Maha Shivaratri or simply Shivaratri (Sanskrit: महाशिवरात्रि, ) is a major Hindu festival which marks the day of the marriage of the Hindu deities Shiva and Shakti. The name also refers to the night when Shiva is regarded to perform his divine dance, called the Tandava.
A Shivaratri – "night of Shiva" – is observed on the night before the new moon during every month of the luni-solar Hindu calendar. Once a year, in late winter and before the arrival of summer (February/March), this night is observed as "Maha Shivaratri" – "the great night of Shiva".
This day falls in the month of Phalguna as per the North Indian Hindu calendar and in Magha as per the South Indian Hindu calendar (see Amanta and Purnimanta systems).According to the South Indian calendar, Maha Shivaratri is observed on Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha, and in other parts of India, on the 13th or 14th night of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna of the Hindu calendar, the Gregorian date remaining the same.
It is a notable festival in Hinduism, marking a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.Ardent devotees stay awake throughout this night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on a pilgrimage to the Jyotirlingams. The festival has been integral to Hinduism and its origin predates recorded history, but some western Indologists believe this festival originated in 5th century BCE.
In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region.
A Shivaratri – "night of Shiva" – is observed on the night before the new moon during every month of the luni-solar Hindu calendar. Once a year, in late winter and before the arrival of summer (February/March), this night is observed as "Maha Shivaratri" – "the great night of Shiva".
This day falls in the month of Phalguna as per the North Indian Hindu calendar and in Magha as per the South Indian Hindu calendar (see Amanta and Purnimanta systems).According to the South Indian calendar, Maha Shivaratri is observed on Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha, and in other parts of India, on the 13th or 14th night of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna of the Hindu calendar, the Gregorian date remaining the same.
It is a notable festival in Hinduism, marking a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.Ardent devotees stay awake throughout this night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on a pilgrimage to the Jyotirlingams. The festival has been integral to Hinduism and its origin predates recorded history, but some western Indologists believe this festival originated in 5th century BCE.
In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region.
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