Maha Shiva Ratri

On the 14th Night before the new moon of Phalgun, Lord Shiva married the Daughter of the Mountain. This night is called the Mahashivratri. This night, the aesthetic became a householder for the second time. Everyone from Devas, Asuras, Ganas, Yakshas and Nagas celebrated the day. Because Lord Shiva was everyone's Lord. He chose no sides, he was equal to all be it humans or animals or plants or any other living creatures.

Har Har Mahadev!

This means he resides in everyone. He is in us.

Mewari Miniature painting of the Lord's Marriage

Mahashivratri. The ideal way to spend it is fast, and break it at the darkest hour of the night. The darkness represents him, it is said he took the Lingam form in Adi Shakti's yoni at this hour. The Linga represents the completeness of Purush and Prakriti. He is the Purush and she is his Prakriti. In one of the legends, it is said that the marriage took place for two days and nights and to celebrate them, we stay awake and listen to or recite the Shiv Puran and its tales. Then break our fasts at dawn.

Shivji likes things simple and easily available. Unlike other gods, he needs no yagna or bathing before worshipping. You can chant a shiv mantra any time you want at will, anywhere, while doing anything. He loves the Dhutra and Akanda flowers. Wildflowers that are found anywhere. Rudraksha. It was one of the most common dried fruit at that time. It's poisonous and of no use to humans, so Shiva accepts it at will. The Bel leaves that are given to him, in strands of three represent the trinity, Brahma Vishnu and him.

Ashes, snakes, and everything that humans find harmful he accepts as an offering. His favourite food is the rice kheer, "anna" made by the Annapurna herself. So we offer him Kheer or fruits. His worship says you can call me when in trouble, you don't need to chant my praises daily to please me, call me in trouble and you will find me in some form or other.

Jodhpur Paintings of Lord Shiva being married by Brahma

He is the Adi the Anta, the Beginning of the End. He was there when no one was there, and he will be there when no one will be. He is the one who is not controlled by time or space. He is beyond praises and songs, chants and rituals. He is beyond everything. He is Mahakal. He is Nageshwar. He is Somnath. He is Jateshwar. He is Shiva. He is Mahadev.

Om Namah Shivay!

Other festivals associated with Shiva are Neel Sasti, representing the day he drank the poison of the world to save humanity and he became Neelkanth, the one with the blue neck.
Har Har Mahadev!
This means he resides in everyone. He is in us.

Every God has a birthday that is celebrated as a festival. Be it Janmashtami, Ram Navami or Ganesh Chaturdashi. Lord Shiva is endless, He is Adi. The beginning, the one who defeats time. No one knows his birth or Origin. He is not a self-appointed God. He is the Lord to the people. The destroyer who protects. The one who is said to be the perfect one.
Legends say, and as we hear from our elders, if you desire a perfect husband he must be like Lord Shiva. But the question may arise, why him?
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Him. Because as a husband there was no one more perfect ever born. They are the first couple on earth, the Adi Yugal. They completed each other. He respected her individuality and at times accepted her greatness more than he, knowing that is not true. She was the strength behind his power. His Shakti. He steered her whenever she lost her way. He taught her the first art of Aghori Tantra. He respected her as half of himself, incomplete without each other. The first couple to marry by the modern rituals of marriage, the priest was Brahma himself. They were one, they were inseparable. A one-woman man. He was, always.

Mahashivratri. The ideal way to spend it is fast, and break it at the darkest hour of the night. The darkness represents him, it is said he took the Lingam form in Adi Shakti's yoni at this hour. The Linga represents the completeness of Purush and Prakriti. He is the Purush and she is his Prakriti. In one of the legends, it is said that the marriage took place for two days and nights and to celebrate them, we stay awake and listen to or recite the Shiv Puran and its tales. Then break our fasts at dawn.
Shivji likes things simple and easily available. Unlike other gods, he needs no yagna or bathing before worshipping. You can chant a shiv mantra any time you want at will, anywhere, while doing anything. He loves the Dhutra and Akanda flowers. Wildflowers that are found anywhere. Rudraksha. It was one of the most common dried fruit at that time. It's poisonous and of no use to humans, so Shiva accepts it at will. The Bel leaves that are given to him, in strands of three represent the trinity, Brahma Vishnu and him.

Ashes, snakes, and everything that humans find harmful he accepts as an offering. His favourite food is the rice kheer, "anna" made by the Annapurna herself. So we offer him Kheer or fruits. His worship says you can call me when in trouble, you don't need to chant my praises daily to please me, call me in trouble and you will find me in some form or other.

He is the Adi the Anta, the Beginning the End. He was there when no one was there, and he will be there when no one will be. He is the one who is not controlled by time or space. He is beyond praises and songs, chants and rituals. He is beyond everything. He is Mahakal. He is Nageshwar. He is Somnath. He is Jateshwar. He is Shiva. He is Mahadev.
Om Namah Shivay!

Other festivals associated with Shiva are Neel Sasti, representing the day he drank the poison of the world to save humanity and he became Neelkanth, the one with the blue neck.

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