Maha Shivaratri Fasting, Puja Vidhi, Guide

When Shivaratri Celebrates?

Shivratri festival falls on Phalguna month Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi. On the day of Mahashivratri Lord Bholenath and mother Parvati were married. Shiva devotees observe this day as a fast and worship Mahadev and Goddess Parvati.

Some people go to temples and Shivalayas and perform the worship of Shivling. Devotees are worship Lord Shiva and meditate using different methods with different treatment to get the blessings of Lord Bholenath.

On the Day of Maha Shivratri, Devotees Observe a Fast

As per Shiva Mahapuran, on the day of Mahashivratri, devotees are observing a fast. If you are also fasting on the occasion or you should do special pooja of Mahadev at home and temple, then you should know the worship method of Mahashivratri.

Mahashivratri worship requires some special materials. So let us tell you in this article what materials are required for the worship of Shivaji on Mahashivratri and how to worship Mahashivratri at home.

Ingredients Required for Shivaratri Puja?

There are certain specific rituals for worshipping Lord Shiva on the day of Maha Shivaratri, and we are describing them below accordingly.

Take one idol or picture or Lord Shiva or parad Shiva Lingam.

Take 108 Bael Leaves, the bell leaves should not be broken or damaged, and Dhatura flowers.

Take Hibiscus flower or flower garland which is available.

Take dome Shami tree leaves, this is considered this tree is dear to Lord Shani.

Take some Lotus and white flowers.

Cow's milk, curd, sugar.

Gangajal, clothes for Mahadev and Shiva Parivar.

Goddess Parvati's ornaments, clothes.

Janeu, sandalwood, saffron, Akshat, perfume, cloves, cardamom, betel nut.

Rolly, Molly, Raksha Sutra, Abharak Bhasma, Kush Ka Asan, Honey, Curd.

Any five seasonal fruits, mewa(nuts)

Shiva Chalis Book, Shiva Aarti, Mahashivratri fasting story.

Sweets, Halwa, thandai or lassi for enjoyment.

Havan Ingredients for Havan, Cow Ghee.

Donation goods like clothes, grain, jaggery, ghee, white rice, and wheat etc.

Diya, cow ghee and pure Bhimseni Camphor for Aarti.

What is Shivaratri Puja Prahar?

Mind it, Maha Shivaratri puja done in four types of Prahar like so on the following.

On the day of Maha Shivratri, people go to the Shiva temple and worship, consecrate the Shivalinga, perform aarti and chant mantras. Along with this, fasting is also observed throughout this day.

The great thing is, worshiping at four o'clock in the night on Maha Shivaratri is very important.

Types of Prahar & Know the Significance of Prahar

Prahar One

The First Prahar comes in between, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, around.

Prahar Two

The Second Prahar comes in between 9:00 pm to 12:00 o’clock night.

Prahar Three

The Third Prahar comes in between 12:00 o'clock to 3:AM next day very early morning.

Prahar Four

The Fourth Prahar comes in between 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM by the next day morning.

According to the Shiva Mahapurana, worshiping Maha Shivaratri in these four periods has been considered very important. There is a religious belief that those who worship Shiva in these four hours will get the fruits of virtue throughout the year. On this day if you are not able to go to the temple for some reason then you can worship Maha Shivaratri at your home.

How to do Maha Shivaratri Pooja at home?

Let's come to know in details about the pooja at home during the Maha Shivaratri.

In the day of Shivaratri, wake up early morning and after bathing wear white or red clothes and then take vow of fasting in front of Bholenath.

Keep fast and if you cannot go without food, then you can consume milk, fruits or fruit juice.

How to Make Tripund on your Forhead?

This is better, if you can recite this mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' should be chanted throughout the day. In the worship of Bholenath make Tripund on your forehead with sandalwood paste is considered to be of special importance to the followers of Lord Shiva.

Bathe again in the evening before sunset and then sprinkle Ganga water at the place of worship in the house during the auspicious time in the evening.

Now face north direction and apply sandalwood in three fingers. Place the tripod from the left side of your head to the right side. Then worship Shivalinga in the temple or at your home. Take the name of Sri Ganesh and recite his name “Omm Gang Ganapataye Namah” at least 108 times first before starting the puja. Only after that start Shiva Pujan.

While worshiping, your face should be towards east or north direction. Worship Lord Shiva with Rudraksh and a Bael Leaves in hand, take the vow of worship while chanting following mantra.

Sankalp Mantra:

॥ अथः मंत्र ॥

ममाखिलपापक्षयपूर्वकसलाभीष्टसिद्धये । शिवप्रीत्यर्थं च शिवपूजनमहं करिष्ये ॥

Then take pure water and add some Ganga water in it. One should anoint the Shivling with this water and during this chant the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya".

Panchamrit Abhishek

After anointing with water, make Panchamrut. Mix milk, curd, ghee, honey, jaggery to make it. And anoint Lord Shiva with Panchamrit while reciting the mantra "O Namah Shivaya". This is called Panchamrit Sanana.

Abhishek the Shivling with this Panchamrit. Then, if possible, write "ॐ नाम: शिवाय" with sandalwood paste in the 108 Bael Leaves then offer the Bael Leaves together with chanting this mantra and worship the Shivalinga. Use Abhrak Bhasma and sandalwood paste to worship Lord Mahadev.

Recite Maha Mritinjaya Mantra

The best thing is that, if you want to recite the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra as given below.

॥ अथः मंत्र ॥

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Keep chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra while anointing Lord Shiva. By chanting this mantra Lord Shiva fulfills all the prayers. Offer Bhang, Betel Leaves, Bael Fruits or Aak flowers, Dhatura Flowers, Abeer or Gulal, Shami Leaves, on the Shivlingam. Then recite Shiv Chalisa, or Shiv Panchakshara Mantra or Shiv Purana after lighting incense and Chaumukha Ghee Lamp.

Worship Goddess Parvati

After this, offer Bhog or Naivedya to Lord Shiva Ji. Then chant the mantras 'ॐ गं गणपतये नमः' and 'ॐ नमः शिवाय'. It is better to remember Shivaji as well as Mata Gauri ji, because Mata Gauri who is Parvati is the one who is around the Shivling which is called Shakti and whose power is everybody knows about it. One should bow to Mother Parvati by meditating with this mantra:

॥ अथः मंत्र ॥

सर्वमंगलमांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरी नारायणि नमोSस्तु ते ॥

Again, there are eight names of Lord Shiva called Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahana, Bhima and Ishaan, remind all these eight names and offer flowers and Akshat. Offer Aarti and Adhi Parikrama should be done to Lord Shiva. Because Shivji is not circumambulated completely, there is a fault in it. Why? We will discuss that on it with another topic.

After this, burn camphor with cow ghee, laung, small elaichi and do aarti of the Shiva Lingam by visualizing the Shiva Parivar including Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya.

After the aarti, apologized to Shivaji for the mistake done in the pooja knowingly or unknowingly. After the pooja, distribute the prasad to everyone and eat it yourself. If you are fasting, you can take Prasad after breaking the fast.

Shiv Pujan is very big and long, normal people can't do it, nowadays people neither have time nor understanding. That's why I have tried to tell you the details of Mahashivratri Puja of Bhavan Shivji with my simple solution. If you like it, please leave a nice comment, your comment is very valuable for us, and it also encourages us to move forward. So, that we will bring for you more spiritual stories for you.