Celebrating Maha Shivratri 2026 & Honouring Lord Shiva
Maha Shivratri is the largest competition for all devotees of Lord Shiva, and the competition celebrates ‘the nice evening of Shiva’. An annual Hindu competition devoted to Lord Shiva, Maha Shivratri sees Hindus all around the world observe this competition with nice devotion and fervor. On this auspicious day, individuals honor Lord Shiva by visiting Shiva temples, providing particular prayers and poojas, repeatedly chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, and staying awake at evening. Whereas these are the usual practices adopted on the event of Maha Shivratri, devotees additionally take up fasts and start new endeavors on this auspicious day. The day is well known throughout nations like India, Nepal, and Mauritius, with authorities holidays being declared. Maha Shivratri is noticed on the fourteenth evening of the darkish fortnight within the Hindu lunar month Falgun or Magha.
It often falls in February or March, within the Gregorian calendar and, in 2026, it falls on February fifteenth, Sunday.
Celebrating Maha Shivratri 2026
Yearly, Maha Shivratri is well known on the Krishna paksha Chaturdashi (14th day of the waning part) of the Hindu month, Falgun or Magha. Within the North Indian Panchang (Purnimant Panchang), it’s the month Falgun and, within the South Indian Panchang (Amavasyant Panchang), it’s the month of Magha. In each of those methods, Maha Shivratri happens on the identical day and, therefore, the date within the Gregorian Calendar stays the identical for your complete India. This yr, the competition will probably be celebrated with nice pomp and pleasure, by individuals throughout the nation and devotees around the globe.
Get to learn about Masik Shivratri
2026 Maha Shivratri Puja Timings:
On February 15, 2026, the Chaturdashi tithi for Maha Shivratri begins at 5:04 PM. The tithi ends at ~5:34 PM on February 16, 2026.
Shubh Muhurat for Maha Shivratri 2026
Most devotees carry out the Maha Shivratri Shiva Puja throughout Nishtita Kaal or midnight. Additional, devotees may also have a good time the event and carry out Pooja throughout all 4 prayers of the auspicious day.
- The First Prahar time will begin at 6:11 PM and finish at 9:23 PM (February 15, 2026)
- The Second Prahar timing will begin at 9:23 PM (February 15, 2026) and finish at 12:36 AM (February 16, 2026)
- The Third Prahar timing will begin at 12:36 AM (February 16, 2026) and finish at 3:47 AM (February 16, 2026)
- The Fourth Prahar will start at 3:47 AM and finish at 6:59 AM (February 16, 2026)
There are two main events right here – whereas the 14th day of each lunar month (the day earlier than the brand new moon) is taken into account Shivaratri, the one falling on the Krishna paksha Chaturdasi (the 14th day of the waning part) of Falgun/Magha month has the best non secular significance and is noticed as Maha Shivratri. Devotees consider that, on this evening, the northern hemisphere of the Earth positions in a manner that causes a pure upsurge of power. This power could be optimally utilized and benefitted from, so long as devotees observe all of the spiritual rites honestly and piously.
Should you want to observe vrat and watch for a vigil at evening, the next guidelines are to be adopted, because the holy scriptures state.
If your complete Nishithkaal (eighth Muhurat of the evening) comes beneath Chaturdashi Tithi on the very first day, Maha Shivratri is well known on the identical day.
If Chaturdashi Tithi touches the primary a part of the Nishithkaal of the second day however your complete Nishith Kaal of the primary day comes beneath Chaturdashi Tithi, then Mahashivratri is on the primary day.
Aside from the circumstances talked about above, the vrat needs to be noticed on the second day.
Maha Shivratri Puja & Vrat 2026
On this momentous event of the Maha Shivaratri, observances embrace poojas, abhisheka, fasting, and staying awake at evening whereas immersed in prayers and meditations. As per Vedic astrology, the devotees observe quick on today and keep awake all evening, meditating or chanting prayers contained in the temples. Some devotees observe strict fasting, and so they keep away from even the consumption of water. This helps them focus higher and be extra attuned to the auspicious event and the power flowing by means of the universe. For the reason that fasting instructions will not be austere, some individuals select to have meals as soon as, whereas others comply with a fruit and milk weight-reduction plan primarily based on their skills. Devotees visiting Shiva temples carry out prayers, and particular pujas and convey choices to appease the deity. Those that want to keep awake could go to the temples and spend their evening chanting prayers or the ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ mantra. Some devotees chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra too, in the course of the celebration.
Individuals additionally carry out the vital ritual of the Abhisheka on Shivalinga, which is carried out through the use of valuable components equivalent to milk, honey, sugar, butter, black sesame seeds, Ganga Jal, and so on. After the Abhisheka or bathing of Shiva Linga, sandalwood paste, and rice are utilized to the linga, along with providing contemporary fruits and flowers. Within the new world, many people have no idea the importance of those rituals, however a have a look at the holy scriptures will inform us all the main points. Certainly, in keeping with Shiva Purana, all these observations have particular meanings, as talked about beneath.
Bathing Shivalinga with water, milk, honey, and betel leaves marks the purification of the soul.
- Making use of vermillion or kumkum symbolizes advantage.
- Providing fruits signifies longevity and gratification of wishes.
- The burning of incense symbolizes wealth.
- The lighting of lamps signifies the attainment of data.
- Betel leaves signify satisfaction with worldly pleasures.
