Masik Shivratri July 2021: According to the Hindu calendar, Masik Shivratri is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha every month. Masik Shivratri of Ashadh month is 8th July i.e. tomorrow.


On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati by reciting or listening to the Vrat story. It is believed that by reading this Vrat story, all your issues in the household are resolved.


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The Vrat Story of Masik Shivratri


According to the legend, a hunter named Chitrabhanu used to feed his family by killing animals. He was indebted to a moneylender. Because he was not able to pay the loan on time, the moneylender took the hunter captive and put him in Shivmath. Coincidentally, this day was Shivratri. He listened very carefully to the Shivratri Vrat story being recited inside the Math. When the moneylender asked the hunter about the loan in the evening, he promised to pay off all his debts the next day. Because of his promise, the moneylender freed the hunter. Being a prisoner for some time the hunter was very hungry. He decided to spend the night in the forest after it got dark in search of prey. He waited for the night to pass by climbing a bel tree near the Shivling on the bank of a pond. During his rest, a lot of Bel leaves are shed on the Shivling. In this way, unknowingly, the Vrat (fasting) of the hunter happened due to hunger and thirst for the whole day. At the same time, bel leaves adorned the Shivling and he successfully managed to lay awake the whole night.


After the first night passed, a pregnant deer, a deer retiring from the season, and then a female deer with her children were all freed by the hunter after their request. In this way, the hunter fasted for all three-quarters of the night. In the morning he saw an antelope, the hunter decided to hunt it.  According to the story, this deer said, "oh hunter, if you had hunted all the three deer before me, you would have hunted me too. But you have spared their lives and thus please spare my life too." The hunter then released the deer on his request and then it was morning. Inadvertently, the worship of Shivratri was completed due to fasting, night-awakening, and dropping Bel leaves on Shivling. Due to this, the hunter attained true salvation.