Maha Shivratri 2022: Complete Puja Schedule, Auspicious Timings, Date and Shivratri Puja Method
New Delhi: One of the most prestigious and widely celebrated festivals of our country – Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on 1st March this year. This day is basically a celebration of the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Devotees reach the temples in large numbers and offer prayers.
Maha Shivratri in Jammu and Kashmir:
In some parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir, preparations for Maha Shivratri begin a few days before the festival. It is the major festival of the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community and is known as Herath. This festival is celebrated by Kashmiris a day before the rest of the country. Hence, KP will start the Maha Shivratri festival on February 28 this year. On March 1, they celebrate Salaam – a ritual where the elders and guests of the household give money to newly dressed children for Shivaratri as a token of love.
The pan-India festival is also widely celebrated by Indians settled abroad.
Our country is home to various traditions and cultures and hence, while honoring each of them, festivals hold more importance for all. Celebrations and rituals may differ as we move from north to south or east to west, but the spirit with which the worship is performed is the same.
Maha Shivratri Puja Timings and Auspicious Muhurats:
Maha Shivratri Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Nishita Kaal Puja Timings – 12:08 AM to 12:58 AM, 02 March
Duration – 00 hours 50 minutes
March 2, Shivratri Paran Time – 06:45 AM, March 02
Night Prahar Puja Timings – 06:21 PM to 09:27 PM
Ratri II Prahar Puja Timings – 09:27 PM to 12:33 AM, 02 March
Ratri Tritiya Prahar Puja Timings – 12:33 AM to 03:39 AM, 02 March
Ratri Chaturth Prahar Puja Timings – 03:39 AM to 06:45 AM, 02 March
Chaturdashi date start – March 01, 2022 at 03:16 am
Chaturdashi date ends – 01:00 am March 02, 2022
(according to drikpanchang.com)
Maha Shivratri Puja Method:
Take a bath before worshiping or going to the temple.
Purify the house and worship area by sprinkling Gangajal.
Light a brass or earthen lamp.
Sit with your eyes closed and invite Lord Shiva to accept your prasad. (You or your family priest can perform Pran Pratishthan by invoking God in your idol).
Now anoint the Shivling or the idol of Shiva with water. Chant ‘OM’ or ‘OM – Namah Shivaya’ while doing the abhishek.
After this, anoint with milk, curd, then honey, ghee and water.
Use a fresh cloth to gently wipe the Shiva linga or idol.
Use holy ash (Vibhuti) or Bhasma and make a tripunda on the forehead of the Lord or on the Shiva Linga. (Tripundra is the three well-known horizontal sign).
Apply sandalwood vaccine in the middle of the horizontal line in the middle. And then add kumkum vaccine. Add bael or bel leaves and flowers.
– Light incense sticks and incense.
After this offer fruits and nuts to God.
After this chant Shiv Chalisa or 108 names of Lord Shiva or any simple Shiva Mantra.
– Meditate for some time.
– End the worship by singing Shiva Aarti.
– Pray for Goddess Parvati to Shakti and Lord Shiva – Seek Shivashakti’s blessings.
(Puja method may differ from region to region)
Some devotees keep fast during the day and some keep it a day before the puja.
Everyone seeks the blessings of Bhole Shankar and Goddess Parvati and what can be a better day than the celebration of Maha Shivratri.
Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Maha Shivratri!
