On the 18th of February Rajnath Singh extends wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri and said that may Lord Bholenath increase happiness, peace, fame, and prosperity in all of your lives and may his blessings be upon you all.
Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to honor Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Phalguna or Maagh (February or March in the Gregorian calendar). It is a significant festival for millions of devotees of Lord Shiva worldwide.
The word Maha Shivratri has its roots in the Sanskrit language, where “Maha” means great, and “Shivratri” means the night of Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Maha Shivratri marks the day when Lord Shiva performed the “Tandava,” a divine dance that symbolizes the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
There are several legends associated with the origin of Maha Shivratri. One of the most popular beliefs is that it was on this day that Lord Shiva consumed the poison that emerged from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) by the gods and demons. The poison could have destroyed the world, but Lord Shiva consumed it to save the universe. As a result, his throat turned blue, and he came to be known as Neelkanth.
Another story suggests that Maha Shivratri is the day when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married. The day is celebrated as the union of Shiva and Shakti, the masculine and feminine energies of the universe, symbolizing the creation of life.
