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Tuesday 15 April 2014

Maha Shiva Ratri

Today is the thirteenth day of A to Z challenge. The festival selected is Maha Shivratri.

Maha Shivaratri  is a very important festival for the Hindus.People observe fast, which lasts for twenty four hours During this fast, even drinking water is not permitted. If translated ,it means ‘the night of the Shiva’. It falls on the moonless night of February. According to a  legend, during the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it.  

Shiva Linga


This turned His throat blue, and since then he came to be known as 'Nilkantha', the blue-throat-ed one. Shivratri, also celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world. Shiv Linga is worshipped on this day.
                                                
                 

The whole night ‘chanting of ,’Om Namo Shivaya’ makes  the atmosphere calm and blissful. Woodapple  leaves, milk and water are offered to the Shiv Linga, as they are considered favourite of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva’s  Tandav Nritya, ‘The Dance of Bliss' symbolises the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. It is a belief that Lord Shiva has a third eye in the center of his forehead. If the eye opens, which is very rare, it leads to destruction.The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy – creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion.   

Lord Shiva's Tandav dance

         

According  to the scriptures, the  Kailash  peak of the Himalayas is the abode  of Shiva and his consort Parvati. He bears the Ganges on His head. Shiva is third among the divine trinity of Hindu mythology ie.Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh(Shiva). He is the giver of happiness to mankind.



               The video depicts the powerful  Lord Shiva's  Tandav Nritya(dance)  

                                                                    
Pics  courtesy google
Video YouTube
Words 296


 

36 comments:

  1. this is the only festival which i celebrate with utmost devotion :) fasting n doing jagran, going to temples at night for bhajans :) its such a bliss!

    http://swathishenoy.blogspot.in/2014/04/m-for-misery.html?m=1
    a-z participant

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    1. Swathi it is good to know that you observe this fast. It really gives peace of mind.

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  2. I have seen my friends celebrating this festival. I am not much of a devotional person :P

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    1. Rajlakshmi, even if you are not a devotional person you may be interested in the rich culture of the country.

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  3. I know so many people who fast on this day and are strong believers. It is nice to read the reason behind it all - interesting theme.

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  4. Shivarathri is celebrated with much devotion down south :) Thanks for highlighting this festival in your series :)

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    1. Thank you Sreeja.This festival is celebrated throgh out the country.

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  5. Good to know about Maha shivratri !
    Droppibg by via A to Z
    Good luck Usha ji !

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  6. It was interesting to know the legend of Shiv Ratri! It is a huge festival in Rajasthan!

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    1. Thank you Shilpa. Yes this festival is celebrated through out the country with great enthusiasm.

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  7. I love this festival...We celebrate it every year at home, at my mother's home... I don't find the courage to do all the elaborate things at home..But you know my favorite temple is a small Shiva Temple nestled in a hill next to a lake ...Thanks for this...
    M for Motherly-Random Thoughts Naba

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    1. Thank you Naba. Happy that this post brought old memories to the fore.

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  8. Heard so much about the third eye...and about this festival...now know what's it all about...thanks for sharing!

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  9. An important festival for Hindus all over the world! Thanks to the religious TV channels and live web-streaming now, so many grand Mahashivratri celebrations going on at different places are now available to people everywhere. Thanks Usha ji for choosing this important festival in your list.

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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  10. Yep one of my fav days.... For everything :)

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/04/moon3/

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  11. this is a big festival at home....and we keep upaas all day and have a puja at home where we all sit in a circle, and individually perform puja and ahishek to our individual "ShivLing" and meditate together......i loved the post and all the lovely thoughts it evoked!

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    1. Thanks Titli. I am glad that this post revived memories of celebration in your house.

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  12. This is a big festival for us here..we all go on fast and pray to lord for everyone's well being :)

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  13. Yes, I have seen this festival is celebrated with all the family members taking part together... Very important one...

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  14. Very interesting. Sounds like another lovely festival designed to strengthen and renew faith. ♥

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  15. My mom's favorite festival... Very spiritual and powerful festival too :)

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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    1. Thank you Srilakshmi for visiting this post.

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  16. Shivratri is a very special occasion for us since that was the day I first met my husband.

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    1. Good!! You must be having sweet memories of the day.

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  17. India is a land of festivals ... that's what makes this country so beautiful :-)

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    1. Yes Amrit. No where else do we find so many festivals.

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  18. Mahashivrathri is very special to me. Although I don't fast, there are many years that I have done the 'all-night-long' sojourn doing bhajans and chanting. The charged atmosphere is unbelievable! Lovely post, Usha madam.

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    1. Thank you Shailaja,I am glad that you were reminded of your past.

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