The nation is immersed in the celebration of the auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri on Thursday with full religious fervour and gaiety. The devotees worship the “destroyer of evil” Lord Shiva on this occasion as they consider the day to be propitious for spiritual growth.
There are several stories and beliefs associated with this auspicious event. It is believed Lord Shiva’s worship on Maha Shivratri absolves a person of past sins. The worship on Maha Shivratri also is said to liberate a soul from the cycle of birth and death and helps attain salvation.
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Timings & Mahurat Of The Puja:
- Ratri First Prahar Puja Time: 06:27 p.m. to 09:29 p.m. (Thursday)
- Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time: 09:29 p.m. to 12:31 a.m. (Friday)
- Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time: 12:31 a.m. to 03:32 a.m. (Friday)
- Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time: 03:32 a.m. to 06:34 a.m. (Friday)
- Chaturdashi Tithi Begins: 02:39 p.m. (Thursday)
- Chaturdashi Tithi Ends: 03:02 p.m. (Friday)
It is also believed that Lord Shiva gulped the Halahala produced during “samudra manthan” on this particular day and beheld it in his neck which bruised and turned blue, after which he was named as “Neel Kanth”.