Maha Shivaratri (15.02.2026) -Rohit Kumar Parmar
- rohitkparmar
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Maha Shivaratri (15.02.2026)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Pic 01 Shivling in the sanctum sanctorum, Kakanmath temple, Sihoniya, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, India
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated to mark the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The marriage of Shiva and Parvati also found a place in Indian Bollywood as the song `Shivji Vihane Chale’, in `Munimji, 1955’.
Shivaratri is celebrated on the 13th night/ 14th day of Krishna paksha (waning moon) of every month of the Luni Solar Hindu calendar.
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the 13th night/ 14th day of Krishna paksha, of Phalguna Maas, Vikram Samvat (Phalguna month, corresponding to February/ March of the Gregorian calendar).
Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna paksha in Magha (corresponding to February/ March of the Gregorian Calendar) is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri as per Amanta or Amavasyant, a Luni Solar Hindu calendar (where each month ends on Amavasya, i.e. on no moon day), and is followed in Southern (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) and Western (Maharashtra, Gujarat) India.
In both calendars only the name of the lunar month is different, but Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on same date.
Mahamrityunjay Mantra
महामृत्युंजय मंत्र
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Mahamrityunjay Mantra is also known as Rudra Mantra, Tryambaka Mantra, or Mrita-Sanjivini Mantra.
Mahamrityunjay Mantra is attributed to Sage Markandeya, who is said to have received it to overcome the fear of death and conquer Yama, the god of death.
Mahamrityunjay Mantra was first recorded in the Rigveda (Mandala 7, Hymn 59, Verse 12). Mahamrityunjay Mantra later appeared in the Yajurveda (Taittiriya Samhita 1.8.6.i (Book 1, Kanda (division or part) 8, Anuaka (chapter) 6, first mantra) and Vajasaneyi Samhita 3rd chapter 60th Mantra) and in the Atharvaveda (Book 14, Hymn 1, Verse 17).
Pic 02 Snake on a Shivling in the sanctum sanctorum, Kakanmath temple, Sihoniya, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, India
Celebration of Mahashivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is mentioned in several Puranas, including the Skanda, Linga and Padma Purana. Many legends with regional variations, detail Maha Shivaratri, but not necessarily in a homogenous pattern of one-size-fits all.
It is believed that on Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva gulped Halahala (a lethal poison) produced during Samudra manthan (churning of the seas) and held it in his throat/ neck which was bruised and turned blue, after which he is called NeelaKantha.
Chaturdashi (14th day) is a day of feasting for Kashmiri Pandits. They call Maha Shivaratri as Salaam Mubarak, and celebrations are spread over a week.
On Shivratri or Salaam, friends and relatives are invited for a lunch to share delicious fish and meat.
Kashmiri Pandits eat only vegetarian food on Herath, (Hari ratri, a day before Maha Shivaratri) but on Maha Shivratri, they have a non-vegetarian feast. However, Razdans (One of the oldest surname in Kashmir, who traditionally functioned as administrators, and custodians of state records) are vegetarian on Maha Shivaratri also.
In India, Maha Shivratri is celebrated by Hindus by keeping a strict उपवास (Upavas, fast) and prayers.
Items of prasad also include बेर (Ber, Jujube) fruit, Sabudana (sago) vada, शकरकंदी (Shakarkandi, sweet potato) ka halwa, अंगूर (grapes), preparations of भांग (bhang, Hemp Or Cannabis), and बेल (bael, wood apple) fruit.
Shivalingas in India
Devotees visit Shiva temples and/ or go on pilgrimage to one of the Maha Jyotirlingams [2] in
i. Mallikarjuna (Srisailam) in Andhra Pradesh;
ii. Nageshwara (Dwarka) in Gujarat;
iii. Somanath (Gir) in Gujarat;
iv. Vaidyanath (Deoghar) in Jharkhand;
v. Mahakaleshwara (Ujjain) in Madhya Pradesh;
vi. Omkareshwara (Khandwa) in Madhya Pradesh;
vii. Bhimashankar (Pune), in Maharashtra;
viii. Ghrishneshwara (Aurangabad) in Maharashtra;
ix. Trayambakeshwara (Nashik) in Maharashtra;
x. Kedarnath (Rudraprayag) in Uttarakhand;
xi. Vishveshwara (Varanasi) in Uttar Pradesh;
xii. Rameshwara (Rameswaram) in Tamil Nadu;
Fairs and Dance festivals on Mahashivaratri
Lord Shiva is worshipped in different temples, some of which are Kalahasteswara temple in SriKalahasti, Andhra Pradesh; Umananda temple located in the peacock island in the Brahmaputra river in Assam; Bhutnath temple in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh; Matangeswar temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh; and Tarakeswar temple in Hooghly, West Bengal.
