MahaShivratri!

[Ganeshprasad]

Pranam

I too am looking forward to celebrate the forthcoming MahaShivratri.
As always, sometimes, there is conflicting dates, I know a lot of people would be celebrating on Thusrday 27th February.
Generally Shivratri falls on the 14th thithi of the moon cycle on Krishna Paksh in the month of Maha and sometimes it could fall on the 13th. This year it happens to be the 13th.

The Panchang that I follow "My Panchang" States 13th to be on Friday 28th for Uk, but then lots of websites informs me that Shivratri in on Thursday very confusing!
Anyone in know can shade some light on this please

My apologies I misread my Panchang, Trayodashi,13th is on Thursday, still the question remains since I have had conflicting information as to when is the actual day of MahaShivratri.

Har Har Mahadev

Jai Shree Krishna

[Eastern Mind]

The Panchang that I follow "My Panchang" States 13th to be on Friday 28th for Uk, but then lots of websites informs me that Shivratri in on Thursday very confusing!
Anyone in know can shade some light on this please

Vannakkam: From where I am, 7 hours difference, you will be on the 28th while I'm still slow, on the 27th. Your 7 AM is our midnight. That explains some of it, but it doesn't explain the difference in panchangs. I have no idea why there would be a difference. Even with the on-line nakshatra calculators, the same info can get 2 different nakshatras, but never off by more than one. India itself is on one national time, but it's probably a couple of 'real' hours across in distance.

Aum Namasivaya

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté

Please note tithi-s are not ~city~ dependent. That is, 'one tithi ends at the moment of time when the angular distance between the Sun and Moon becomes an integral multiple of 12°. In other words, a tithi ends at the same instant of time for all places on Earth and a tithi is not sensitive to the longitude (or latitude) of the region.'

If you wish more can be read here:
http://web.tifr.res.in/~vahia/tithi-calculations.pdf



If we look below - we can see the that the time differences between Chennai and New York are constant. That is, a certain tithi starts at the same time no matter where one is on the earth. The only difference is the local time.


Place : Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India,
Location : [13.09, 80.28] Time Zone : IST (+05:30)

Tritiya

Start Time : Mon, 17/02/14, 09:03 AM
End Time : Tue, 18/02/14, 10:24 AM

Chaturthi

Start Time : Tue, 18/02/14, 10:24 AM
End Time : Wed, 19/02/14, 11:23 AM

Panchami

Start Time : Wed, 19/02/14, 11:23 AM
End Time : Thu, 20/02/14, 11:53 AM

Shashti

Start Time : Thu, 20/02/14, 11:53 AM
End Time : Fri, 21/02/14, 11:53 AM

Saptami

Start Time : Fri, 21/02/14, 11:53 AM
End Time : Sat, 22/02/14, 11:17 AM






New York City
Location : [40.71, -74.01] Time Zone : EST (-05:00)

Tritiya

Start Time : Sun, 16/02/14, 10:33 PM
End Time : Mon, 17/02/14, 11:54 PM

Chaturthi

Start Time : Mon, 17/02/14, 11:54 PM
End Time : Wed, 19/02/14, 12:53 AM

Panchami

Start Time : Wed, 19/02/14, 12:53 AM
End Time : Thu, 20/02/14, 01:23 AM

Shashti

Start Time : Thu, 20/02/14, 01:23 AM
End Time : Fri, 21/02/14, 01:23 AM


iti śivaṁ

[ShivaFan]

I am starting to get excited now. There are a number of temples that will have Maha Shivaratri events, including the local Shiva Murugan Temple but many others and even (to my surprise) a Jain Temple (??? !!!!).

I am thinking of visiting two temples, but the Shiva Murugan Temple will be the evening.

The first temple is Gujarati, the second is Tamil, ... but there is also a third temple I am tempted to also visit which I do not go often which is South Indian Shiva and Devi and the reason is I was told by the priest there that an upper management person, non-Indian i.e. Westerner, from where I work comes to that temple and I am curious to see if that is true. But it would be difficult to juggle 3 temples for Sivaratri.

I wish all a Happy Shivratri!

Om Namah Sivaya

[Viraja]

I wish everyone a wonderful MahaShivaratri!

