The holy day of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva- Maha Shivratri, it is the ceremonial day of the marriage of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva, while taking his wedding procession to Mata Parvati, was accompanied by thousands of sadhus and daityas, who celebrated the marriage by having thandai.
Since that day distributing thandai has become a culture. Despite having thandai, there are several other facts that you should know about Maha Shivratri.
1. Before marriage with goddess Parvati, lord Shiva was called 'Nirgun Brahman' and after marriage, he was called as 'Sagun Brahman'. 2. Lord Shiva is considered as the destroyer of ego, he punishes sinners for their misdeeds and transforms them from sinner to saint. 3. Rudrabhishek puja on Maha Shivratri spares you for all your sin and give a pure start to your life. 4. Maha Shivratri is known as the 'night of the tandava', it is a belief that on this night lord Shiva performed tandava. 5. It is believed that Sadashiva appears as a Lingodbhav Moorti at 12AM on Shivratri night to give blessings to the devotees. 6. Applying Sindoor (Vermilion) on Shiv Linga represents virtue. 7. Bael leaves are offered to lord Shiva to purify one's soul.
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