Wish You All on the eve of
‘Maha Sivarathri 21-Feb-2020’
About Maha Sivarathri
Mahasivarathri is celebrated in Kumbam (Feb-March). It commemorates the day on which Lord Shiva consumed Kalakuta Visham (the deadly poison) to save the world from destruction. The main celebration of the day is offering of special poojas and abhishekhams, and cultural programs in all the Shiva temples. The Sivarathri festival on the banks of River Periyar at Alwaye, is one of the most spectacular local festivals of Kerala, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the country.
The great night of Lord Siva.
The word meaning of Mahasivarathri is `the great night of Lord Siva. The Mahasivarathri is considered a very important day for fast and Siva worship.
The history/legends about Mahasivarathri are :-
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It is to commemorate the day on which Lord Siva consumed the deadly poison (Kalakuta Visham) to save the world from destruction.
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The mother Parwathi worshipped Lord Siva with great devotion and the Lord Siva pleased by Her prayer and blessed Her. “She asked for the benefit of all the creatures that in future whoever worships the Lord on the siva ratri day with devotion, they should also be blessed and should be given the ultimate liberation and it was granted.”
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When Brahma and Vishnu fought between themselves as “who is the greatest”, Lord Shiva appeared before them as a pillar of fire. They were not able to find the starting and end of that pillar. This day is Thirukkaarthikai. Brahma and Mahavishnu repented for their mistake and prayed to Lord Siva for forgiving their sin worshiping the Siva lingam that was the form of the flame. In the night of Sivarathri Lord Siva appeared before them and blessed them. Devotees pray the God throughout the night of Siva rathri.
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Every month in Krishna paksha chathurdhasi (fourteenth monday) is called masa Shiva rathri. The one that comes in the month of “Masi” (mid February to mid March) is called Maha Shiva rathri.
The 12 Jyothirlingams
1. Somanathji Saurashtra(Kathiawad Gujaraat}
2. Sri Mallikarjuna In Srisailam A.P (Also Listed As Srishaktipeeta)
3. Mahaakaal In Ujjain (Mahaaakaaleswar at Ujjain,M.P State)
4.Omkar In Mammaleswaram(At omkareshwar on the river Narmada MP
5.Vaijnath In Parli(Vaidyanath at deogarh ,Bihar)
6.Bhimashankar in Dakini (North west of Poona Dhakini Maharastra)
7.Rameswaram in Sethubhanda (Tamilnadu)
8.Nagesh,Nagendra/Nageswar in Darukavana in Maharastra)
9.Viswanath Or Visweshwar (Viswanaath in Banaarus, Varanaasi U.P)
!0.Trimbakesshwar Near Nasik & river Gautami/Godavari (Maharastra)
11.Kedaranath/Kedareswar In uttarakhand Himaalayas U.P
12.Ghurmeswar in Shivalaya Or Griheswar in Visalakam Near Ellora Caves MaharastraDifferent Names of Lord Shiva
One of the most important Hindu deities, Lord Shiva is known by several names. The Shiva Purana list 108 names for Lord Shiva. Each of these names in Sanskrit signifies certain attribute of the Lord. Given here are 108 names of Lord Shiva with their meaning.