Legends Round Maha Shivratri
Lord Shiva is without doubt one of the strongest deities in Hindu mythology. He’s thought of a savior and the harbinger of justice. Accordingly, the Maha Shivratri day is marked by some legends. One such legend is that Maha Shivratri is the evening when Lord Shiva carried out the Tandava Nritya – the cosmic dance of primordial creation, destruction, and preservation. One other one is that it’s the event of Shiva-Shakthi convergence or the wedding of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati. There’s additionally a legend, as per the Hindu students, that it’s the event by which Shiva saved the world by consuming the toxic negativity and preserving it contained in his throat, which is the rationale why his throat is blue.
For some believers, it’s the event by which Shiva manifested his nice effulgent type – Jotirmaya or Jyotirlinga to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Certainly, whereas a number of legends espouse the significance of today, there may be one factor that we are able to state for sure – Maha Shivratri is a vastly important and auspicious day for all Hindus internationally and is well known with nice fervor and pomp.
Shivaratri Vrat – Astrological Boons
Shivratri is well known on the Krishnapaksha Chaturdashi or the fourteenth day of darkish fortnights. It’s the sooner or later when you possibly can quick and have your sins atoned. Shiva is thought to be the lord of Chaturdashi Tithi. In astrology classics, today is crucial. As per astrology, the Moon is the significator of the thoughts, and it will get weaker on today. Since Lord Shiva has established the Moon over his brow, worshipping him empowers the Moon of the worshipper (within the delivery chart). It provides the worshipper psychological energy, willpower, braveness, and toughness, making it an distinctive day for devotees.
Learn about Pradosh Vrat 2026
Why is Maha Shivratri So Important?
Within the Hindu faith, many of the festivals are both the commemoration of some victory or the celebration of agricultural occasions, equivalent to sowing and harvesting. However Maha Shivaratri is a competition with some variations. Its significance varies with perceptions. The significances of Maha Shivratri embrace the next:
On Maha Shivratri, those that strictly observe fasting and different penances are believed to attain Moksha or liberation. On this event, the spiritual practices, together with Yoga and meditation, work extra successfully, and the advantages of mantras, equivalent to Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, enhance. Materials pleasures and temptations are forces that hassle people quite a bit. Maha Shivratri puja, vrat & quick are so highly effective that they assist an individual attain management over worldly pleasures and temptations. By worshipping Shiva and observing the quick for your complete Shivratri evening, one can have management over damaging ideas like anger, lust, greed, and so on.
On Maha Shivaratri, the universe pushes us in direction of the non secular peak; the planetary positions evoke the non secular energies that assist us rise to that degree. The custom of observing the competition evening and staying awake is to permit this movement of power to go by means of our backbone.
Celebrating the Important Nature of Darkness
The 14th evening of the waning part in every month is well known as Shivaratri, and Maha Shivaratri is the one with the best significance. These Shivratri nights are thought of the darkest nights. So, celebrating these nights is like commemorating the darkness and vacancy. The overall notion is that darkness symbolizes ignorance or evil whereas mild symbolizes information or goodness. However, the phrase ‘Shiva’ means ‘that which isn’t. ‘That which is’ is the creation – these with a type. That which isn’t is ‘Shiva’. After we observe area, we see stars and galaxies, that are only a few spots within the huge darkness or vacancy. This huge and unbounded vacancy is what’s known as ‘Shiva’, and we have a good time this phenomenon on Maha Shivratri.
Throughout cultures, God is that which is all-pervading, and the one factor that may be in every single place is nothingness or vacancy. Mild is just not everlasting; it has a starting and an finish. However darkness wants no supply; it’s all-pervading and all-enveloping. It may be in every single place with no starting and no finish. So, after we describe God as omnipresent or all-pervading, we’re referring to the darkness or vacancy which is current in every single place and supported by nothing. It’s within the lap of this huge vacancy that each one creation has occurred. It’s this lap of vacancy that we seek advice from as ‘Shiva – that which isn’t’ and thus Maha Shivratri is the celebration of nature and its components.
For these of us who’re odd, darkness is evil. For the non secular seekers whose goal is dissolution, darkness is divine. The Yogis contemplate Shiva because the Aadi Guru from whom the divine information originated. They contemplate Maha Shivratri because the evening of stillness on which Shiva turned one with Mount Kailash. Shiva is thought to be the Mahadev – the supreme energy, the destroyer, and probably the most compassionate. The universe itself is an unlimited vacancy that holds and retains the galaxies aside. This unbounded vacancy is what’s known as ‘Shiva –that which isn’t’. Even trendy science proves that ‘the whole lot comes from nothing and goes again to nothing’. Every little thing we see and expertise as matter is a special manifestation of 1 power. It’s on this context that Shiva, the huge vacancy or nothingness, is known as the nice lord, or Mahadeva. Maha Shivaratri provides a non secular seeker the prospect to grasp his limitedness and to expertise this oneness/vacancy – the omnipresent supply of creation.
Why You Ought to Put on the Rudraksha
Most devotees consider that celebrating Maha Shivratri and honoring Lord Shiva is a manner of accepting the darkness round them and turning into one with the energies within the universe. The day teaches us that we should always not have a look at day and evening pretty much as good and evil. They’re two sides of the identical coin, with particular person deserves and demerits, and it’s as much as us, as people, to take advantage of all time. Celebrating Maha Shivratri is, subsequently, an vital technique to unite with nature and divine power and the Rudraksha helps devotees unite with the savior.
