The Legend Associated with Shivaratri

Shivaratri. Image credit: hindudevotionalblog.com

Lord Shiva completes the trinity of deities with Brahma and Vishnu. He has the authority to sanctify and destroy the world. It is only only after the destruction by Shiva that Brahma begins development, once more. Worshippers of Shiva regard him as the ultimate power. As per devotees, Shiva becomes easily pleased, however can be easily angered too. His name means kind, auspicious and gracious. It is also heard that he is sincere to his 1st spouse Sati and later on to Parvati.

Shiva and Sati.

Goddess Sati was daughter to King Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. King Daksha did not invite Sati and Shiva for a yagna, which he performed. Being interested so much in that yagna, Sati reached her father’s kingdom. Grief stricken and insulted by the disregard, King Daksha showed, she immolated by jumping into the yagnakunda. Lord Shiva became furious when he knew about the death of Sati and carrying her body he danced. He destroyed Daksha’s kingdom with his 3rd eye. To calm down Shiva, lord Vishnu, threw devi Sati’s body on Earth after severing it. The twelve places where the parts of her body fell were later known as the Shakti Peethas.

Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva.

Devi Sati’s death left Shiva sorrowful and he started leading an austere life. However Sati took birth as Himavan’s daughter Parvati. When Parvati reached adulthood, she understood about her earlier birth as Sati and performed tapas to please Lord Shiva and re-unite with him. Parvati tried several methods to please Shiva however he did not change his mind.

Parvati, in the end, took the help of Kamadeva, the Lord of Love. Kamadeva, with his arrow, hit Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva got furious and reduced the Lord of Love to ashes with his 3rd eye. But, Shiva revived Kamadeva into life when Rati, his wife requested. Parvati, in order to please Shiva started severe tapas. Because of the genuineness of Parvati’s severe tapas and the coercion from the sages, Shiva married Parvati, before Amavasya (in Phalguna). This night is dedicated to Shiva and called as Mahashivaratri.

Mahashivaratri.

Across the world, Mahashivaratri is being celebrated even today by devotees of Shiva. Fasting and observing a sleepless night, besides visiting shrines, are a part of this festival, which is being observed by devotees.

As per another legend, Mahashivaratri is the day when Devi Parvati performed tapas to uproot all the bad spirits that can hurt Lord Shiva. People believe that she prayed for Lord Shiva’s long life on Amavasya in Phalguna. Continuing this tradition, women also do poojas and offer prayers to Shiva – the perfect husband- wishing their husband’s good health and long life.

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