Shiva literally means "The Auspicious One" which is Lord Shiva and Ratri means night; put together Maha Shiv Ratri means "The Great Night of Lord Shiva."
On Maha Shiva Ratri day, the devotee of Lord Shiva wakes up very early in the morning and after taking a bath, begins preparation for the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of the Shiva Lingham. Throughout the day and night, devout Hindus engage themselves in Puja, prayers, vigil throughout the night and rigid fasting, while chanting the sacred mantra "Om Namah Shivayea" and focusing the thought and mind on the Lord. Some devotees do not even eat, drink nor sleep on this the night.
An image of Lord Shiva striking an evil-doer
Devotees offer dhar to the Shiva Lingham with water, milk, coconut juice, cane juice, honey, ghee and curd. These ingredients are used to bathe the Shiva Lingham, one after the other. The bilwa or bael leaf is extremely important and auspicious to offer to Lord Shiva on this obervation. The bael leaves must have the three leaves (see in photo) to be offered to the Lord.
Maha Shiva Ratri is divided into four pahars (sessions). The first one begins at 6:00 P.M.; then at 9:00 P.M., at 12:00 mid-night and finally, at 03:00 A.M. the next morning. The celebration of Shiva Ratri culminates with the 06:00 A.M. Shiva aarti on Thursday morning. After spending a night of devotion and prayers to Lord Shiva, devotees take their aarti and prasadam and can now break the fast.
Bilwa leaves with three leaves
In between the pahars, devotees also sing bhajans and kirtans dedicated to Lord Shiva, some chant mantras, some engage in japping the sacred five-syllable mantra (Om Namah Shiva Yea), while others meditate on the Absolute Nirgun form of the Lord. Throughout the night, stories from the Shiv Puran and other Hindu texts of Lord Shiva are being recounted by the pandits. Lord Shiva is known by many names, too many to list: Maha Kaal, Neelakanth, Mahesh, Vishwanauth, Rameshwar, etc.
It is documented in the scriptures that devotees who observe the Maha Shiva Ratri celebration with utmost faith, love, devotion, sincerity and stay focus on the Lord throughout the night, such a devotee will be rewarded many, many blessings from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva Himself declares that Maha Shiva Ratri is very auspicious observation to Him. Therefore, He is very please when His devotees perform puja, worship and fasting on this night. He absolves them of their past sins and free them from the cycle of birth and death, thereby helping devotees to gain moksha - final liberation.
May Lord Shiva showers His choicest blessings upon all His devotees.
Lord Shiva, Mother Parbattie and Lord Ganesh.
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