108 Names of Lord Shiva
S No | Lord Shiva Name | Meaning |
1 | Aashutosh | One who fulfills wishes instantly |
2 | Aja | Unborn |
3 | Akshayaguna | God with limitless attributes |
4 | Anagha | Without any fault |
5 | Anantadrishti | Of infinite vision |
6 | Augadh | One who revels all the time |
7 | Avyayaprabhu | Imperishable Lord |
8 | Bhairav | Lord of terror |
9 | Bhalanetra | One who has an eye in the forehead |
10 | Bholenath | Kind hearted Lord |
11 | Bhooteshwara | Lord of ghosts and evil beings |
12 | Bhudeva | Lord of the earth |
13 | Bhutapala | Protector of the ghosts |
14 | Chandrapal | Master of the moon |
15 | Chandraprakash | One who has moon as a crest |
16 | Dayalu | Compassionate |
17 | Devadeva | Lord of the Lords |
18 | Dhanadeepa | Lord of Wealth |
19 | Dhyanadeep | Icon of meditation and concentration |
20 | Dhyutidhara | Lord of Brilliance |
21 | Digambara | One who has the skies as his clothes |
22 | Durjaneeya | Difficult to be known |
23 | Durjaya | Unvanquished |
24 | Gangadhara | Lord of River Ganga |
25 | Girijapati | Consort of Girija |
26 | Gunagrahin | Acceptor of Gunas |
27 | Gurudeva | Master of All |
28 | Hara | Remover of Sins |
29 | Jagadisha | Master of the Universe |
30 | Jaradhishamana | Redeemer from Afflictions |
31 | Jatin | One who has matted hair |
32 | Kailas | One Who Bestows Peace |
33 | Kailashadhipati | Lord of Mount Kailash |
34 | Kailashnath | Master of Mount Kailash |
35 | Kamalakshana | Lotus-eyed Lord |
36 | Kantha | Ever-Radiant |
37 | Kapalin | One who wears a necklace of skulls |
38 | Khatvangin | One who has the missile khatvangin in his hand |
39 | Kundalin | One who wears earrings |
40 | Lalataksha | One who has an eye in the forehead |
41 | Lingadhyaksha | Lord of the Lingas |
42 | Lingaraja | Lord of the Lingas |
43 | Lokankara | Creator of the Three Worlds |
44 | Lokapal | One who takes care of the world |
45 | Mahabuddhi | Extremely intelligent |
46 | Mahadeva | Greatest God |
47 | Mahakala | Lord of All Times |
48 | Mahamaya | Of great illusions |
49 | Mahamrityunjaya | Great victor of death |
50 | Mahanidhi | Great storehouse |
51 | Mahashaktimaya | One who has boundless energies |
52 | Mahayogi | Greatest of all Gods |
53 | Mahesha | Supreme Lord |
54 | Maheshwara | Lord of Gods |
55 | Nagabhushana | One who has serpents as ornaments |
56 | Nataraja | King of the art of dancing |
57 | Nilakantha | The one with a blue throat |
58 | Nityasundara | Ever beautiful |
59 | Nrityapriya | Lover of Dance |
60 | Omkara | Creator of OM |
61 | Palanhaar | One who protects everyone |
62 | Parameshwara First among all gods | First among all gods |
63 | Paramjyoti | Greatest splendor |
64 | Pashupati | Lord of all living beings |
65 | Pinakin | One who has a bow in his hand |
66 | Pranava | Originator of the syllable of OM |
67 | Priyabhakta | Favorite of the devotees |
68 | Priyadarshana | Of loving vision |
69 | Pushkara | One who gives nourishment |
70 | Pushpalochana | One who has eyes like flowers |
71 | Ravilochana | Having sun as the eye |
72 | Rudra | The terrible |
73 | Rudraksha | One who has eyes like Rudra |
74 | Sadashiva | Eternal God |
75 | Sanatana | Eternal Lord |
76 | Sarvacharya | Preceptor of All |
77 | Sarvashiva | Always Pure |
78 | Sarvatapana | Scorcher of All |
79 | Sarvayoni | Source of Everything |
80 | Sarveshwara | Lord of All Gods |
81 | Shambhu | Abode of Joy |
82 | Shankara | Giver of Joy |
83 | Shiva | Always Pure |
84 | Shoolin | One who has a trident |
85 | Shrikantha | Of glorious neck |
86 | Shrutiprakasha | Illuminator of the Vedas |
87 | Shuddhavigraha | One who has a pure body |
88 | Skandaguru | Preceptor of Skanda |
89 | Someshwara | Lord of All Gods |
90 | Sukhada | Bestower of happiness |
91 | Suprita | Well pleased |
92 | Suragana | Having Gods as attendants |
93 | Sureshwara | Lord of All Gods |
94 | Swayambhu | Self-Manifested |
95 | Tejaswani | One who spreads illumination |
96 | Trilochana | Three-Eyed Lord |
97 | Trilokpati | Master of all the Three Worlds |
98 | Tripurari | Enemy of Tripura |
99 | Trishoolin | One who has a trident in his hands |
100 | Umapati | Consort of Uma |
101 | Vachaspati | Lord of Speech |
102 | Vajrahasta | One who has a thunderbolt in his hands |
103 | Varada | Granter of Boons |
104 | Vedakarta | Originator of the Vedas |
105 | Veerabhadra | Supreme Lord of the Nether World |
106 | Vishalaksha | Wide-eyed Lord |
107 | Vishveshwara | Lord of the Universe |
108 | Vrishavahana | One who has bull as his vehicle |