By Dr AK Srivastava
“Sometimes what you lost was never meant to stay. Sometimes that delay was protection. Shiva is not just giver of blessings—He is remover of the burdens that you never know that you are carrying. Trust what leaves. Trust what breaks. Trust HIM.”
Maha Shivaratri is “the Great Night of Lord Shiva”, who is considered Mahadev, or the God of all Gods, in Sanatan Dharma. This night has immense significance in Hinduism, as it symbolises enlightenment, transformation of the soul seeking purification, divine consciousness, and spiritual awakening through penance and meditation. It is a journey from darkness to light and from ignorance to wisdom, guiding a human being towards ultimate salvation. It is celebrated on the fourteenth night of the new moon, which falls in the month of February or March. According to the Hindu calendar, it is Falgun Krishna Chaturdasi. The tradition of celebrating Maha Shivaratri is very old, and it is observed by devotees in India, Nepal, and many other parts of the world where followers of Hinduism live.
Devotees observe many traditions and religious practices to celebrate this auspicious festival of Maha Shivaratri. Bathing in holy rivers in the morning and then visiting temples in new or clean clothes to pray to Lord Shiva with offerings of Belpatra, Aak, Dhatura, rice, and milk are common practices. Many devotees remain awake throughout the whole night, chanting the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” and praying for the blessings of Lord Shiva. They bathe the Shiva Linga with milk, curd, honey, and water from holy rivers. This process is called Abhishek. Jagran and Abhishek are the two most significant features of this festival. All these practices have a mesmerising effect on devotees, which unites human consciousness with divine energy, leading to self-purification.
There are several stories associated with this auspicious and sacred festival. The most popular legend states that this is the day when Lord Shiva (the symbol of creation, preservation, and destruction) married Goddess Parvati (the symbol of divine feminine Shakti). The union of these two powers is the essence of our universe. It is believed that Goddess Parvati’s prayers were answered by Lord Shiva, who reached the Himalayas with a long procession of companions, including ghosts, ascetics, animals, and other unusual beings, to marry her. Their marriage symbolises the merging of chaotic forces into harmony and purity, and the union of Shiva and Shakti in the formation of the universe.
Another popular story says that Lord Shiva drank the Halahal poison, which was generated during the battle between the Gods and the Demons, as it was the only way to save the universe. Goddess Parvati stopped the poison from going down his throat, and it remained in his neck. This caused Lord Shiva’s neck to turn blue, and he came to be known as Neelkanth.
According to the Garuda Purana, a hunter named Nishadraj took refuge in a tree while staying in a forest at night, waiting for a suitable kill. By chance, he kept throwing down Bel leaves, which accidentally fell on a Shiva Linga beneath the tree. Lord Shiva, who is kind and innocent, accepted this as an offering from Nishadraj. This story proves that even an ignorant devotee can receive the blessings of Lord Shiva, as he is Bholenath—innocent and easily pleased.
Lord Shiva is also famous for his cosmic dance, Nataraja. Shiva’s dance, known as Tandava, depicts the life cycle of the universe—creation (birth), preservation (existence), and destruction (end). Destruction and renewal (rebirth) are essential phenomena of life. Every feature of Nataraja is symbolic and represents different stages of life, from creation to destruction.
Shivaratri is a very significant festival of Hindu religion as it is associated with Lord Shiva, part of Hindu Trinity along with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva is God of Gods, ultimate Adi Yogi and embodiment of supreme knowledge maintaining a balance among creation, destruction and spiritual reunion. His third eye represents wisdom and knowledge that destroys ignorance and takes us to the ultimate truth. He is kind, compassionate and represents the union of male and female energies focussing on the harmony in life.
“Everything that you lost will be replaced with something better than you never expected. When replacement from Shiva arrives, you forget what you lost. Remember Shiva knows everything: May delay but never denies.”
(Dr AK Srivastava is Principal, DAV Inter College, Dehradun.)
