Maha Shivratri

Maha Shivratri is one of the most important festivals for Indians.  It is believed to mark the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati and became a householder from a hermit, muniwar.  

It is also believed that on Maha Shivratri, Lord Shiva became Neelkantha or the blue-throated one by willfully swallowing the deadly poison that came up during the Sagar Manthan, the churning of Kshir Sagar or the milky ocean. The poison was so deadly that even if a drop reached His stomach, which represents the universe, it would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck, which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Maha Shivratri is therefore also a day of thanksgiving to Lord Shiva for protecting mankind from annihilation.

One other story associated with Maha Shivratri is that once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu had a bout as to who among the two was superior. As the fight aggravated, a burning pillar or lingam appeared between the two of them. A voice from the lingam resonated that the one who is able to find the end of the lingam would be judged as the superior of the two. So, Lord Brahma went towards the upper end of the lingam and Lord Vishnu towards the lower end. But neither of them was able to find the end of the burning pillar. After a while, Lord Vishnu realized that the lingam had no end and he stopped searching for it and admitted defeat. Lord Brahma, however, decided to lie that He had found the end of the lingam and He brought the Ketaki flower to testify His lie. At this, the all-knowing Lord Shiva became extremely outraged. He cursed Lord Brahma that He would never be worshipped on Earth. This legend explains that Lord Shiva is the superior of all the Gods and that He is the beginning Adi of everything and He has no end, He is Ananta. It is believed that it was the day of Shivratri when Lord Shiva manifested Himself first time in the form of a lingam.

Legends are many but the fervor is impeccable. An immensely special day. Har Har Mahadev.

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