Mahashivaratri 2027 Date

About Mahashivaratri

The one night a year when Shiva is said to have appeared as the lingam — a pillar of light — at midnight. Observed on Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (Magha by southern reckoning), it is kept with an all-night vigil split into four watches, each with a different bath for the lingam.

The night-vigil, or jagaran, traces back to Samudra Manthana — the churning of the ocean. When the poison halahala rose, Shiva drank it; Parvati pressed his throat to stop it spreading, leaving it blue (hence Nilakantha). The gods sang and danced through the night to keep him awake. Devotees repeat that vigil as char prahar puja — four watches, each with its own abhishekam: water in the first, curd in the second, ghee in the third, honey in the fourth. Bilva leaves are offered because they are said to cool Shiva after the poison. The Vrat Katha of Gurudruha, a Bhil hunter who unknowingly dropped bilva leaves onto a lingam from his tree-perch and was redeemed, is recited to explain why a single sincere night earns the grace. Kashmiri Pandits observe it as Herath, sharing walnuts soaked in water; Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar marks the dawn after with bhasma aarti, anointing the deity with sacred ash.