Shivaya Parameshwaraya
Chandra Shekharaya Nama Om
Bhavaya, Guna Sambhavaya
Shiva Thandavaya, Nama Om
Shivaya Parameshwaraya
Chandra Shekharaya, Nama Om
Bhavaya, Guna Sambhavaya
Shiva Thandavaya, Nama Om

Meaning

Lord Shiva, supreme Lord, adorned with the crescent moon; Lord of the purest qualities, dancing Lord Shiva, we bow to thee.

[Mahesh]

Om namah shiva,

Quick question all... What should one do for mahashivratri?

Would fasting (eating one meal) and chanting lord shivas name/listening to bhajans be enough?

Many thanks

[Aanandinii]

Namaskar Maheshji,

Om namah shiva,

Quick question all... What should one do for mahashivratri?

If your question is really what should you do, my uneducated n00b thoughts are that as long as what you do is sincere and from your heart, and you do whatever it is you feel you ought to do, then it is certainly enough. Each person's path is unique.

If you mean what is traditional? Again, there are likely a LOT of traditions. But most of the Temples I have visited and looked into going to for Maha Shivaratri have stated Bhajans and Yajna all day, Maha Abhishekham every 3 hours, overnight vigil till about 3 AM, singing and bathing the Lingam. Many people fast, fasting traditions vary. When people start fasting also varies. My own habit is water and Prasad only. Prasad after morning puja and sadhana and before sunrise, and after evening puja and sadhana and sunset. I only eat the small amount of cut fruit, berries, curd, juice, milk and water I offer. I do this on Mondays, and this week I am doing it all week. But this is all entirely me. There are lots of ways of fasting for Shivaratri that I've heard of and read about. And I'm sure there's a lot more Temple traditions than the ones I've named - n00b, me. Hopefully someone will be along with a better reply soon.

Namaskar-ji HDF,

Speaking of, I have a similar question to Maheshji above. I am going to a Satsang Society Temple for the day and all night as well. They will be singing and performing shiva pujas and abhishekham on request all day and we are invited to bring "whatever we want".

The only thing I could nail that down to specifically was fruit, milk and panchamrut. The woman who invited me to the Temple said people sometimes bring their own Lingams too, but I had no idea how to ask people that I only just met if that was the case.

I am unfamiliar with Satsang and this is my first Shivaratri ever. What should I bring? If they are doing Shiva Puja should I bring rice and barley and black sesame and other usual offerings? And I really want to bring some panchamrut for both abhishekham and prasad, and am wondering what should I bring the amrut for abhishekham in. Would it be okay to bring it in my Kalash?

Anyone who has been to such an open devotional day, at a Satsang community or not, please any advice and reminiscences would be really great. Yay, I am SO excited.

A final question on dress: I have a really nice black, grey and white salwar suit. It's one of the nicest sets of clothing I have aside from my Sari - and I cannot manage a sari in public yet and definitely not at the temperatures we'll be hitting on Thursday and Friday (yikes). Would it be bad taste to wear it? I know white is a funeral color, but white is also Lord Shiva's color... The only other nice suit I have is really loud and blue with stripey salwar pants. That's great for something like a Chaturthi parade, but I am not so sure about Maha Shivaratri... I guess I could go buy a new one, but if the white one would be okay I'd rather wear that. It's not just white after all, and I love the pants, all black and a comfy material.

Thanks so much for any assistance.
Pranams

[Spiritual Mantra]

Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Lord Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivratri (Sanskrit 'ratri' = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is observed for one day and one night only.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qElv...R_nHQM9GFAytJe

[sunyata07]

Namaste,

This is the first year I am going to try a 24 hour fast with just water. Other years I was only really able for half day fast (after the sun set) because of the physical nature of my job. This year it's my goal to make it a full day without food and living only on the chantings of God's name. In case I do not get to a computer in time tomorrow, I want to wish all my spiritual brothers and sisters on this forum a very happy Mahashivaratri. May Bholenath bless all devotees tomorrow.



Har Har Mahadev!!!

[IcyCosmic]

I love you all! I wish you all a glorious time seated in Lord Shiva's all encompassing adobe of eternal bliss....