Apart from religion, shivratri holds a great spiritual significance where both masculine and feminine energies unite, destructing the negative attributes like ego. Shivaratri is the night of transformation.
Shivratri means the night of Shiva. This is the huge festival of hindu tradition where the creation is celebrated. It is the night where the cosmic union of Shiva and Shakti is celebrated. Shiva is consciousness and shakti is energy which when combined results in creation. Apart from religion, shivratri holds a great spiritual significance where both masculine and feminine energies unite, destructing the negative attributes like ego. Shivaratri is the night of transformation.
Three Reasons behind the celebration of Shivratri
Emergence of Linga: once upon a time, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were fighting over their supremacy.Lord Shiva noticed them and appeared in form of a pillar of light which had no end as it was infinite. Brahma ji turned as the Swan and Lord Vishnu transformed themselves as the boar. They both searched the top and bottom of pillar but none could find. This emerged linga is known by the name of Lingodbhava.
The great icon of Lingodbhava is depicted as Brahma ji at top and Lord Vishnu at bottom and Lord Shiva emerged from the pillar. This significant incident took place at a midnight of dark fortnight, marking it to be Mahashivratri. This marks the thoughtful night where sins end and liberation takes place. Shiva is considered as gods of God’s as even the supreme powers could not comprehend the formless nature of Lord Shiva.
The Churning of Ocean: There was a time when God’s and Demons churned the ocean of milk to obtain nectar of immortality ( amrit). Before the nectar could come, there emerged the poison which was deadly enough to destroy the universe. Lord Shiva came to avoid destruction, he drank all that poison. As soon as this incident took place, Maa parvati stopped the spread of poison into Shiva’s body.
Therefore, the poison stayed in throat turning the Shiva’s throat to be blue, giving him the name of Neelkanth. Shivratri is celebrated to pray and offer all the respect to the savior of Universe.
The Divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati: Maa parvati was the princess and upon her penance, Lord Shiva married her. Maa parvati was the embodiement of Maa sati. Parvati Maa being a princess was a beautiful woman and Lord Shiva being an Ascetic was covered with ash. On seeing him, Meena (mother of Maa Parvati) fainted. After that Goddess Parvati requested Lord Shiva to dress up well just for the sake of his mother,when Lord Shiva came out dressed, Meena adorned them and gave the name of Sundaramurti. And, then the marriage of Maa Parvati and Lord Shiva took place marking the night of Shiva, The Mahashivratri.
