10 point Vidhi Based on Shiva Purana & Shaiva Agamas
The Chaturdashi tithi or the 14th tithi of the dark fortnight of each month is Shivaratri. Magha Krishna Chaturdashi or the 14th tithi of the month of Magha(or in the Phalguna as per the Purnimanta reckoning) is called Mahashivaratri.
When after observing a fast on that day, Shiva is worshipper with bilva leaves in the evening and night and one keeps awake for the whole night, Shiva saves the man from hell and bestows enjoyment of happiness and moksha and oneness with Shiva. Gifts, sacrifices, austerities, pilgrimages and observances of vratas are not equal to even one ten-millionth part of Mahashivaratri vrata.
māgha-phālgunayormadhye kṛṣṇā yā tu caturdaśī |
tasyāṃ jāgaraṇād-rudraḥ pūjito bhukti-muktidaḥ ||
upoṣitaiḥ pūjitaḥ sannarakāt-tārayet-tathā | garuḍa I. 124. 2-3
The 14th day of the dark fortnight between the months of Magha and Phalguna—worshipping Rudra by staying awake on that night, bestows desire fulfilment & liberation. Worshipped by those who fast, He saves them from hell. (Garuda Purana I. 124. 2-3).
It is known as Shivaratri, the remover of all sins. Those who fast, stay awake, and worship Shiva with Bilva leaves, through the four watches (yamas) of the night, attain equality with Shiva. This night is known as Shivaratri...
दानयज्ञतपस्तीर्थव्रतकर्माणि यानि च ।
शिवरात्रिव्रतस्यापि कोट्यंशेन समानि न ॥ पद्म VI. 124. 3-4 and 28-29
dānayajñatapastīrthavratakarmāṇi yāni ca |
śivarātrivratasyāpi koṭyaṃśena samāni na || Padma Purana VI. 124. 3-4 and 28-29
Charity, rituals, penance, pilgrimages, and vows are not equal to even a ten-millionth part of the Shivaratri vow.
Process of observing Mahashivaratri Vrata
The Ishana Samhita says that the Shivaratri vrata can be performed by all human beings. The Shivaratri Vrata destroys all sins and confers enjoyment of happiness and moksha on all human beings of all types.
Everyone who performs this vrata has to observe certain values: Non-injury, truthfulness, freedom from anger, celibacy, compassion, forbearance and should be calm in mind, devoid of fits of passion and has to perform austerities and he should be free from malice.
1. Get up early morning on Chaturdashi day. Visit a Shiva mandir and offer worship there.
2. Take a sankalpa to do Shivaratri Vrata. 2 Shlokas to be chanted based on Shiva-purana’s Koti Rudra Samhita are:
देवदेव ! महादेव! नीलकण्ठ नमोऽस्तु ते।
कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं देव ! शिवरात्रिव्रतं तव ॥ २८॥
devadeva ! mahādeva! nīlakaṇṭha namo'stu te |
kartumicchāmyahaṃ deva ! śivarātrivrataṃ tava || 28||
"O Lord of gods, O Mahādeva, O Nilakantha, salutation to you. O Lord, I intend to perform the Śivarātri Vrata.
तव प्रभावाद्देवेश ! निर्विघ्नेन भवेदिति ।
कामाद्याः शत्रवो मां वै पीडां कुर्वन्तु नैव हि ॥ २९॥
One should declare to Bhagavan Shiva, "O God, I shall keep awake the whole night on the 14th tithi. I shall make according to my ability worship, gifts, austerities, pooja, homa etc. O Shambhu! On the 14th I shall take no food(or only fruits/one meal) and shall take food on the next day. O Lord! be thou my refuge for securing enjoyment of happiness and moksha."
tava prabhāvāddeveśa ! nirvighnena bhavediti |
kāmādyāḥ śatravo māṃ vai pīḍāṃ kurvantu naiva hi || 29||
O Lord of gods, let my Vrata be successfully completed by your grace, without any obstruction. Let the enemies like passion, anger and greed not trouble me.
