Why is Shiva Ratri celebrated?(शिव रात्रि क्यों मनाई जाती हैं

  Shivratri 

 It is a major festival of Indians. This is the main festival of Lord Shiva. Mahashivratri festival is celebrated on Magh Phagun Falgun Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi. It is believed that creation began from this day. According to mythology, creation began on this day with the rise of Agnilinga (which is the giant form of Mahadev). On this day, Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati are worshiped on the day of Mahashivratri. This puja is performed while observing fast. Mahashivratri is considered the most important among the 12 Shivratri that occur in a year. [8] The holy festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world including India. 

 stories

There are many mythological stories related to Mahashivratri:

 churning of the ocean।                                        Samudra Manthan|Samudra Manthan] was sure to produce nectar, but along with it a poison called Halahal was also produced. Halahala poison had the potential to destroy the universe and hence only Lord Shiva could destroy it. Lord Shiva had kept the poison named Halahal in his throat. The poison was so powerful that Lord Shiva suffered extreme pain and his throat turned blue. For this reason Lord Shiva is famous by the name of 'Neelkanth'. For treatment, the doctors advised the deities to keep Lord Shiva awake throughout the night. Thus, kept one alert in the contemplation of Lord Shiva. To keep Shiva happy and awake, the gods performed different dances and played music. As morning came, Lord Shiva, pleased with their devotion, blessed them all. Shivratri is a celebration of this event, whereby Shiva saved the world. Since then, devotees observe fast on this day.                                    

 hunter story 

Once Parvati ji asked Lord Shiv Shankar, 'What is the best and simple fast and worship by which the creatures of the mortal world easily attain your blessings?' In reply, Lord Shiva told Parvati the rules for fasting on 'Shivratri' and narrated this story - 'Once upon a time there was a hunter named Chitrabhanu. He used to support his family by killing animals. He was indebted to a moneylender, but could not repay his loan on time. The angry moneylender imprisoned the hunter in Shivmath. Coincidentally that day was Shivratri.

The hunter kept listening to religious talks related to Shiva while meditating. He also heard the story of Shivratri fast on Chaturdashi. As soon as evening came, the moneylender called him to him and talked about repaying the loan. The hunter was released from bondage by promising to return the entire debt the next day. As per his daily routine, he went out into the forest for hunting. But due to being in the prison all day long, he was suffering from hunger and thirst. To hunt, he started camping on a vine tree on the bank of a pond. There was a Shivalinga under the Bael tree which was covered with leaves. Hunter could not find the person

The branches he broke while making the camp accidentally fell on Shivalinga. In this way, the fast of the hungry and thirsty hunter was observed throughout the day and Bel leaves were also placed on Shivlinga. After one o'clock in the night, a pregnant deer reached the pond to drink water. As soon as the hunter put the arrow on his bow and pulled the string, the deer said, 'I am pregnant. I will deliver soon. You will be killing two creatures at once, which is not right. I will soon give birth to a child and appear before you, then kill me.' The hunter loosened the string and the deer disappeared into the wild bushes.

After some time, another deer came out from there. The hunter was on cloud nine After coming close, he put the bow on the arrow. Then seeing him the deer humbly requested, 'O Pardhi! I retired from Ritu a while ago. I am a lustful bachelor. I am wandering in search of my beloved. I will meet my husband and come to you soon.' The hunter let him go as well He was perturbed over losing his prey twice. He became worried. It was the last hour of the night. Just then another deer passed by with its children. This was a golden opportunity for the hunter. He did not waste any time in loading the arrow on the bow. He was about to release the arrow when the deer said, 'O Pardhi!' I will return after handing over these children to their father. At this time the hunter laughed at me and said, I am not such a fool that I should leave the prey in front of me. I have lost my prey twice before. My children would be suffering from hunger and thirst. In reply, the deer again said, just as you are being tormented by love for your children, similarly I too am being tormented. That's why I am asking to spare my life for a while only in the name of the children. Hey Pardhi! Trust me, I promise to leave them with their father and return immediately.

Hearing the poor voice of the deer, the hunter felt pity for it. He let that chicken escape too Due to lack of prey, the hunter sitting on the vine tree kept plucking the leaves and throwing them down. When dawn was about to break, a strong deer came on the same path. The hunter thought that he would definitely hunt it. Seeing the hunter's taut string, Mriga said in a sweet voice, O Pardhi Bhai! If you have killed the three deer and small children who came before me, then do not delay in killing me also, so that I do not have to suffer even for a moment in their separation. I am the husband of those deer. If you have given him life then please give me a few moments of life too. I will meet them and present myself before you. 

 As soon as he heard the deer's words, the entire night's events flashed before the hunter, he narrated the whole story to the deer. Then the deer said, 'Just as my three wives have gone as promised, they will not be able to follow their dharma due to my death. Therefore, just as you have left him as a confidant, let me go in the same way. I will appear before you soon with all of them.' The violent heart of the hunter was purified by fasting, night vigil and offering Belpatra on Shivalinga. God's power had resided in him. The bow and arrow easily fell out of his hand. Due to the compassion of Lord Shiva, his violent heart was filled with compassionate feelings. Remembering his past deeds, he started burning in the flame of repentance.

