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Mahashivratri

© Harsh Nevatia

Mahashivratri literally means "the great night of Shiva". It is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the trinity of Hindu Gods. As such, every 14th night of the waning moon is considered as Shivratri or Shiva's night. It is a symbol of Shiva's promise that He will support his devotees through the night of no moon, which symbolises difficult times. The crescent moon seen on this night adorns Shiva's hair.

Mahashivratri is the most important of all Shivratris. It occurs on the 14th night of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun (sometime in February or March) and is celebrated as a mega-festival. According to popular folklore, it is the wedding anniversary of Shiva and his consort Parvati. This has endeared the festival to the young and old alike.

However, there are several legends that trace the origin of Mahashivratri. The most common one is found in the Shiva Purana. Once the other two Gods of the trinity, Brahma and Vishnu had a fight to ascertain who was more powerful. The fight grew so intense that the existence of the world was threatened. Ultimately Shiva had to intervene. Shiva assumed the form of a lingam from which a huge column of bright light emanated in either direction. Shiva then asked Brahma and Vishnu to find the end of the column. Whosoever found it first would be declared more powerful. Brahma went upwards and Vishnu went downwards. They travelled for a thousand years but neither reached the end. Brahma then saw a ketaki flower falling down in the light. He asked the flower if it had seen the end of the column. The flower replied that it had been placed on the top of the column as an offering of worship. Brahma decided to take this flower and stake the claim that he had found the end of the column. Both Vishnu and Brahma returned to the lingam. Vishnu admitted that he did not find the end of the column. Brahma, on the other hand, claimed that he had found the end of the column. He showed the ketaki flower as proof, but this did not convince Shiva. He told them both that light travels forever and hence it is not possible for anyone to find the end. He was angry with Brahma for lying and gave him a curse that no one would worship him. To this day, there is only one temple devoted to Brahma in the whole world. This is at Pushkar in north India. The ketaki flower too was punished. It would never again be offered as an offering in any form of worship. The day the Shiva manifested himself, as a column of light was the 14th night of the waning moon of the month of Phalgun. Hence, this day was celebrated as Mahashivratri to acknowledge the greatness of Shiva.

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