Mahashivratri 2025: Significance, Puja Vidhi, and Shubh Muhurat

Image credits: अमर उजाला

Mahashivratri is a significant festival in Hinduism, celebrated with great fervor and devotion across the country. This year, the festival falls on February 25, 2025, and it is considered one of the most auspicious days to worship Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Mahashivratri is the day when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married, and it is also believed that on this day, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, a cosmic dance that symbolizes the cycle of creation and destruction. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, and devotees observe a fast, perform puja, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva to seek his blessings.

The puja vidhi for Mahashivratri is quite elaborate, and it involves several rituals and ceremonies. The first step is to take a bath and wear clean clothes, and then visit a Shiva temple to offer prayers and perform the puja. The puja involves offering bilva leaves, flowers, and other items to Lord Shiva, and chanting mantras and hymns to appease him. The most important part of the puja is the abhishek, which involves pouring water, milk, or other liquids on the Shiva linga to cleanse and purify it. Devotees also observe a fast on this day, and break it only after performing the puja and offering prayers to Lord Shiva.

The shubh muhurat for Mahashivratri is also very important, and it varies from year to year. This year, the shubh muhurat for Mahashivratri is from 6:19 pm to 9:26 pm on February 25, 2025. The puja can be performed during this time, and it is believed that performing the puja during this time will bring great benefits and blessings from Lord Shiva. Some of the other important timings for Mahashivratri include the nishita kaal, which is from 12:09 am to 12:59 am on February 27, 2025, and the jal abhishek muhurat, which is from 6:47 am to 9:42 am on February 25, 2025.

Here are some of the key points to note about Mahashivratri: * The festival is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalguna. * The puja vidhi involves offering bilva leaves, flowers, and other items to Lord Shiva. * The shubh muhurat for Mahashivratri varies from year to year. * The festival is considered one of the most auspicious days to worship Lord Shiva. * Devotees observe a fast on this day and break it only after performing the puja and offering prayers to Lord Shiva. * The jal abhishek muhurat is from 6:47 am to 9:42 am on February 25, 2025. * The nishita kaal is from 12:09 am to 12:59 am on February 27, 2025.

In addition to the puja vidhi and shubh muhurat, Mahashivratri is also associated with several myths and legends. One of the most famous stories associated with Mahashivratri is the story of the hunter who unknowingly performed the puja and was blessed by Lord Shiva. The story goes that a hunter was out hunting in the forest when he stumbled upon a Shiva linga. Unknowingly, he performed the puja and offered prayers to Lord Shiva, and was blessed by him. This story highlights the importance of devotion and faith in Lord Shiva, and how even unknowingly performing the puja can bring great benefits and blessings.