MAHASIVARATRI 10TH MARCH 2013 (sunday)

          The one big festival that is dedicated to lord Shiva is Shivaratri. Shivaratri is celebrated on Chaturdasi of the Magha Masam of Telugu Calendar or Tamil month Masi. This year Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on  

 Sunday, 10th March, 2013.

The normal ritual involved in observing Shivaratri are as follows:
1)Should fast the whole day without even drinking water.
2)Should perform at least Eka Rudra Abhishekam to Lord Shiva in the night to Lord Shiva, offering of Bilva Patra orBel leaves is considered to give high returns.
3)Offer fruits as Naivedyam or offering and eat only those for the night.
4)Should be awake the whole night enchanting the name of Lord Shiva
5)If possible do Abhishekam to Lord Shiva during Lingodbhava Kalam that is exactly at 00:48 hrs.
6)Should sleep only on the night of next day.

         Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in month of Magha is known as Maha Shivaratri according to South Indian calendar. However according to North Indian calendar Masik Shivaratri in month of Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. In both calendars it is naming convention of lunar month which differs. However both, North Indians and South Indians, celebrate Maha Shivaratri on same day.

         Vrat Vidhi – One day before Shivaratri Vratam, most likely on Trayodashi, devotees should eat only one time. On Shivaratri day, after finishing morning rituals devotees should take Sankalp (संकल्प) to observer full day fast on Shivaratri and to take food next day. During Sankalp devotees pledge for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seek blessing of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Hindu fasts are strict and people pledge for self-determination and seek God blessing before starting them to finish them successfully.

          On Shivaratri day devotees should take second bath in the evening before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple. Shiva Puja should be done during night and devotees should break the fast next day after taking bath. Devotees should break the fast between sunrise and before the end of Chaturdashi Tithi to get maximum benefit of the Vrat. According to one contradictory opinion devotees should break the fast only when Chaturdashi Tithi gets over. But it is believed that both Shiva Puja and Parana (पारणा) i.e. breaking the fast should be done within Chaturdashi Tithi.

         Shivaratri puja can be performed one time or four times during the night. The whole night duration can be divided into four to get four Prahar (प्रहर) to perform Shiva Puja four times. Drikpanchang.com lists all four Prahar durations for staunch Shiva devotees who perform Shiva Pujan four times in the night. We also list Nishita time when Lord Shiva appeared on the Earth in the form of Linga and the time window to break the fast on next day.