On 18th February comes the special fast of Maha Shivratri
Fasting can be done to turn the dark life into light
Sins are removed by reciting Panchacharam ‘Namasivaya’.
Shivratri is one of the best days to worship Lord Shiva, who is the mother and father of all living beings. Shivratri is one of the best days to worship Lord Shiva who is the mother and father of all living beings. If you do Shiva Puja for four days and fast on that day and night, the good things will happen every day. By consecrating Lord Shiva with bow leaf and worshiping him on Shivaratri, all the merits will come. Devotees who observe this fast complete the puja on the fourth sama. It is best to bathe early in the morning and then eat.
Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a Jothi (torch) to the surrendered Tirumala and Brahman after they returned tired of searching for Eason’s foot hair in Tiruvannamalai. The event took place on a Shivratri day.
In one of the temples where Lord Shiva resides and blesses, a rat ran here and there. The lamp lit in the sanctum was about to be extinguished. The smell of ghee poured into the lamp pierced the nose of rat. So it went near the lamp and rubbed its nose against the dying wick. In this the wick emerging from the lamp caught fire well and the lamp started burning brightly. So The Lord made that rat reborn as Emperor Mahabali. Purana says that a mouse has ignited the lamp and it is a Shivratri day.
Once Umadevi playfully covered the eyes of Lord Shiva with his hands and the world became dark. Puranas say that day is ‘Shivaratri’. That night, Shiva opened his forehead to give light to all those who prayed for light. So you can do this fast to turn your dark life into light.
11.30 pm to 1 am is the Lingotpavar period on Shivratri. If we worship at that time, we will get good results. On Shivratri, sins are removed by anointing the Shivalinga Thirumeni with Valampuri Sang, worshiping it with Vilva leaves, worshiping a clean swan as Naivedi and chanting the panchacharam ‘Namasivaya’.
This year’s Maha Shivratri is very special because Sanipradosh also comes on the same day.
Maha Shivratri festival ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train scheme
On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ pilgrimage train from Madurai to the Navajotirlinga places will be run in February.
To attract tourists, private contribution railways run ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train on festive and special days to various spiritual places, historical places. Accordingly, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, this holy pilgrimage train will be operated from Madurai on February 15.
The train departing from Madurai will travel via Dindigul, Karur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpet, Katpadi and Chennai Perambur. In a total of 13 days of travel, you can travel to holy places including Omkareshwar, Somnath, Sri Sailam, Kuruneswarar Aungnath, Vaidyanath.
23 thousand, 400 rupees per passenger, in second class bed facility, A.C. 30 thousand, 500 rupees fee per class. For information including booking and travel details, you can call on 73058 58585, Salem Divisional Railway officials said.