Maha Shivratri 2023: Differences Between Shivratri And Mahashivratri

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Although both Shivratri and Mahashivratri are celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, there are certain differences that demarcate these festivals as different. Monday and Pradosh day are deemed to be the best days to worship Lord Shiva. Every month Pradosh is celebrated on Krishna paksha Chaturdashi tithi. It is also called shivratri. There are 12 such Shivratris in a year. The Chaturdashi tithi of Krishna Paksha of Phalguna month is celebrated as Mahashivratri. Maha Shivratri is the day when Lord Shiva married Parvati. This year it has arrived on 18 February 2023. Rudrabhishek performed on this day gives immeasurable benefits. There are remedies that people follow on this day to avail its benefits in entirety.

Every year, pujas and hawans and chants are conducted on this occasion of Maha Shivratri. This is the day Lord Shiva danced the Tandav Nritya, swallowed the hahahala poison to save the world, and this was also the day he married Goddess Parvathi. Shiv Ratri means night of Shiva. On Shivratri, devotees of Lord Shiva pray to Lord Shiva and offer puja ingredients to him. Maha mrutyunjaya Yagnya is performed for longevity of the yagnyakartas.

They are mainly four types of Shivratris that are observed in a year as per scriptures. They are as follows.
1. Nitya Shivaratri
2. Masa Shivaratri
3. Magha prathamadi Shivaratri
4. Maha Shivaratri

The Nitya Shivaratri is the first one which is observed daily, that is, every night. Masa Shivratri is a monthly observance. According to the South Indian panchang, Maha Shivaratri is observed on Chaturdashi during Krishna Paksha in the Magha month whereas in other Indian regions, it is celebrated on the 13th or 14th night of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna month. Maha Shivratri is observed on the 14th day of Magha month, Krishna Paksha. On this day, Lord Shiva appeared as a jyotirlinga that had the lustre of crores of suns and hence this day is celebrated with rudrabhisheka

Differences Between Shivratri And Mahashivratri

1. Shivratri is the night dedicated to shiva worship while Mahashivratri is a major festival celebrated on a huge scale.

2. Shivratri is merely an observance whereas Maha shivratri is a grand celebration.

3. Devotees fast on this day. Observe jagaran and meditate on him. On Mahashivratri people sing, dance to the devotional songs, visit shiva temple to seek his blessings. Devotees offer present offerings to Lord Shiva.

4. Shivratri is a monthly observance while Mahashivratri is observed yearly.

5. Shivratri is observed to honour the occasion of the tandav nritya of Lord Shiva which was done on one of the Shivratris whereas the marriage of shiva with Parvati was performed on the Mahashivratri.

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