In 2025, Maha Shivratri falls on February 26, Wednesday. Maha Shivratri is also known as Mahashivratri, is one of the most sacred festivals in the Hindu religion. On this auspicious day devotees visit temples, offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, chant mantras, keep fasts, and seek Lord Shiva’s blessings.
The Mahashivratri festival has multiple origins, one of them is being a celebration of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. This day is celebrated to honor Lord Shiva, an important deity in Hindu religion. This holiest festival indicates the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati and many other cosmic events related to God Shiva.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva married Goddess Shakti (Maa Shakti), his divine partner, for the second time on this sacred night. This divine union is celebrated as ‘The Night of Lord Shiva’. While Lord Shiva represents Purusha, which symbolizes mindfulness, Goddess Parvati means Prakriti, which represents nature. Their divine union indicates the harmony of energy and consciousness, nurturing creation.
Some other stories about this festival are as follows:
According some sources, During the process of churning of the great ocean (Samadura Manthan) the pot of poison has emerged. It had the power to destroy the whole earth and creation. Lord Shiva saved the world by consuming this poison. Lord Shiva drank the poison generated during Samudra Manthan process and stored it in his throat. Hence his throat turned to blue. Because of this incident Lord Shiva also known as Neelkanth. And this specific day is celebrated as Mahashivratri by Lord Shiva’s devotees to thank him for saving the universe.
According to another historical source, when the earth was close to destruction, Maa Parvati (Goddess Parvati) pledged with Lord Shiva to save the world from destruction. Lord Shiva pleased with Goddess Parvati’s prayers and he agreed to her pleading on the condition that people of the earth would have to worship him with dedication, sincerity, and passion. From that day onwards the night became to known as Maha Shivratri, and devotees began worshipping Lord Shiva with a great enthusiasm.
According to another story in Hindu Mythology, during the creation of the universe, By the grace of God Brahma, Lord Shiva was incarnated as Lord Rudra at midnight on Maha Shivratri. It is also believed that on this sacred night, when he heard the news of his consort Goddess Sati’s self-immolation in a yagna fire, Lord Shiva performed his consmic dance of creation, destruction, and preservation. His devotees called this cosmic dance as Rudra Tandav (Shiv Tandav Dance).
Lord Vishnu intervened and fragmented Sati’s body into 51 pieces. Lord Shiva roamed the universe with Sati’s body. These 51 pieces later fell across different places, and formed the sacred Peethas. Lord Shiva went to a cave and started to meditate. Later Goddess Sati was reborn as Parvati. Parvati was the daughter of the Himalayas. Goddess Parvati performed a severe penance to reunite with Lord Shiva. Later Lord Shiva agreed and married to Maa Parvati.
During the night of Maha Shivratri, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of Linga. This transformation symbolizes Lord Shiva’s divine presence.
According to Hindu religion, there are 12 Shivratris in every year. Because “Masik Shivratri” occurs every month on the 14th day of the Krishna Paksha. This means Shivratri celebration takes place every lunar month. Out of these 12 Shivratris in the year, the Mahashivratri is considered as the most auspicious Shivratri. During Maha Shivaratri God Shiva’s devotees fast to purify their soul, body, and mind.
Happy Maha Shivaratri to all. May Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati bless you and your families with good health, happiness and prosperity!
