Legends of Mahashivratri Festival

Mahashivratri Legend according to The Mahabaharata:

       There was once a hunter by the name of Lubdhaka.   He made his living by hunting wild animals and selling the flesh to the villagers.    But once he could not pay off his debt to the creditor and he accumulated huge arrears.     His creditor went to the court and had him arrested and confined to the prison for non-payment of his debts.

      It so happened that his prison cell was near the Shiva temple of the village.     All day long he heard the devotees come into the temple and worship the deity and repeat the Lord's name.     Not being particularly religious he was unaware of the deity's existence. 

       Out of sheer boredom he too started repeating Shiva's name after the devotees, almost mocking them.     By the evening he was released from prison by the kind courtesy of a wealthy man who had paid off his debt.    Just by repeating the Lord's name mechanically he had earned for himself his release.

       Later that night he went to hunt as usual and hid himself on a tree which was a Bel tree.     Under the tree unknown to him was a Shiva Linga.     While making a place for himself to sit on the tree the Bel leaves fell on the Linga.      Now the Bel leaves are extremely sacred to Shiva and its offering is very pleasant to the deity.

       Waiting for the prey to arrive he kept an all night vigil.     Around midnight, a doe, young and in labour came to the tree.    The hunter took aim but the doe pleaded for her life and promised to return to him after delivering her young one.    Lubdhaka took pity on her and let her go.    Next came another doe seeking her mate.

       The hunter once again took aim but again the doe asked to be spared and the man against his will let her go.     This doe too promised to return in the morning.    Then came along a black buck looking for his mate, but he too was spared after it promised to return.

       Unknowlingly, the hunter has observed the fast of the Shivaratri.      He was rewarded by being made a saint.    The Lord himself escorted him to heaven.

       It is believed that if one has to worship Shiva he/she must follow a very strict regimen. The Lord is offered bel leaves, ketaki flowers, dhatura, milk, rice, water.    This is one time when all the people irrespective of caste and creed take part in the rituals. There are no restrictions as to who can or cannot observe this fast.

Another Legend describes Mahashivratri as :

The Wedding night of Lord Shiva 

       Shiva’s (the third deity of the Hindu trinity) first wife was Sati, who killed herself by jumping into a sacred fire, when her family had insulted Shiva.    Shiva was devastated and angered at her death, and began to dance violently.     His dance terrified the Gods, for the earth began to shake and terrified all creation.

       During this time Shiva was known as Rudra, the roaring.      His body covered with ash, his hair long and matted he went to the Himalayas to become an ascetic.  The Gods were worried by his deep penance and decided the only way to draw Shiva out of his meditation and into creation, was by bringing Sati back to life.     Sati was born as Parvati, and with Kama’s help (the God of love) Parvati, transformed Rudra to Shiva and they lived as a blissful couple united in the creation of the world.       Mahashivratri celebrates their wedding night.

According to ancient scriptures :

       Shiva manifests himself in the form of a huge flaming lingam known as Jyotirlinga on Shivratri.      It is the duty of every worshipper to worship this lingam with at least one bel leaf.

       There is a legend behind Shiva's phallic form.    It is believed that once Brahma and Vishnu, the two pillars of the holy Trinity were having an argument as to who was supreme.     Brahma declared himself to be the Creator of all and thus more revered.

       Vishnu claimed that since he was the Creator and the Destroyer, he commanded more respect.      At that moment a huge lingam ablaze with flames appeared from nowhere.      Both the gods were so overwhelmed by its constantly increasing size, that they forgot their quarrel and decided to determine its size.

        Vishnu took the form of a boar and went to the netherworld while Brahma in the form of a swan ascended to the skies.     Neither could ascertain the size.      Just then, Shiva appeared out of the lingam and proclaimed that he was the progenitor of both of them. He was the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer.      He demanded that thereafter he be worshipped in his phallic form, the lingam.

       The married and the unmarried girls perform puja with great faith, fervor and feeling, since Parvati is considered 'Gaura' the giver of 'Suhag' - married bliss and a long and prosperous married life.      The unmarried girls pray to 'Guara' to give them handsome husbands with wealth, knowledge and talent.