Maha Shivaratri in Hinduism (Maha Shivaratri)

All followers of Shaivism, especially yogis and tantrics, invariably celebrate one of the most important Vedic holidays, Maha Shivaratri - the Great Night of Shiva This celebration falls in the month of Maga and is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Chaturdashi Krishna Paksha According to Indian scriptures, or rather the Skanda Purana, there are four types of Shivaratri: • Daily Shivaratri (Nitya Shivaratri), which is celebrated every night• Monthly Shivaratri (Masa Shivaratri), which is observed on the day of Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day) of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon)• Magha-Pratham-Adi Shivaratri, observed by the followers Givaism during the first thirteen days of the month of Maga• Maha Shivaratri observed on Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day) of Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon) Throughout this night, believers pay homage to the supreme deity According to ancient legends, the supreme deity Shiva performed the dance of the original creation, preservation and destruction of all things - tandava Tantrics and yogis believe in two main manifestations: Shiva as the Father of the World and Shahti as the Mother of the World They unite them into a single and inseparable whole Thus, these are not two different deities, but the One Lord and His Power Devotees of the teachings of Shaivism convert throughout the night of Shivaratri through the Abisheku ritual The basis of this treatment is the repetition of mantras and the performance of other ritual actions Their beginning coincides with sunset On this night, followers of the teaching hold four lujas, which are dedicated to the four different manifestations and aspects of Shiva This allows them to embrace the various moods of worship (Vedic and Tantric), as well as the veneration of the One Lord himself, the various stages of spiritual exaltation and the transitions from one anchara to the next that God makes on his path of Shiva-realization The rituals of honoring the One Lord vary somewhat depending on the specific Indian locality The main celebrations of Maha Shivaratri are held in the holy city of God Shiv - Varanasi (Kashi) and Kashmir, the area where the worship of Shiva is most strongly developed