Significance of Mahashivaratri

Mahashivaratri is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated as an indication of respect to Lord Shiva. It is held annually in the month of February- March. The rituals of Mahashivaratri is conducting by women through fasting. Because there is a strong belief among Hindus is that on the auspicious day of Shivaratri, if a person who strongly worships Lord Shiva will get the liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Some of the women devotees are diet of fruits and milk, but someone will don't drink even a drop of water. Married women are worshipping Lord Shiva for the well being of their husbands and unmarried women are worshiping Lord Shiva to get a husband like Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri is mainly celebrated at night. On the auspicious day, Shivalinga is worshiped by showering it on every three hours by using milk, yogurt, ghee, honey etc. Devotees will never sleep at the whole night instead of that, they are chanting Mantra "Om Nama Shivaya" of Lord Shiva. Devotees are eating betel leaves for the real satisfaction. According to Hindu mythology, there are lots of concepts are describing behind the origin of Mahashivaratri. Based on one story says that one day Gods and Demons were conducted Samuda Manthan for collecting nectar. But Firstly a pot of poison emerged from the ocean.The poison was so powerful to consume the entire universe. All of them were afraid of that and they were ran to Lord Shiva and in order to save the entire world he accepted to consume the poison. He drank the poison and his throat turned blue when he stored the poison in his throat to save the universe. Since then Lord Shiva came to be known as Neelakantha. A major thought that is given by the history of Mahashivaratri is to understand the devotees that Lord Shiva is not only a destroyer but also a giver. Some Shiva devotees are visiting Kashi Viswanath Temple and following the rituals. People are taking bath in the sacred river Ganga. After that they are using Vibhuti in horizontal lines on their foreheads which symbolizes spiritual knowledge, cleanliness and penance. Mahashivaratri is also considered as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati. Because Shiva without Goddess Parvati is "Nirguna Brahman".