07:28 (IST) Feb 15
Mahashivratri festival: Importance of “Prahar”
Maha Shivratri night is divided into four parts or “Prahars.” Lord Shiva is worshipped during these prahars. It is believed to bring happiness, prosperity and devotees receive blessings of Lord Shiva if they worship during the powerful prahar period.
07:08 (IST) Feb 15
Mahashivratri: How to perform abhishekam
Performing abhishekam is a ritual in which people offer various sacred items to shivalingam and these holy items are mentioned below:
- Water (Ganga Jal): tranquility and cleansing
- Milk: Blessings and nourishment
- Honey: Devotion and sweetness
- Yogurt: Health and prosperity
- Bilva leaves: The most revered sacrifice, signifying dedication
- Sandalwood paste: a cool, pure substance
06:33 (IST) Feb 15
How to appease Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri?
Devotees can observe fast from dawn till parana time, chant mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva, perform night vigil and do meditation and visit temple to perform abhishek. These are the easiest ways through, which you can seek blessings of Lord Shiva.
06:25 (IST) Feb 15
Did Lord Shiva perform cosmic dance on Mahashivratri?
According to scriptures, it is believed that Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, a cosmic dance, which represents the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
06:23 (IST) Feb 15
What is the importance of night vigil on Mahashivratri?
This night is considered as the most powerful night when the cosmic energies are very high and people perform various spiritual activities during that night to appease Lord Shiva. This night is for conquering ignorance and darkness.
06:20 (IST) Feb 15
How is Mahashivratri celebrated?
Devotees observe fast and offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati by performing various puja rituals and spiritual activities.
06:19 (IST) Feb 15
Why Mahashivratri festival is celebrated?
Mahashivratri festival celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This was the auspicious day, when Lord Shiva married to Mata Parvati.
06:16 (IST) Feb 15
When is Maha Shivratri 2026?
Mahashivratri festival is one of the major festivals of Hindus. The festival is purely dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This Hindu festival is celebrated on Chaturdashi tithi of krishna paksha in phalguna month. This year, Mahashivratri festival is being celebrated today, on February 15, 2026.One of the main Hindu holidays, Mahashivratri, is celebrated with great vigor and grandeur. All around the nation, people celebrate this occasion with joy and fervor. The event honors Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s nuptials. This is where masculine and feminine energy come together. There is a lot of religious and spiritual significance to the day. Devotees can pursue awareness and enlightenment by worshiping Lord Shiva on this auspicious day and participating in night vigils, which symbolize the triumph of light over ignorance. On this holy night, it is thought that Lord Shiva performed the cosmic dance known as tandav. This is referred to as the “great night of Lord Shiva,” when people nationwide awaken and participate in a variety of spiritual and religious practices, such as retelling the stories of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati, meditating, rudrabhishekam, and mantra chanting. According to one of the traditions, a hunter concealed himself in a tree and unintentionally worshipped Lord Shiva by flinging bilva leaves onto a Shiva Linga. He was freed as a result of this deed, highlighting the significance of true commitment. Every city has their own tradition and rituals, which they perform to please Lord Shiva on this sacred day of Mahashivratri. In order to please Lord Shiva, people from many cities celebrate this event with great fervor and adhere to their customs and rituals. The festival is seen to have enormous potential for obtaining spiritual enlightenment, sin-cleansing, and moksha (liberation). Reciting stotrams devoted to Lord Shiva, such as Shiva tandav stotram, Shiva chalisa, and lingashtakam, is seen as meritorious. During this most potent day, people can visit well-known Shiva temples like Mahakaleshwar Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Devotees chant various mantras to appease Lord Shiva such as panchakshari mantra – “Om Namah Shivaye and Mahamrityunjaya mantra – “Om Tryamabhakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam Urvarukmiv Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat” to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. Devotees, particularly single women, follow rituals and fasts in order to ask Lord Shiva for a good husband. On Maha Shivratri, giving food, clothing, and Dakshina to the underprivileged is considered as extremely meritorious.
