Mahashivratri- Honouring Maha Maheshwar
This is a contribution post by Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan
Mahashivratri is a festival celebrated annually on the day before Amavasya of the month of Magha. It is observed on Chaturdashi tithi in the Krishna paksha. (solardays) All the Saivaite temples are decorated in the grand manner and many programs are organised ten days prior to the festival. In this year of 2022, the festival falls on March 1st.
Celebrations on Mahashivratri
On this special day Yagas and poojas are performed in all the temples and devotees throng in from the early hours of the day to have the darshan of the Lord Shiva. They observe a fast during the day and remain awake throughout the night.
Abhishekams are also performed to the Lord in large scale to please him and his like for abhishekam fetched him the name “Abhisheka priyan” (the one who loves abhishekam) It is done using Gingelly oil, water, milk, tender coconut, curd, honey, rose water and panchamrutham to name a few.
Three major offerings to Lord Shiva
Firstly a leaf named “bilva” is considered as a divine offering to the Lord. These leaves are tied up as a garland and adorned on the Lord. These are used for “Archana” too.
“Vibhuti” is the other major offering to the Lord. As a prasadam “vibhuthi” is distributed to the devotees who then apply it on their forehead.
“Chandan” is the next important offering to the Lord. It is used placed on the divine forehead as a tilak.
Temples representing 5 elements
Lord Shiva is the embodiment of nature’s five elements.
This can be found in the temples of South India where each temple represents an element
- Earth – Kanchipuram – Ekambaresvarar
- Water – Thiruvanaikka – Jalakanteshwarar
- Fire – Tiruvannamalai – Arunachaleswarar
- Wind – Sri kalahasthi- Kalahastheesvarar
- Space/sky – Chidambaram – Natarajar
Apart from these there are many ancient temples throughout India where people go on a pilgrimage and offer prayers. Holy places like 12 Jyotirlinga- sthalas, Amarnath, Tanjore, Kablaleeshwarar temple at Mylapore in Chennai are among the most visited temples. There are many temples with 108 Lingas (one form of the Lord) placed in a row.
Spatika Lingam is the one allowed at home for puja and prayers.
Various names of Lord Shiva
There are many siva sahasranamas (thousand names of the Lord) which are recited by the devotees to receive the blessings of the Lord. Basically “Om nama shivya” the sacred mantra is chanted throughout the day and night in all the temples on the festival day. The list of sahasranamas can be found in SIVA MAHA PURANA and LINGA PURANA. The famous Names of the Lord are: Neelakanta, Nataraja, Shambu, Sadhasiva, Gangadhara, Mahesshwar, Triyambaka and Mruthyunjaya.
Devotees also chant slokas like ‘Bilvashtakam, Lingashtakam and SivaMahimnas stotram on this day.
Prasadam of Lord Shiva
After puja and prayers comes the prasadham. In south Indian temples a delicious hot Pulihodhara is offered to the Lord and distributed to the devotees who stand in long queues to get it!
8 easy steps to prepare Pulihodhara
- Rice is cooked in water in the ratio of 1:2 so the grains don’t stick to one another.
- The cooked rice is made to cool by spreading it on a large trays.
- Soak tamarind in water, extract the juice and keep it aside.
- In a pan pour a little oil and fry coriander seeds, urad dal, chana dal, pepper, red chillies, fenugreek and allow the mixture to cool.
- In an another pan pour gingelly oil, add mustard seeds, peanuts/groundnuts, chana dal, red chillies, curry leaves and fry well. Add tamarind juice, turmeric powder, salt and asafoetida and allow it to simmer.
- Now grind the roasted spices and add it to the simmering tamarind juice.
- Cook till it reaches a thick consistency. Add a little of powdered jaggery.
- Now add the required quantity of the prepared mixture to the cooked rice and mix well.
The pulihodhare is ready to offer to the Lord and after prayers taste the delicious rice preparation.
Tell us more about how you celebrate Mahashivratri and the delicacies that you cook. Write to us and get featured on BeStorified.
Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan is a tutor, blogger, poet, book reviewer and passionate reader. Her interest in reading and writing paved the way for her blog in 2016. Book Food Language is an amalgamation of the three elements.
