Maha Shivaratri
Hindu festival for contemplation of self and Shiva
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, The festival is observed on the caturdaśī (the 14th lunar day) of kṛṣṇapakṣa (waning fortnight) of the month of Māgha (in the Amānta reckoning of months) or Phālguṇa (in the Pūrṇimānta reckoning of months). The discrepancy is only in the name of the month and the festival is observed on the same lunar night across the regions. The festival commemorates the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion of Shiva performing his ritual dance called tandava.
It is a notable festival in Hinduism, marking a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva. Ardent devotees stay awake throughout this night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on a pilgrimage to the Jyotirlingams. The festival is believed to have originated in 5th century BCE.
In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region.
Etymology
The term Maha Shivaratri is a compound of three Sanskrit elements: maha (महा) meaning "great", Shiva (शिव), the Hindu deity, and ratri (रात्रि), meaning "night".
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