This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Maha Shivaratri" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(December 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Maha Shivaratri
Meditating Shiva statue on Maha-Shivaratri
Observed by
Hindus
Type
Religious
Significance
Commemoration of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati Veneration of the Tandava dance of Shiva Manifestation of the lingam[1]
Observances
Fasting
Self-study
Jagarana
Lingam puja
Yoga[2]
Date
Magha Krishna Chaturdashi
2024 date
8 March [3]
2025 date
26 February
Frequency
Annual
Explanatory note
Hindu festival dates
The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day).
Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa.
A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar.
v
t
e
Part of a series on
Shaivism
Deities
Paramashiva (Supreme being)
Shiva
Sadasiva
Bhairava
Rudra
Virabhadra
Shakti
Parvati
Sati
Durga
Kali
Ganesha
Kartikeya
Forms of Shiva
Others
Scriptures and texts
Vedas
Agama-Tantras
Shivasutras
Tirumurai
Vachanas
Svetasvatara
Philosophy
Three Components
Pati
Pashu
Pasam
Three bondages
Anava
Karma
Maya
other aspects
36 Tattvas
Yoga
Satkaryavada
Abhasavada
Svatantrya
Aham
Practices
Vibhuti
Rudraksha
Panchakshara
Bilva
Maha Shivaratri
Yamas-Niyamas
Guru-Linga-Jangam
Schools
Ati marga
Pashupata
Kalamukha
Kapalika
Mantra marga
Saiddhantika
Siddhantism
Non - Saiddhantika
Kashmir Shaivism
Pratyabhijna
Vama
Dakshina
Kaula: Trika-Yamala-Kubjika-Netra
Others
Nath
Inchegeri
Veerashaiva/Lingayatism
Siddharism
Sroutaism
Aghori
Indonesian
Scholars
Lakulisha
Abhinavagupta
Vasugupta
Utpaladeva
Nayanars
Manikkavacakar
Meykandar
Nirartha
Basava
Sharana
Srikantha
Appayya
Navnath
Related
Nandi
Tantrism
Bhakti
Jyotirlinga
Shiva Temples
Hinduism portal
v
t
e
Maha Shivaratri (Sanskrit: महाशिवरात्रि, romanized: Mahāśivarātri, lit. 'The Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the deity Shiva, between February and March.[7] According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half (night start with darkness - waning) of the lunar month of Phalguna.[7][8] The festival commemorates the wedding of Shiva and Parvati,[9] and the occasion that Shiva performs his divine dance, called the Tandava.[10][11]
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.[8] Ardent devotees stay awake throughout this night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on a pilgrimage to the Jyotirlingams. The festival is believed to have originated in 5th century BCE.[8]
In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region.[12][13]
^Stephen Knapp (2012), Hindu Gods & Goddesses, Jaico Publishing House, India, ISBN 9788184953664, page 110
^Melton, J. Gordon (2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. pp. 541–542. ISBN 978-1-59884-206-7.
^"2024 Hindu Festivals".
^"Mahashivratri". 27 December 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
^"2022 Hindu Festivals Calendar, Hindu Tyohar Calendar for Mumbai, Maharashtra, India".
^LLP, Adarsh Mobile Applications. "2021 Maha Shivaratri | Shivratri Date and Time for New Delhi, NCT, India". Drikpanchang.
^ abLochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. p. 637. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4.
^ abcJones, Constance; D. Ryan, James (2006). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5.
^Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (6 December 2021). Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities. McFarland. p. 428. ISBN 978-0-7864-9179-7.
^Cite error: The named reference Dhoraisingam35 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Om Prakash Juneja; Chandra Mohan (1990). Ambivalence: Studies in Canadian Literature. Allied. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-81-7023-109-7.
^Brunn, Stanley D. (2015). The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics. Springer. pp. 402–403. ISBN 978-94-017-9376-6.
^Maitra, Asim (1986). Religious Life of the Brahman: A Case Study of Maithil Brahmans. Munshilal. p. 125. ISBN 978-81-210-0171-7.
MahaShivaratri (Sanskrit: महाशिवरात्रि, romanized: Mahāśivarātri, lit. 'The Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour...
worship is performed in the early morning. However, on the day of MahaShivaratri, they have to wait because the worship continues late into the night...
each year, including between 100,000 and 150,000 on the occasion of MahaShivaratri. Formerly known as the Shiv Mandir, the temple was consecrated by the...
Konidela and Rohini. Bhimaa was released on 8 March 2024, coinciding with MahaShivaratri, to negative reviews from critics and bombed at the box office. Gopichand...
structure. Velanezhy Illom is in Venganellur Gramam, Chelakkara town. MahaShivaratri is the main festival which is celebrated in the temple. Cultural and...
and before the arrival of spring, marks MahaShivaratri which means "the Great Night of Shiva". MahaShivaratri is a major Hindu festival, but one that...
28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017. Tali Maha Kshetram official website v t e "Tali Maha Kshetram official website". talimahakshethram.in. Retrieved...
by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on the occasion of MahaShivaratri. He also launched a companion book, Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga, written...
and sugar. It is native to India and is often associated with the MahaShivaratri and Holi or Holla mahalla festival. It is most commonly consumed in...
institutions also observe the festival. It also marks the arrival of spring. MahaShivaratri (ମହା ଶିବରାତ୍ରି) is celebrated on the 13th night or 14th day on the...
temple every day, the temple attracts millions of tourists on MahaShivaratri. Shivaratri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and usually occurs in the...
unveiled the official title and glimpse. On the auspicious day of MahaShivaratri, makers released a poster revealing Prabhas's character name as Bhairava...
addition, festivals celebrated at the temple include the following: MahaShivaratri: the temple is open for an entire day and night of fasting and meditation...
even today in the age old traditions observed during the festivals of MahaShivaratri and Karthika Deepam. The Agni Lingam explains the mythics of life -...
initially scheduled to release on 8 March 2024, on the occasion of MahaShivaratri, but was later postponed. Finally the film was scheduled to release...
mi) from ECIL. The temple draws several lakhs of devotees for the MahaShivaratri festival, as well as during the month of Kartika on the Hindu calendar...
Saiva canon. The temple follows Saivite tradition.[citation needed] MahaShivaratri is the most important festival when lakhs of devotees offer prayers...
Bhang is traditionally distributed during the spring festival of MahaShivaratri and Holi. Bhang is mainly used in bhang shops, which sell the cannabis-infused...
and overlooks the city of Srinagar. On festivals such as Herath, as MahaShivaratri is known as in the region, the temple is visited by Kashmiri Hindus...
Godavari Maha Pushkaram (lit. 'Great Worship of the Godavari River') was a Hindu festival held from 14 July to 25 July 2015. This festival occurs once...
places. Its demand increases during festivals such as Durga Puja, MahaShivaratri, etc. Mimosa Sugar Balls is made up of sugar. It is very sweet in nature...
being unfinished, the temple is in use for religious purposes. On MahaShivaratri, thousands of devotees visit the temple. The Government of Madhya Pradesh...
(the celebration of the birth of Buddha) MahaShivaratri (a festival of Lord Shiva) and during MahaShivaratri festivities, some people consume excessive...
Shravan and Ganesh Chaturthi. Over 20,000 Hindus visit the temple during MahaShivaratri. The temple is believed to have been built 1909–125 years ago by the...