Mahashivratri 2023 - Much auspicious Yoga will bless your life this time!

Maha Shivratri is the main festival of Hindus with lots of religious significance attached to it. Maha Shivratri 2023 will be celebrated on Krishna Chaturdashi tithi of Falgun month as per the Hindu calendar. The Falgun month generally falls in February or March. 

According to Shivpuran, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati got married on the day of Mahashivaratri. According to the Hindu religion, three gods run the universe. Brahma is considered responsible for the creation, Vishnu for the operation, and Mahesh for the destruction of this creation. 

All these three deities together have been given the title of Tridev. Lord Bholenath is also known as Mahadev, the God of Gods. According to the scriptures, it is believed that the creation started on the day of Mahashivaratri. The description of Shivratri is found in Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Agni Purana, etc. 

It is said that on the day of Shivratri, the person who worships Lord Shiva with Bilva leaves and chants the mantras of God while awake at night, and Lord Shiva bestows him with joy and salvation. 

Hindu devotees all over the country celebrate Maha Shivratri. As the name suggests, the festival is associated with Lord Shiva. People worship and observe several religious rituals to please Lord Shiva on this day. People keep fast and maintain sanctity throughout the day. It is believed that the observer attains salvation or Moksha by appeasing Lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri.

Maha Shivaratri comes every year, and there is great fervor in people for the festival. The festival is highly auspicious to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. Read further to know the date, puja vidhi, muhurta, and all related rituals in detail. The write-up helps you know what you should do to get the blessings of Mahadeva!

Maha Shivaratri February 18, 2023

Every year, the Hindu devotees celebrate Maha Shivratri, which falls on the 14th tithi of every lunar month. It is the Chaturdashi tithi that falls a day prior to the new Moon or Amavasya in the months of February-March. It is believed that Lord Shiva performs his destructive dance, tandav, on this day. This is the day of the union of Lord Shiva and Shakti.   

The festival usually falls in the months of February or March. As per ancient sources, Shivratri falls on Amavasya and thus is the darkest of all nights. On Amavasya, the Moon remains in close proximity to the Sun. The Moon loses its sheen, and thus, devotees worship Lord Shiva by meditating on the crescent Moon established at God's head. The day of Shivratri symbolizes celebrating the union of Lord Shiva and Shakti.

The union of Parvati and Shiva shows power, love, affection, and togetherness. The legend narrates how Lord Shiva married Goddess Shakti a second time after the goddess immolated herself. Parvati is an incarnation of Shakti, Shiva's divine consort. As per texts, the day of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is called the Shivaratri – the great night of Bhole Shankar!

Mahashivratri shows passion, affection, and togetherness in a married couple's life. Shiva and Shakti are identical forms of energy, and it is only through their union or togetherness that they stand empowered. 

When is Maha Shivratri in 2023?

Mahashivratri is one of the most revered religious festivals observed in every part of India. In 2023, Shivratri will fall on February 18, 2023. It is important to know the auspicious time and muhurta for the worship of Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri. People visit Shiva temples early in the morning and also observe a strict fast on this day. 

Maha Shivaratri 2023 Muhurata

According to Hindu Panchang, the Chaturdashi tithi will begin on February 17 at 8:02 pm and it will end on February 18 at 4:18 pm; according to the rule of Udaya tithi, people will celebrate Mahashivratri on February 18, Saturday.

Ø Nishita kaal puja : February 19, 12:16 am to 1:06 am. 

 Time duration of Nishita Kaal Puja will be for 50 minutes.

Ø Mahashivaratri Parana Muhurta: February 19, Sunday, from 06:57 am to 03:33 pm

Ø Ratri Pratham Prahar Puja Time: February 18, Saturday, from 06:30 in the evening to 09:35 the night

Ø Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time: February 18, Saturday, from 09:35 pm to 12:39 pm.

Ø Ratri Tritiya Prahar Puja Time: February 19, Sunday, from 12:39 am to 03:43 am

Ø Ratri Chaturthi Prahar Puja Time: February 19, Sunday, from 3:43 am to 06:47 am

However, the devotees can worship Lord Shiva the whole day. It is an auspicious day to worship Lord Shiva as per the choice of the devotees. If you perform puja with full dedication, then any muhurta throughout the day will bring good results to you. People chant Shiva strotam and the Maha Mratunjay Mantra the whole day. 

Maha Shivaratri puja vidhi

On the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri, people perform puja and abhishekam of shiva lingam. The devotee should follow the following rituals on Mahashivratri- 

• Get up early in the morning in brahama muhurata and take a bath.
• One should wear washed and clean clothes after a bath.
• Visit the temple and take sankalpa for observance of the fast. Ask for the blessings of Lord Shiva for the successful completion of your fast.
• At home, clean the temple site, and after this, perform rudrabhishekam with Panchamrit by applying sandalwood paste.
• During Mahashivaratri fast, fill water or milk in an earthen pot, put bel Patra, Aak-Dhatura flowers, rice, etc., on top, and offer it to Shivling.
• If there is no Shiva temple near your home, you can worship Lord Shiva at home. 
• Recite Shiva Purana and chant Mahamrityunjaya Mantra or Om Namah Shivay, the Panchakshara mantra of Shiva.
• After that, light a fire of cow dung cakes and offer a mixed oblation of sesame, rice and ghee.
• There is also a ritual of staying awake on the day of Mahashivaratri. It is believed that all the desires of the devotees are fulfilled if they observe this ritual.
• One should perform the Arti at the end of the puja of Lord Shiva.

Mahashivratri worship mantra

For the Shivling bath, milk should be taken in the first phase of the night, curd in the second phase, ghee in the third phase, and honey i.e., honey in the fourth phase. There are also mantras for bathing Shivling in all four hours-

• In the first phase - 'Hree Ishanaya Namah'
• In the second phase - 'Hree Aghoray Namah'
• In the third phase - 'Hree Vamdevaya Namah'
• In the fourth phase - 'Hree Sadyojataye Namah'.