Essay on Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri
is one of the important Hindu Festival of India. It is celebrated every year in
the honour of Lord Shiva.Mahashivratri literally means the great night of
Shiva. It is the festival celebrating the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvati. Mahashivratri falls on 13th night /14th day of Krishna Paksha of
Phalgun Month of Hindu Calender.
Mahashivratri
is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. Lord Shiva balances the
nature by acting as a god of destruction. During the Samudra Manthan, Shiva
gulped the poison and all the gods performed dance and songs.
On
Mahashivratri, very early morning, Shiva temple are flocked by devotees.
Temples of Lord Shiva are decorated with flowers. Shiva devotees observe fast
throughout the day and night. On this day, they perform various rituals by
doing Rudrabhishek and pour water and milk over the shivaling. The sacred mantra of Shiva i.e. "Om
Namah Shivay" is chanted throughout in the day in Shiva temples.
There are many
mythological legends behind the origin of this festival. According to the
legend, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan. Lord
Shiva drank this poison to save the world from evil effects of it. He held the
poison in his throat instead of swallowing it.
It is believed that
worshipping Lord Shiva on this day brings good health, happiness and
prosperity.