{"id":2848,"date":"2022-03-01T12:44:03","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T12:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theblogchatter.com\/BeStorified\/?p=2848"},"modified":"2022-03-01T12:44:07","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T12:44:07","slug":"mahashivratri-honouring-maha-maheshwar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theblogchatter.com\/BeStorified\/culture-and-entertainment\/mahashivratri-honouring-maha-maheshwar\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahashivratri- Honouring Maha Maheshwar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is a contribution post by Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Mahashivratri is a festival celebrated annually on the day before Amavasya of the month of Magha.\u00a0 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<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrations on Mahashivratri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On this special day Yagas<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abhishekams<\/em> are also performed to the Lord in large scale to please him and his like for abhishekam <\/em>fetched him the name \u201cAbhisheka priyan\u201d<\/em> (the one who loves abhishekam) It is done using Gingelly oil, water, milk, tender coconut, curd, honey, rose water and panchamrutham<\/em> to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three major offerings to Lord Shiva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Firstly a leaf named \u201cbilva\u201d<\/em> 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 \u201cArchana\u201d<\/em> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVibhuti\u201d<\/em> is the other major offering to the Lord. As a prasadam \u201cvibhuthi\u201d is distributed to the devotees who then apply it on their forehead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChandan\u201d<\/em> is the next important offering to the Lord. It is used placed on the divine forehead as a tilak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temples representing 5 elements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lord Shiva is the embodiment of nature\u2019s five elements.\u00a0<\/em> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This can be found in the temples of South India where each temple represents an element<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Earth \u2013 Kanchipuram \u2013 Ekambaresvarar<\/li>
  2. Water \u2013 Thiruvanaikka \u2013 Jalakanteshwarar<\/li>
  3. Fire \u2013 Tiruvannamalai \u2013 Arunachaleswarar<\/li>
  4. Wind \u2013 Sri kalahasthi- Kalahastheesvarar<\/li>
  5. Space\/sky \u2013 Chidambaram \u2013 Natarajar<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    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.\u00a0 There are many temples with 108 Lingas (one form of the Lord) placed in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00a0Spatika Lingam is the one allowed at home for puja and prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Various names of Lord Shiva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are many siva sahasranamas (thousand names of the Lord) which are recited by the devotees to receive the blessings of the Lord. Basically \u201cOm nama shivya\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Devotees also chant slokas like \u2018Bilvashtakam, Lingashtakam<\/em> and SivaMahimnas<\/em> stotram on this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Prasadam of Lord Shiva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    After puja and prayers comes the prasadham<\/em>. In south Indian temples a delicious hot Pulihodhara<\/em> is offered to the Lord and distributed to the devotees who stand in long queues to get it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    8 easy steps to prepare Pulihodhara<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    1. Rice is cooked in water in the ratio of 1:2 so the grains don’t stick to one another.<\/li>
    2. The cooked rice is made to cool by spreading it on a large trays.<\/li>
    3. Soak tamarind in water, extract the juice and keep it aside.<\/li>
    4. In a pan\u00a0pour a little oil and fry coriander seeds, urad dal, chana dal, pepper, red chillies, fenugreek and allow the mixture to cool.<\/li>
    5. In an another pan\u00a0 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.<\/li>
    6. Now grind the roasted spices and add it to the simmering tamarind juice.<\/li>
    7. Cook till it reaches a thick consistency. Add a little of powdered jaggery.<\/li>
    8. Now add the required quantity of the prepared mixture to the cooked rice and mix well.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      The pulihodhare<\/em> is ready to offer to the Lord and after prayers taste the delicious rice preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tell us more about how you celebrate Mahashivratri and the delicacies that you cook. Write to us and get featured on BeStorified<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan<\/a> 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 <\/a><\/em>is an amalgamation of the three elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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