महाशिवरात्रि- mahāśivarātri
The festival of Mahāśivarātri (the Great Night of śiva) is celebrated on the thirteenth day (त्रयोदशीतिथौ) of the dark fortnight (कृष्णपक्षे) in the month of Phalguna (फल्गुनमासे). śiva in the form of liṅgam (शिवलिङ्गम्) is worshipped all through the night. Devotees of śiva observe a fast on this day and stay awake all through the night chanting the five-lettered mantra of śiva - om namaḥ śivāya (ॐ नमः शिवाय). Abhiṣeka ritual (अभिषेकम्) is performed all through the night where in the liṅgam is consecrated with milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar and rosewater. The liṅgam is also worshipped with Bilva leaves, believed to be very dear to Lord śiva. In fact, the leaves are trifoliate resembling the trident in the hands of Lord śiva.
There are many legends and stories behind the story of Mahāśivarātri. The most popular is the story of King Chitrabhānu of the Ikṣvāku dynasty. King Chitrabhānu was observing a fast with his wife on the day of Mahāśivarātri when he was visited upon by Sage Aṣṭavakra. The Sage enquired the King about the fast. King Chitrabhānu revealed the following story: "In my previous life I was a hunter. One new moon night, after hunting, I was not able to return home and spent the night on top of a Bilva tree. Tormented by hunger and thirst and disturbed by the thoughts of my wife and kids I shed tears. To pass the night I plucked the leaves of the tree and threw it down. In the morning I returned home. When I was about to eat my food a beggar came by. I offered the beggar some food and then partook my share."
King Chitrabhānu continued, "At the time of death, the messengers of Lord śiva took my soul to the Lord's abode. Over there, I learnt about the unconscious worship of Lord śiva that I had performed that night. The new moon night was the night of Mahāśivarātri. My tears washed the Liṅgam. The leaves of the Bilva tree that I dropped down fell on the Liṅgam. I fasted the whole night. And the next morning, I offered food to a stranger before eating my own. Thus, I unknowingly worshipped Lord śiva. And now, I am reborn as the King."
Even to this day, devotees fast and worship śiva all through the night to attain the blessings of the Great Lord.
Salutations to Lord śiva (ॐ शिवाय नमः)
शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्
ॐ नमश्शिवाय
शिवाय नमः ॐ
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नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
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nāgendra-hārāya trilocanāya
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Salutations to that auspicious letter 'Na', who has the serpent-king as a necklace, who has three eyes, who has applied ash to the body, who is the great Lord ever present and spotless, who spreads all over. |
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| म |
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मन्दाकिनी-सलिल-चन्दन-चर्चिताय
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mandākinī-salila-candana-carcitāya
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Salutations to that auspicious letter 'Ma', who has smeared sandal wood (paste) growing on the banks of Gaṅgā water; who is the master of Lord Nandi, the leader of Pramatha-Group and who is well worshipped by many flowers like Hibiscus. |
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| शि |
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शिवाय गौरी-वदनाब्ज-वृन्द-
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śivāya gaurī-vadanābja-vṛnda-
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Salutations to that auspicious letter 'śi', who is nothing but Lord śiva, who is the Sun to the lotus like Pārvatī, who destroyed the sacrifice of King Dakṣa, who has a blue neck and who has the bull on his banner. |
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| व |
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वसिष्ठ-कुम्भोद्भव-गौतमार्य-
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vasiṣṭha-kumbhodbhava-gautamārya-
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Salutations to that auspicious letter 'Va', whose crown is worshipped by respectable great sages like Vaśiṣṭha, Agastya and Gautama and also by the gods and who has the Moon, the Sun and the Fire as his eyes. |
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| य |
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यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
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yakṣa-svarūpāya jaṭā-dharāya
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Salutations to that auspicious letter 'Ya', who had the form of a yakṣa (a demigod), who wears locks of hair; who has a trident in his hand, to that divine being, who wears the directions as clothes (i.e. present everywhere). |
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