Mahashivratri 2020: Know reason to celebrate Shivaratri, Read the story
Mahashivratri 2020: Know reason to celebrate Shivaratri, Read the story
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The Samudra Manthan Puranas tell a very popular Shivaratri story which explains why people stay awake all night on Shivaratri and worship Lord Shiva. It also tells us why Lord Shiva is known as Neelkanth. Once Indra who rode an elephant was the king of the gods, he came in front of Durvasa Muni who presented him with a special garland. Indra accepted the garland but placed it on the trunk of the elephant. The smell irritated the elephant and he threw the garland on the floor. This enraged Durvasa Muni as garland was the abode of Sri (Bhagya) and was to be regarded as Prasad.

Maha Shivratri 2020: Know the auspicious time of Mahashivaratri, the right method of worship

Then Durvasa Muni cursed Indra and all the gods to be frightened by all the power, energy, and luck. In the battles that followed the incident, the Gods were defeated and the Asuras (demons), led by Bali, gained control of the universe. The gods, then led by Indra, sought help from Lord Vishnu, who advised them to treat demons in a diplomatic manner. An alliance with the Asuras was formed by the gods to churn the sea for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them. Lord Vishnu told the Gods that he will make arrangements that he alone obtains nectar. Then the samudra manthan (sea churning) was an elaborate process. Simultaneously the Mandara mountain was used as a stick and Vasuki, the king of the serpents, became the churning rope. After this, Lord Vishnu himself had to intervene in many ways to help the Gods. Many objects originated from the sea and were divided between demons and Gods. The following items emerged from the churning of the sea like -

Mahashivratri will be special, administration made special arrangements

Poison

During the churning of the sea by the gods and demons, a pot of poison also came out of the sea. This frightened the gods and demons because the poison was so toxic that its effects could have wiped out the entire creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, all the gods reached to Lord Shiva for help and prayed for protection because he could swallow it without being affected. At the request of the gods and a pity for living beings, Lord Shiva drank poison. After this, Parvati - consort (wife) of Lord Shiva pressed his neck so that the poison could not reach his stomach. Thus it remained in his throat neither going up nor going down. This poison was so poisonous that it changed the color of Lord Shiva's neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelkanth (blue-necked) where 'Neel' means blue and 'kanth' means neck or throat. As part of the therapy, saints advised Lord Shiva to stay awake during the night. Then in order to please Shiva and keep him awake, the gods took turns taking various dances and playing music. As the day broke, Lord Shiva was pleased with their devotion and blessed all. Shivaratri is the celebration of the event by which Shiva saved the world. Since then, this day and night - devotees observe fast, sing the glory of God and meditate.

Here's why Lord Shiva is worshipped in night

Churning of the divine elixir

In the end, Dhanvantari - the divine doctor appeared in his skilled hands carrying a character of Amrita (the nectar of immortality). There was a fierce war between the gods and demons for 'Amrit'. Due to fighting at each of these places - Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, a drop of nectar was spilled from the pot. It is believed that these places have thus acquired mystical power. For this reason, every 12 years, the grand Kumbh Mela is celebrated at these four places and Ardh-Kumbh Mela is celebrated after 6 years. The next year in 2021, Mahakumbh will be held in Haridwar. Later Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini, a beautiful woman. Although her beauty discouraged the demons, Mohini seized the nectar and immediately returned it to the gods and thus the gods became immortal.

Mahashivratri 2020: Know why to celebrate and its story

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