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न स्नानेन न वस्त्रेण न धूपेन न चार्चया ॥
तुष्यामि न तथा पुष्पैर्यथा तत्रोपवासतः ॥
na snānena na vastreṇa na dhūpena na cārcayā ||
tuṣyāmi na tathā puṣpairyathā tatropavāsataḥ ||
Bhagavan Shiva says, “Neither by Snana nor by offering of Vastra, incense or by offering flower-archana am i pleased as much by Upavasa(done on Shivaratri)
Ideal is only water. If not possible, then one can have milk, fruits. Avoid cereals.
5. Take bath on the 14th tithi evening with black sesame in water. Apply bhasma as tripundra(3 lines) on the forehead, wear rudraksha and then worship Shiva linga in any or all 4 prahars in the evening(6pm to 9pm, 9pm to 12midnight, 12midnight to 3pm & 3pm to 6pm). Offer abhisheka with milk, curd, ghee and honey.
Skanda Purana says that Shiva, Shakti & Ganas move about at night and therefore these are to be worshipped at that time on Chaturdashi.
In Nagarkhanda it is said, "On the 14th of the dark half of Magha, I shall go in the Kaliyuga on the surface of the earth at night. I shall undoubtedly transfer myself to all lingas whether movable or permanently fixed, for the removal of the sins committed in the preceding year; therefore a person who offers worship to me at night will be free from sin."
Ishana samhita also says that Shiva appeared in the form of a Shivalinga whose effulgence was equal to a crore of suns, on the 14th of Magha dark half.
6. Do minimum 1 mala of Japa of Om Namah Shivaya after each Pooja.
7. Meditate, sing/dance after each pooja.
8. Having completed the 4 Yama poojas, in the morning little before sunrise, take bath with the feeling that Bhagavan Shiva is in your heart and you are offering abhisheka to Bhagawan Shiva.
9. Worship Bhagawan Shiva again after sunrise.
व्रतेनानेन देवेश ! यथाशक्ति कृतेन च।
सन्तुष्टो भव सर्वाद्य ! कृपां कुरु ममोपरि ॥४३॥
vratenānena deveśa ! yathāśakti kṛtena ca|
Lord, Śiva, I have performed this Vrata according to my means. Therefore, you be pleased with me."
मया भक्त्यनुसारेण व्रतमेतत्कृतं शिव !।
न्यूनं सम्पूर्णतां यातु प्रसादात्तव शङ्कर ! ॥ २०॥
mayā bhaktyanusāreṇa vratametatkṛtaṃ śiva !|
nyūnaṃ sampūrṇatāṃ yātu prasādāttava śaṅkara ! || 20||
O Śiva, O Śańkara I have performed this Vrata with devotion. Any shortcoming in the same should be supplied by your grace.
अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाज्जपपूजादिकं मया।
कृतं तदस्तु कृपया सफलं तव शङ्कर ! ॥२१॥
ajñānādyadi vā jñānājjapapūjādikaṃ mayā|
kṛtaṃ tadastu kṛpayā saphalaṃ tava śaṅkara ! ||21||
Let the japa and worship performed by me knowingly or unknowingly be fruitful by your grace.
एवं पुष्पाञ्जलिं दत्त्वा शिवाय परमात्मने।
नमस्कारं ततः कुर्यात्प्रार्थनां पुनरेव च ॥ २२॥
evaṃ puṣpāñjaliṃ dattvā śivāya paramātmane|
namaskāraṃ tataḥ kuryātprārthanāṃ punareva ca || 22||
Offering the bunch of flowers to lord Śiva, one should offer prayerful salutation to him and conclude with charity. Give some food, clothes, money etc. to the Shiva-bhaktas/needy.
Skanda Purana says: "That person who observes a fast on Shivaratri for 12 years and who keeps awake before me the whole night would reach heaven. That person who worships Shiva and performs sadhana the whole night, would not thereafter taste milk at mother's breast(would not be born again)."