On Maha Shivaratri, fairs and special events are held around several Shiva temples.
Maha Shivaratri has served as a historic confluence of artists for annual dance festivals at temples at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Konark (Odisha), Modhera (Gujrat), Pattadakal (Karnataka), and Thillai Nataraja Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu).
Pic 03 Matangeshwar Temple, Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
In 1864 AD, at Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, a major fair and dance festival on Maha Shivaratri, was documented by Alexander Cunningham, which comprised Shiva pilgrims, who had camped over miles around the temple complex.
Reviving the dance tradition, starting 1975, an annual Khajuraho Dance Festival is held in February. The week-long, event showcases premier Indian classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi against the backdrop of the illuminated, Western group temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A sound and light show is also held daily, at the same venue.
The famous Sidhlingappa's fair is observed during Maha Shivratri in Yediyur Siddalingeshwara Temple, Kunigal Taluk, Tumakuru district, Karnataka. On this day the deity is taken in a पालकी (palanquin), accompanied by drummers (Dollu Kunitha and Majalu).
At the Thillai Nataraja temple (also called the Chidambaram Nataraja temple), Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, the event is called नाट्यांजलि (Natyanjali, नाट्य अंजलि meaning worship, homage, prayers or offering through dance). The temple is famous for its sculpture, depicting dance mudras and performing arts called Natya Shastra.
Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great pomp and fanfare in the Annamalaiyar temple, (Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu). The worship entails Girivalam/ Giri Pradakshina, a 14-kilometer bare foot walk around Lord Shiva's temple, which is on top of the hill.
In Telangana, Mahashivaratri Utsavalu is held at Rudreshwara Swamy's thousand pillar temple in Hanamakonda, Warangal.
The Mandi fair on the banks of Beas river (Himachal Pradesh), is famous for Maha Shivaratri celebrations. It is believed that more than 200 Gods and Goddesses of the area, assemble there on Maha Shivaratri.
In Kashmir, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated as Har-ratri (Night of Hara) or Haerath or Herath on trayodashi. The fortnight long festival is celebrated with elaborate rituals associated with appearance of Bhairava (Shiva) as Jwala-Linga (flame shaped as a linga), called as Bhairavotsava.
In Gujarat, Maha Shivaratri mela is held at Bhavnath near Junagadh, where bathing in the Mrugi/ Mrigi kund is considered holy. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself comes to bathe in the Mrugi kund.
In West Bengal, Maha Shivaratri is observed devoutly by unmarried girls seeking a suitable husband, often by visiting Tarakeswar temple, Hooghly district.
Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in temples across Nepal, especially in the Pashupatinath temple, on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated as Nepali Army Day amid a spectacular ceremony.
In Nepal on Maha Shivaratri, married women pray for the well-being of their husbands, while unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, considered as an ideal husband.
Hindus in Pakistan visit Shiva temples during Shivratri. A three-day Shivratri festival is celebrated in the Umarkot Shiv Mandir, Sindh.
Pic 04 Nataraja
नटराज (Nataraja) also known as Adalvallan (best dancer), depicts Shiva as the Lord of Dance or the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called the शिव तांडव (Shiva Tandava).
Lord Shiva performs the dance of creation, preservation and destruction.
Attributes and or symbols of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva a member of the trinity of Gods, Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Mahesh/ Shiva (the destroyer), has several attributes and or symbols, and can easily be identified by them.
Lord Shiva has Four Hands;
Upper Right Hand, holds a damaru (two headed small drum), representing the rhythmic sound of creation/ dance,
Upper Left Hand, holds agni (fire), symbolizing destruction and transformation,
Lower Right Hand, is in Abhaya mudra (blessing posture, as a gesture of fearlessness), providing protection to devotees, and
Lower Left Hand, points to the raised foot, representing grace, liberation, and refuge for the soul.
Shiva is identified by
Snake’s hood/ head (Vasuki of a Cobra snake), which represents control over ego and poison,
Crescent Moon on Lord Shiva's head (Chandrashekhara), which symbolizes his mastery over time (Kala) and the mind (Manas),
His Jata (matted locks), symbolize him as the supreme ascetic (Jatadhari), representing the control of wind (Vayu) and the containment of divine energy. These locks are at times depicted holding the Ganga river, embodying the integration of physical, mental, and spiritual energies.
