HAPPY MAHA SHIVARATRI

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva.It is also known as padmarajarathri. Alternate common names/spellings include Maha Sivaratri,Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivaratri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva orthe night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day of the Maagha orPhalguna month of the Hindu calendar. Since many different calendars are followed by various ethno-linguistic groups of India, the month and the Tithi name are not uniform all over India and Nepal. Celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha(waning moon) of the month of Maagha according to the Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama or Phalgunaaccording to the Vikrama era.^[2][3] The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Baelor Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil. All through the day the devotees, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord "Om Namah Shivaya". In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach life's summum bonum steadily and swiftly. A week-long International Mandi Shivratri Fairheld at Mandi in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh every year is one of the major tourist attractions in the state.^[4]

On Mahashivratri, Nishita Kala is the most perfect time to observe Shiva Pooja. On this day, in all Shiva temples, the most auspicious Lingodbhava puja is performed during this time.^[5]. In Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple is very famous for celebration of Shivratri.

Rudrabhisheka'

There is a special set of mantras in the Vedas, "Rudra Sukta (Rudri)", which is recited by Bramhan/pundits (priests) while they offer a holy bath to the Shiva-lingam, with the waters of sacred rivers like the Ganges, cow milk, curd (yoghurt), ghee, honey and sugar powder. This ritual, known as "Rudrabhisheka", is an important part of Shiva-puja.