Maha Shivratri Vrat: Things To Do

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Maha Shivratri vrat or Shivratri fasting is one of the most important fasts of Hinduism. The Mahashivratri vrat has a huge spiritual significance. The one who observes this fast is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Apart from that, observing this fast helps the person to control the two important natural forces that affects the humans.

Know About The Significance Of Mahashivratri

These two forces are known as the 'Rajas' and the 'Tamas' guna. The 'Rajas' guna literally means the quality of passionate activity. Evils like lust, anger and jealousy are born out of the 'Rajas' guna. The 'Tamas' guna is the quality of inertia or indifference and resistance to action. 'Tamas' promotes darkness, ignorance, resistance, death and destruction.

Hence a human being should get rid of all these evils if he wants to attain salvation. It is believed that by observing the Mahashivratri vrat, a person is able to free himself/herself from the evils of these two gunas.

So, if you are planning to observe the Mahashivratri vrat then take a look at these things that you should do while observing the fast.

Early Morning Bath

Traditionally, the person observing the fast should take a bath early in the morning with warm water and black sesame seeds. The bodily impurities must be completely cleared before one begins the fast.

Bathing The Linga

The person observing the fast should either visit the nearest Shiva temple or bathe the 'linga' at home with water, honey and milk.

Offerings

After bathing the 'linga', the person must offer 'Bilva' leaf or the Belpatra, dhatura fruit, Akanda flowers, turmeric, kumkum and sandalwood to the 'linga'.

Food Offerings

Lord Shiva is extremely fond of milk items. So, food items like Kheer and other sweets made of milk can be offered to the 'linga'. Some people also offer 'Bhaang', an intoxicating drink made from cannabis leaves.

Prayers

The devotee must chant the mantra 'Om Namah Shivay' and offer prayers to the 'linga'. Then a lamp must be lit before the 'linga' followed by devotional hymns sung by the devotee.

Day & Night Fast

The Shivratri vrat starts in the day and continues the whole night till the next morning.

Fasting Rules

There is no hard and fast rule that one must stay completely without food during the vrat. The person observing the fast can have juices, fruits and the special vrat dishes like Kuttu chapati, vrat ke chawal, nuts, curries without onions and garlic etc. However no meal is to be consumed after sunset.

Night Vigil

The devotees observing fast should stay up for the whole night listening to stories about Lord Shiva or singing bhajans in His praise.

Breaking The Fast

The fast is broken the next morning after bathing the 'linga' again and offering prayers to it. One must break the fast by consuming the 'prasad' or food offered to Lord Shiva.