After some time, the deer appeared before the hunter along with his family, so that he could hunt them, but seeing such truthfulness, honesty and collective love of wild animals, the hunter felt very guilty. Tears started flowing from his eyes. By not killing that deer family, the hunter removed his hard heart from violence towards animals and made it soft and kind forever. The entire Dev Samaj was also watching this incident from Devlok. As soon as the incident was over, the gods and goddesses showered flowers. Then the hunter and the deer family attained salvation.

 

 ritual 

On this occasion, Abhishekam of Lord Shiva is done in many ways. Jalabhishek: With water and Dugdhabhishek: With milk. Very early in the morning, the temples of Lord Shiva are crowded with devotees, young and old, they all go to perform the traditional Shivalinga puja and pray to the Lord. Devotees take bath at the time of sunrise in holy places like Ganga, or in Shiva Sagar (Khajuraho) or any other holy water source. These are purification rituals, which are an important part of all Hindu festivals. After the holy bath, clean clothes are worn. Devotees carry a vessel of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga. Both men and women offer prayers to Surya, Vishnu and Shiva. Bells and "Shankar Ji Ki Jai" sound echo in the temples. . Devotees circumambulate the Shivalinga three or seven times and then pour water or milk on the Shivalinga. However, all these rituals are not described anywhere in our holy scriptures, due to which it is not a scripture-based practice.

 According to Shiva Purana, six items must be included in Mahashivratri puja:

1. Anointment of Shiva Linga with water, milk and honey. plums or vine leaves that represent purification of the soul;
2. Sindoor paste is applied to Shiva Linga after bathing. It represents virtue;
3. Fruits, which represent longevity and satisfaction of desires;
   
4. Burning incense, wealth, produce (grains);
   
5. lamp that is conducive to the attainment of knowledge 
6. And betel leaves that mark satisfaction with worldly pleasures

 The following items are not used in Abhishekam

• basil leaves
• Turmeric
• Champa and Ketaki flowers

Other Traditional Worship of Lord Shiva।    Twelve Jyotirlingas (lingas of light) which are sacred shrines and centers of worship of Lord Shiva. They are known as Swayambhu, meaning "self arising". Twelve Jyotirlingas are established at twelve places.

1. Somnath: This Shivalinga is established in Kathiawar, Gujarat.

   

   Somnath

   
   
   
   
2. Shri Shail Mallikarjuna Sri Shail Mallikarjuna Shivalinga is installed on a hill on the banks of the river Krishna in Madras.

   

   Shri shail Mallikarjuna 

   
   
3. Mahakal: Mahakaleshwar Shivling established in Avanti Nagar of Ujjain, where Lord Shiva had destroyed the demons.

   

   Ujjain mhakal 

   
   
4. Omkareshwar, a religious place in Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of Narmada, Lord Shiva appeared here after being pleased with the harsh penance of mountain king Vindhya and giving blessings. Where Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga was established.

   

   Omkareshwar 

   
   
5. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga established near Dwarkadham in Nageshwar Gujarat

   

   Nageshwar jyotirlinga 

   
   
6. Baijnath Shivling established in Baidyanath Dham of Jharkhand

   

   Baijnath shivling 

   
   
7. Bhimashankar Bhimashankar Jyotirling established on the banks of Bhima river in Maharashtra.

   

   Bhimakhankar jyotirlinga 

   
   
8. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga established at Trimbakeshwar, 25 km from Nashik (Maharashtra).

   

   Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga 

   
   
9. Ghrishneshwar Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling established in Vesal village near Ellora Cave in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

   

   Ghrishneshwar jyotirlinga 

   
   
10. The remote Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in the Kedarnath Himalayas. Located at a distance of 150 miles from Haridwar

    

    Kedarnath jyotirlinga 

    
    
11. Kashi Vishwanath Vishwanath Jyotirlinga installed in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Banaras.

    

    Kashi Vishwanath jyotirlinga 

    
    
12. Rameswaram Jyotirlinga established by Lord Sri Ram on Trichanapalli (Madras) beach

    

    Rameswaram jyotirlinga 

    
    

shivratri in india

central india

 Central India has a large number of Shiva followers. Mahakaleshwar Temple, (Ujjain) is the most revered temple of Lord Shiva where every year a large congregation of Shiva devotees come to worship on the day of Maha Shivratri. The festival is celebrated with much religious fervor at the Math Mandir in Jeonara, Siwani and at two other places, Tilawada Ghat in Jabalpur. Lakhs of people gather in Bandakpur Dham of Damoh district on this day

 Kashmir

 This is the most important festival for Kashmiri Brahmins. It is celebrated in every house as the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. It starts 3-4 days before the celebration of Mahashivratri and continues till two days after that.

 south india

 Mahashivratri is widely celebrated in all the temples of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.