The Nandi bull, also known as Nandikeshvara or Nandideva, is the Vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples have a seated Nandi in stone, generally facing the main shrine.
Shiva’s third eye is a symbol of destruction of ignorance, ego and evil, and represents wisdom and spiritual insight,
Lord Shiva’s Trishul (trident) is a three-pointed weapon symbolizing divine power, cosmic balance, and the mastery over three aspects of existence—creation, preservation, and destruction. The Trishul represents the three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), and their control over the three worlds (physical, astral, celestial), and the destruction of ego, jealousy, and ignorance.
Dualities of Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is known to embody diametrically opposite dualities,
he is an ascetic, a yogi, detached from the material world, and yet a family man,
he balances ferocity as the destroyer of evil or bad karma, ignorance and material attachment, but as Nataraj the dance maestro, he depicts supreme gentleness, grace and tranquility,
he is known for his compassion, impartiality (as Bholenath), but has immense power,
he is compassionate and easily pleased (Ashutosha), yet capable of fierce destruction (like by opening his third eye),
he is the source of yoga (adiyogi), meditation, and also of fine arts, dance,
he represents transformation, cosmic balance, and ultimate reality,
he facilitates spiritual growth and rebirth, acting as the ultimate regenerator,
Harmony with nature
Lord Shiva a supreme yogi, lives a simple, detached life on Mount Kailash, embodying self-control, meditation, and is the source of all knowledge and arts (like dance),
Lord Shiva is the god of animals (Pasupatinath), and shows immense love and protection for all beings, predators and preys, live harmoniously in his family,
The Ganges flows from Lord Shiva’s matted locks, symbolizing liberating knowledge and wisdom,
108 names of Lord Shiva
शिव जी के 108 नाम
1. ऊं रुद्राय नमः।
2. ऊं शर्वाय नमः।
3. ऊं भवाय नमः।
4. ऊं उग्राय नमः।
5. ऊं भीमाय नमः।
6. ऊं पशुपतये नमः।
7. ऊं ईशानाय नमः।
8. ऊं महादेवाय नमः।
9. ऊं शिवाय नमः।
10. ऊं महेश्वराय नमः।
11. ऊं शंभवे नमः।
12. ऊं पिनाकिने नमः।
13. ऊं शशिशेखराय नमः।
14. ऊं वामदेवाय नमः।
15. ऊं विरूपाक्षाय नमः।
16. ऊं कपर्दिने नमः।
17. ऊं नीललोहिताय नमः।
18. ऊं शंकराय नमः।
19. ऊं शूलपाणये नमः।
20. ऊं खट्वांगिने नमः।
21. ऊं विष्णुवल्लभाय नमः।
22. ऊं शिपिविष्टाय नमः।
23. ऊं अंबिकानाथाय नमः।
24. ऊं श्रीकण्ठाय नमः।
25. ऊं भक्तवत्सलाय नमः।
26. ऊं त्रिलोकेशाय नमः।
27. ऊं शितिकण्ठाय नमः।
28. ऊं शिवा प्रियाय नमः।
29. ऊं कपालिने नमः।
30. ऊं कामारये नमः।
31. ऊं अन्धकासुरसूदनाय नमः।
32. ऊं गंगाधराय नमः।
33. ऊं ललाटाक्षाय नमः।
34. ऊं कालकालाय नमः।
35. ऊं कृपानिधये नमः।
36. ऊं परशुहस्ताय नमः।
37. ऊं मृगपाणये नमः।
38. ऊं जटाधराय नमः।
39. ऊं कैलाशवासिने नमः।
40. ऊं कवचिने नमः।
41. ऊं कठोराय नमः।
42. ऊं त्रिपुरान्तकाय नमः।
43. ऊं वृषांकाय नमः।
44. ऊं वृषभारूढाय नमः।
45. ऊं भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाय नमः।
46. ऊं सामप्रियाय नमः।
47. ऊं स्वरमयाय नमः।
48. ऊं त्रयीमूर्तये नमः।
49. ऊं अनीश्वराय नमः।
50. ऊं सर्वज्ञाय नमः।
51. ऊं परमात्मने नमः।
52. ऊं सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनाय नमः।
53. ऊं हविषे नमः।
54. ऊं यज्ञमयाय नमः।
55. ऊं सोमाय नमः।
56. ऊं पंचवक्त्राय नमः।
57. ऊं सदाशिवाय नमः।
58. ऊं विश्वेश्वराय नमः।
59. ऊं वीरभद्राय नमः।
60. ऊं गणनाथाय नमः।
61. ऊं प्रजापतये नमः।
62. ऊं हिरण्यरेतसे नमः।
63. ऊं दुर्धर्षाय नमः।
64. ऊं गिरीशाय नमः।
65. ऊं अनघाय नमः।
66. ऊं भुजंगभूषणाय नमः।
67. ऊं भर्गाय नमः।
68. ऊं गिरिधन्वने नमः।
69. ऊं गिरिप्रियाय नमः।
70. ऊं कृत्तिवाससे नमः।
71. ऊं पुरारातये नमः।
72. ऊं भगवते नमः।
73. ऊं प्रमथाधिपाय नमः।
74. ऊं मृत्युंजयाय नमः।
75. ऊं सूक्ष्मतनवे नमः।
76. ऊं जगद्व्यापिने नमः।
77. ऊं जगद्गुरुवे नमः।
78. ऊं व्योमकेशाय नमः।
79. ऊं महासेनजनकाय नमः।
80. ऊं चारुविक्रमाय नमः।
81. ऊं भूतपतये नमः।
82. ऊं स्थाणवे नमः।
