The Pashupatinath Temple during Maha Shivaratri

Source Wikipedia - "Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. The Maha Shivaratri festival, also much popular as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva', is observed on the (13th night/14th day) in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of Maagh according to the Hindu calendar. Alternate common spellings include Sivaratri, Shivaratri, Sivarathri, and Shivarathri. It marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi of Hindu calendar month Maagha which falls in February or March as per the Gregorian calendar. Of the twelve Shivaratris in the year, the Maha Shivarathri is the most powerful.

The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael or golden apple or Bilva/Vilvam leaves to Lord Shiva, all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil (jagarana). All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namah Shivaya", a sacred mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of yoga and meditation, in order to reach life's highest good steadily and swiftly. On this day, the planetary positions in the Northern hemisphere act as potent catalysts to help a person raise ones spiritual energy easily. The benefits of powerful ancient Sanskrit Mantras such as Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra increase manifold on this night.

In Nepal, millions of Hindus attend Shivaratri together from different part of the world at the famous Pashupatinath Temple (पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर). Thousands of devotees also attend Mahasivaratri at the famous Shiva Shakti Peetham of Nepal.

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Image of Shri Shankar Bhagwan

 Happy Maha Shivaratri!

Jai Mahadev, Jai Shiva Shambhu, Jai Bhairav, Jai Bholenath, Jai Gangadhar, Jai Kailashmnath!


















Here are some useful informative links, and webpages about Maha Shivaratri.  Please check each link to get detail information.

1.  From ekantipur - Shivaratri today: 700,000 expected to turn up - please click here to read the read the complete article.

2.  Shivaratri Festival In Nepal Includes Temporary Lifting Of Marijuana Ban, to read the article, please click here.

3.  Maha Shivaratri 2014; the Great Night of Lord Shiva (photo, bhajans) from Huffington Post - please click here to read the page

4.  Devotees pouring in for Maha Shivaratri Celebration from Republica, please click here to read the complete article.