So, why Mahashivratri is celebrated?
Different sects of people will have different answers and different beliefs to this.
For the family guys (Grihastha), on this day Adidev Mahadev (Lord Shiva) married Mata Gauri (Lord Shakti). Shiva alongwith his entourage which included the bulls, wild animals, ghosts, hags, witches, Aghoris, Naga sadhus etc took out the ‘Shiv Barat’ (groom procession) and reached the doorstep of Lord Himavan (the mountain god and Gauri’s father). The entire procession in inebriated condition danced crazily, hundreds & thousands of damroos and other musical instruments were being played, Conches were being blown loud as a sign of victory, people boasted their lungs out to shout ‘Har har Mahadev’. It appeared that the three cosmic worlds came in unison to be a witness of this grandeur.
Even centuries later, to this day devotees dresses up like ‘Shiva’s entourage’ and organise such ‘Shiv Barat’. The carnival goes on night long passing through each alleyway of the city.
But, contradicting to all this celebrations, processions and loudness, the ascetics and the spiritual seekers believe that on this day, Shiva attained absolute stillness. All movement in his body stopped. He became one with himalaya. He became ‘Anadi’ (one who doesn’t have a beginning) and also became the ‘Adi Yogi’ (from whom the science of yoga originated). Thus for the ascetics this night is the ‘Night of stillness’/ ‘Night of silence’.
Varanasi, being the headquarter of Shiva’s command, celebrates Shivratri with extra zeal and passion. ‘Kashi vishwanath temple’ (the highest seat of Lord) along with other 5000 Shiva temple is decorated and thousands of devotees visit the temples in serpentine ques right from the dawn.The ‘Ratri’(Night) of ‘Shivaratri’ is the darkest night of the month. Shiva embraces darkness over light because light is temporary. It has a beginning and an end. But, darkness is eternal, it is forever and it’s limits are infinite. Darkness embraces everything (just like Shiva). The vastness and unbounded emptiness of darkness is what symbolises ‘Shiva’. Thus the ‘Ratri’ in Mahashivratri holds a lot of significance.
Devotees offer Dhatura (Thorn apple), Vilwapatra, Madar flowers and herbal milk over the Shivalingam. Also, after the prayers and rituals devotees consume Bhaang (Cannabis) laced drinks (Thandai) as prasad. Bhang helps them to enact like ‘Shiva Barati’ and give them the much-needed power to dance for the whole night.
“Panchkroshi yatra” is conducted on this day, when Thousands of devotees walk bare feet for more than 80kms to pour ‘Gangajal’ over the prominent Shiva temple (no doubt, one of the most difficult hiking of the world). On successful completion of this yatra, the sense of accomplishment and spirituality of the devotees are so high that they can’t feel the pain of their bloody-bruised feet and their super cramped muscles.
On Shivratri, from every corners of Kashi, Shiva bhajans will pour into your ears and whom so ever you meet, will greet you by saying ‘Mahadev’.
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