83. ऊं अहिर्बुध्न्याय नमः।
84. ऊं दिगंबराय नमः।
85. ऊं अष्टमूर्तये नमः।
86. ऊं अनेकात्मने नमः।
87. ऊं सात्विकाय नमः।
88. ऊं शुद्धविग्रहाय नमः।
89. ऊं शाश्वताय नमः।
90. ऊं खण्डपरशवे नमः।
91. ऊं अजाय नमः।
92. ऊं पाशविमोचकाय नमः।
93. ऊं मृडाय नमः।
94. ऊं देवाय नमः।
95. ऊं अव्ययाय नमः।
96. ऊं हरये नमः।
97. ऊं भगनेत्रभिदे नमः।
98. ऊं अव्यक्ताय नमः।
99. ऊं दक्षाध्वरहराय नमः।
100. ऊं हराय नमः।
101. ऊं पूषदन्तभिदे नमः।
102. ऊं अव्यग्राय नमः।
103. ऊं सहस्राक्षाय नमः।
104. ऊं सहस्रपदे नमः।
105. ऊं अपवर्गप्रदाय नमः।
106. ऊं अनन्ताय नमः।
107. ऊं तारकाय नमः।
108. ऊं परमेश्वराय नमः।
Saarth Shivatandava Strotram
सार्थशिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् [3]
॥ श्रीगणेशाय नमः ॥
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी
विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥
धराधरेन्द्रनंदिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर
स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे (क्वचिच्चिदम्बरे) मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा
कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर
प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः ।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥५॥
ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा
निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् ।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं
महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥६॥
करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल
द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके ।
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक
प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥७॥
नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्
कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः ।
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥
प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा
वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् ।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदांधकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥
अगर्व सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस
द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् ।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥
दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्
गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः
समं प्रव्रितिक: कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम ॥१२॥
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन् ।
विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः
शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥
निलिम्प नाथनागरी कदम्ब मौलमल्लिका-
निगुम्फनिर्भक्षरन्म धूष्णिकामनोहरः ।
तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनींमहनिशं
परिश्रय परं पदं तदङ्गजत्विषां चयः ॥१४॥
प्रचण्ड वाडवानल प्रभाशुभप्रचारणी
महाष्टसिद्धिकामिनी जनावहूत जल्पना ।
विमुक्त वाम लोचनो विवाहकालिकध्वनिः
शिवेति मन्त्रभूषगो जगज्जयाय जायताम् ॥१५॥
इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् ।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिंतनम् ॥१६॥
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे ।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां
लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखिं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥१७॥
इति श्रीरावण कृतम्
शिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रम्स म्पूर्णम्
[1] Author, Economics, Law, Consumer Issues, Content Creator, Data Analysist, Performance Evaluator; Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
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been writing/ sharing varied topics and
can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The list of 12 jyotirlingams differs. In some lists, Vaidhyanath temple in Maharashtra is included.
[3] The authorship of Sarth Shiv Tandav Stotram is traditionally attributed to Ravana, considered a devotee of Shiva.
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