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Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Cambridge, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in month of Magha is known as Maha Shivaratri according to South Indian calendar. However according to North Indian calendar Masik Shivaratri in month of Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. In both calendars it is naming convention of lunar month which differs. However both, North Indians and South Indians, celebrate Maha Shivaratri on same day.
One day before Shivaratri Vratam, most likely on Trayodashi, devotees should eat only one time. On Shivaratri day, after finishing morning rituals devotees should take Sankalp (संकल्प) to observe full day fast on Shivaratri and to take food next day. During Sankalp devotees pledge for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seek blessing of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Hindu fasts are strict and people pledge for self-determination and seek God blessing before starting them to finish them successfully.
On Shivaratri day devotees should take second bath in the evening before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple. Shiva Puja should be done during night and devotees should break the fast next day after taking bath. Devotees should break the fast between sunrise and before the end of Chaturdashi Tithi to get maximum benefit of the Vrat. According to one contradictory opinion devotees should break the fast only when Chaturdashi Tithi gets over. But it is believed that both Shiva Puja and Parana (पारण) i.e. breaking the fast should be done within Chaturdashi Tithi.
Shivaratri puja can be performed one time or four times during the night. The whole night duration can be divided into four to get four Prahar (प्रहर) to perform Shiva Puja four times. Drikpanchang.com lists all four Prahar durations for staunch Shiva devotees who perform Shiva Pujan four times in the night. We also list Nishita time when Lord Shiva appeared on the Earth in the form of Linga and the time window to break the fast on next day.
Shivaratri is also spelled as Shivratri, Shivarathri and Sivaratri.
Lord Shiva is one of the three main deities worshipped in Hinduism, namely Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesha, who are collectively known as Trimurti. Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the universe and is also known by the names of Bholenath, Lord Shankara, Mahadeva, Neelkanth etc.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is also known as the Rudra Mantra or Tryambakam Mantra. It means 'Great death-defeating' Mantra. It is a verse of the Rigveda, which is addressed to Tryambaka i.e. the three eyed one.
Lord Shiva Aarti
Lord Mahadev Aarti
Lord Shiva Chalisa
Om Namah Shivaya i.e. the Mula Mantra of Lord Shiva is the most powerful Mantra of Lord Shiva. Om Tryambakam, the death defeating Mantra of Lord Shiva. Om Tatpurushaya, the Rudra Gayatri Mantra of Lord Shiva are few powerful Mantra to please and seek blessings of Lord Shiva.
108 Shiva Names mentioned in Shakta Pramod Grantha are the most popular 108 Names of Lord Shiva. Each name when combined with Om Namah becomes independent Mantra in itself and can be used for chanting as well as to perform Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali Homa.
Shiva Puja Vidhi
Shivaratri Puja Vidhi
Masik Shivaratri
All Mondays or Somwar which fall during Shravan month are considered highly auspicious for fasting to seek blessing of Lord Shiva and known as Shravan Somwar. Most states follow regional calendars due to which dates of Sawan Somwar might differ by 2 weeks.
In North India, Shivaratri which falls during the auspicious month of Shravana is known as Sawan Shivaratri. Except Hindi belt in North India, in rest of India Sawan begins one or two days after Sawan Shivaratri.
Pradosh Vrat, also known as Pradosham in South India, is observed to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. According to the Hindu calendar, this fast is observed on the Trayodashi Tithi of both Shukla and Krishna Paksha of the lunar month. Pradosham days for whole year are listed on this page.
Shiva Rangoli Designs
Shiva Ramashtakam
Shri Shiva Ashtottarashatanama Stotram
Shivaratri Greetings
12 forms of Lord Shiva
Maha Shivaratri Vrat Katha
