Story of Maha Shivaratri – The Great Night of Shiva

Maha Shivaratri is a festival celebrated by Hindus in the honor of Lord Shiva. All the Devotees offer fasting, chant prayers, and meditate.

Unlike other Hindu festivals, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at night. On the day of Shivaratri, people offer honey and milk in temples for the Abhisheka of Shiva Linga. This festival is celebrated on the 13th night or 14th day of the Maagha/ Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.

Why do we celebrate Maha Shivaratri?

It is celebrated since Shiva manifested himself for the first time as a Linga. This day when Linga was formed by Shiva is considered to be an extremely auspicious day.

Now let us know why Shiva has created himself as Linga

Once there was an argument between Lord Vishnu, The protector of the universe & Lord Brahma, The creator of the universe about their supremacy over each other. While they are fighting with their words on each other, a shining Linga appears in between both of them rising up into the sky through the clouds. It does not have a beginning or an end. 

Having looked at the Linga, Both Brahma & Vishnu decided to compete with each other by finding one end each. The person who finds either the beginning or the end of Linga will be considered the winner. 

Brahma started his journey towards the sky with the upside of Linga and Vishnu decided to know the depth. On the journey, Brahma came across a Ketaki flower that had been placed on the Linga but had fallen down.

Noticing this, Brahma lied saying he reached the top of the Linga using the flower as proof. Vishnu did not find the beginning of the Linga and accepted the failure. Vishnu agreed that Brahma has superpowers. 

Lord Shiva got to know that Brahma had told lies and got angry. He revealed his true form from the Linga and punished Brahma and cursed him so that no one would ever pray to him. 

Lord Shiva made both Brahma & Vishnu realize that there is a third power mightier than them. Lord Shiva is the preserver & destroyer of the universe. Since, It is the first time Shiva was evaluated as Linga, the day is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri.

Other Relatable Stories

There are other stories also based on certain auspicious days of Lord Shiva. One is based on the marriage of Lord Shiva & Parvati and the other is based on the “Ksheera Sagara Mathanam”, which happens between Devils & Demons, where Lord Shiva swallows the poison that comes out of the Ocean.

Lord Shiva keeps the poison in his neck without swallowing completely for the welfare of the universe and he does not sleep the entire night.