festivals and | | | | and energy. Going on a spiritual note, Maha-Shivaratri is |
| celebrations which with their divine forces steer him | | | | an auspicious announcement of the divine descent of |
| out to merge with the beatitude of supernatural and | | | | Lord Shiva. So the sincere worship of Lord Shiva is |
| spiritual progress of life on earth. | | | | said to yield merits as well as spiritual growth for the |
| Since time immemorial, Indian culture has been enriched | | | | devotees. |
| with various sorts of festivals, religious observances, | | | | Scriptures are fraught with a number of interesting |
| and cultural events. Here are so many festivals that | | | | legends and stories associated with the festival of |
| almost every day some festival or the other is | | | | Maha-Shivaratri. There goes a story in the glory of |
| celebrated with great gusto and gracefulness. One of | | | | Maha-Shivaratri. Once upon a time there lived a hunter |
| them is Maha-Shivratri (Great Night of Ziva) which is | | | | named Gurudruh in a certain forest of Baranasi. He |
| well- known for its remarkable significance in life as | | | | was brawny and cruel and eked out his livelihood by |
| described in Hindu mythology. It is the most important | | | | hunting only. One day his whole family, out of hunger, |
| sectarian festival of the year for the devotees of the | | | | requested him to bring some food. In search of his |
| Hindu god 'Zhiva'. | | | | quarry he wandered here and there in the forest but |
| According to Hindi calendar this great festival falls on | | | | found none till the sunset. |
| the 14th night of the darker half of the month, Phalgun | | | | So he decided to continue his hunt even into the |
| (February). 'The Great Night of Shiva' is celebrated on | | | | darkness of the night. Near a pond in the forest he |
| this day with unstinted devotion and religious fervor | | | | climbed up a tree called Bilva and sat on one of its |
| because it is believed that on this very day Lord Shiva | | | | branches waiting for his quarry. At last he chanced to |
| who forms a part of the Hindu holy Trimurti (trinity of | | | | have a thirsty deer over there. He tried to kill him but |
| Gods) appeared in the form of Linga containing in itself | | | | he did not succeed. Thus he made four attempts at |
| behemoth forces of myriad Suns. | | | | different periods of the night and failed each time. But |
| On the occasion of Maha-Shivratri, celebrations take | | | | one thing that happened to make all the difference |
| place in all the Shiva temples across India. Devotees | | | | over there was that each time when he tried to kill the |
| celebrate it by keeping fast during the day and offering | | | | deer some of the water he had in a pot tucked to his |
| prayers throughout the night. This night has its own | | | | waist and some leaves of the tree fell on to a |
| significance because worshipping Lord Shiva at this | | | | Shivligum lying under the same tree. |
| very night is believed to give salvation to life. Moreover, | | | | In this way, though unknowingly, he made his offering |
| this auspicious occasion means a lot to women, as the | | | | to Lord Siva four times at that night. It being the night |
| married ones pray for the well being of their husbands | | | | of Maha-Sivaratri, Lord Shiva was pleased with this |
| and sons, the unmarried for a husband like Shiva, who | | | | act of the hunter and appeared there to bless him. |
| is regarded as the ideal husband. | | | | This divine happening changed his life altogether and |
| As a result, the atmosphere in and around temples and | | | | led him to salvation. Being inspired by this story, the |
| houses becomes vibrant with Hymns sung in praise of | | | | tradition of observing Maha-Shivaratri came in vogue. |
| Lord Shiva and the Panchakshara Mantra, Om Namah | | | | Moreover, Maha-Shivaratri is not just a celebration of |
| Shivaya-a mantra capable of freeing one from all sins, | | | | faith in Lord Shiva but also helps us maintain the ethos |
| echoes the universe by making it fragrant and pious. | | | | of Vedic and cultural values in life. The fast that is |
| Like other religious festivals, Maha-Shivaratri also has | | | | observed on this sacred occasion is considered to be |
| its source in the Indian mythology and is celebrated by | | | | the greatest fast on earth, filling life with all sanctity of |
| the Hindus not just for their faith in Lord Shiva but also | | | | spirituality and making man come over the negative |
| for its own scientific and spiritual significance. According | | | | forces of life and enabling him to live a righteous and |
| to astrology, on this very day the Moon is nearer to | | | | peaceful life. |