Maha Shivratri 2023 is one of the most awaited festivals of this year – people from all around the country are looking forward to celebrating this auspicious day and appease Lord Shiva by conducting proper Pujas on this day. Lord Shiva is one of the oldest gods in Hindu mythology, and his powers range from awarding devotees with a painless life and a painless death. The day of maha shivaratri falls on the Phalguna month according to the north Indian Hindu calendar. The same day falls in the Magha month as per the South Indian Hindu dating system.
In 2023 Mahashivratari is being celebrated on 18th February, Saturday. May all your troubles be healed on this day, and may the blessings of Lord Shiva guide you towards a more fulfilling and prosperous life.
Maha shivratari 2023 Celebration: Date and Time
Usually, the Mahashivratri date and time falls in the second half of February or the first half of March. The Mahashivratri 2023 date and time will be further divided into a specific span of Shubh muhurat – this muhurat is the deadline between which the devotee must break their fast. The Shubh muhurat is also divided into several Kaal and Prahar. The Maha Shivratri 2023 date is on 18th February, when the Chaturdashi Tithi begins. The Puja timings also stretch into the next day, which is 19th February 2023.
Let us understand this more carefully.
Mahashivratri 2023 English date in India | From 18th February 2023, Saturday to 19th February 2023, Sunday |
Mahashivratri 2023 Hindi date in India | Fourth day of the Krishna paksha, Phalguna month in north India and Magha month in the south and east India. |
Nishita Kaal Puja | 19th February, 12:09 am to 1:00 a.m. |
Duration | Approximately 1 hour |
Mahashivratri 2024 date | 8th March 2024 |
Maha Shivratri 2023 Puja Timings
The Maha Shivratri 2023 time is quite complicated. Make sure to consult your temple purohit ji for a better idea of which Prahar is the best Puja Prahar for you.
Shivratri 2023 Parana time | 19th February 0:56 am to 03:24 pm |
Ratri First Prahar Puja | 19th February 06:13 pm to 09:24 pm |
Ratri Second Prahar Puja | 19th February 09:24 pm to 12:35 am |
Ratri Third Prahar Puja | 19th February 12:35 am to 03:46 am |
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja | 19th February 03:46 am to 06:56 am |
Start of Chaturdshi Tithi | 18 February 08:02 pm |
End of Chaturdshi Tithi | 19th February 04:18 pm |
Importance of Maha Shivratri 2023 the Most Essential Hindu Puja?
We all will surely celebrate the Shivratri 2023 date with great joy and bhakti, because this date is a proud moment of Hindu traditions. But many people do not know the true legends behind the day of Mahashivratri 2023 and what makes it such an important date.
- Redemption from past sins: on this day all past sins of your present and past life can be redeemed by the lord of death, cosmic Shiva. By performing tasks of punya on the day of Maha Shivaratri like puja and charity, all your past wrong deeds can be forgiven.
- Blessings for a great future husband to women: all unmarried women are encouraged to properly follow the nirjala vrat on Mahashivratri to get a future husband as a loving and caring as Lord Shiva himself.
- Protection against obstacles in life: Lord Shiva is one of the most powerful gods in all trilok. He has the ability to protect all his devotees from any obstacles or harm that people are causing you knowingly and unknowingly. Protection against obstacles in life is a major prayer that devotees make to Lord Shiva on this day.
- Get rid of all problems in marital life: Hindu scriptures suggest that both the husband and the wife should follow the Puja with his strictly and pray to Lord Shiva on this specific Mahashivratri date to strengthen their bond and make their married life as pure and grateful as that of goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
- Pray for loved ones who have passed: Shiva is the Lord of death which means you can pray to them about the people who have already passed on to the afterlife.
Maha Shivratri 2023 Vrat and Puja Vidhi
Great importance has always been placed in Hinduism on the Puja vidhi of Mahashivratri.
- Wake up early and take a bath before starting out on any Puja step.
- Wear clean clothes. Traditional, light-coloured clothes are preferred in most parts of the country while some women also like to wear green clothes to commemorate their marriage.
- Start with the vrat sankalp and complete this step with as much sincerity as possible.
- In front of the shivlingam, say your prayers or any mantras you believe in and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves. Most importantly, don’t forget to offer water, milk and curd one after the other to bathe the shivlingam.
- Finally, perform proper strotam and Aarti at the end of your prayers.
- Prana should be done during the prana muhurat and you can finally break your fast.
In some parts of the country feeding brahmins during this day with the bhog of the Mahashivratri Puja and distributing Prasad among neighbours and the community is also an essential aspect of the ‘Dana’ Puja.
Correct Puja Samagri List : 2023 Maha shivratri
Mahashivratri 2023 Puja Vidhi will forever remain incomplete without the correct puja samagri.
- Gangaajal
- Sindoor or Akshat
- Prasad
- Bhog
- Clean water
- Three pieces of clean white cloth
- Kalava
- Janeu
- Panchpatra
- Vibhuti
- Lal Chandan
- Belpatra
- Fruits and dry fruits especially the bel fruit
- Ghee
- Karpur
- Itra
- Diya
- Naivedhya
- Incense
- Bel flower and other white flowers
- Aarti thali
- Tamboolam
- Tika
Untold Stories behind Maha Shivratari 2023 Celebration
The mention of the Mahashivratari can be found in the Shiv Puran. There are several stories associated with this impactful day.
- Marks the anniversary of the marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati: the most popular story for the auspicious day of Shivratri is about how Lord Shiva got married with Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati had known each other before marriage and decided in their hearts that they would be husband and wife. The union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is said to be the union of entropy with transformation.
- Celebrates the day of the cosmic dance: it was the same day several years after the holy marriage that Maa Parvati left Lord Shiva to end her present form. Tandav signifies the destruction of the universe, a complete transfer from order to chaos. This is a representation that the powers of Lord Shiva are incomplete without the gentle shakti of Goddess Parvati.
- The story of forgiving all sins: a lesser known story believed in eastern India is that there was once a hunter who did not find anything to eat for the day. At the end of the day he merely killed a small bird and since he could not return home, decided to spend the night on a bel tree in the forest. A prehistoric shivlingam was hidden at the bottom of this tree. As the hunter fell asleep few drops of blood from the bird got mixed with a bel leaf and fell on the head of the shivlingam. This is why Lal Chandan is used on Mahashivratri day.
Difference between Shivratri and Maha shivratri
Every 4th day of Krishna paksha is, in reality, shivaratri. This is why the Shaiva sect celebrates Shivratri every month. One important Shivratri Tithi also falls in the month of Sawan. The Mahashivratri, however, is an annual event that only happens on the day before the New moon of phalguna month – as this day, above all, marks the wedding anniversary of Maa Parvati and Lord Shiva. Is it true that Mahashivratri is more auspicious than other Shivaratris? While no Shivratri can be said to be lesser in importance, the muhurat of the Mahashivratri is the most ‘Pavitra’ muhurat of the entire year, along with the Akshaya Tritiya and Devi Paksha muhurat. Even if a devotee is not able to fast on all shivratris, they should definitely keep the Mahashivratri Vrat.
FAQs related to Maha Shivratri 2023
- Which colour should I wear on Mahashivratri 2023?
Which colour to wear on Mahashivratri 2023? According to ancient scriptures, devotees should wear white or green colour clothes on Mahashivratri.
- What is the nishita kaal Puja time for Mahashivratri 2023?
The nishita kaal maha Shivratri 2023 time is from 12:09 a.m. to 1:00 am, starting on 9th February 2023.
- Can I eat during the Shivratri vrat?
The recommended worth to keep on Mahashivratri is the nirjala vrat, or nirjala upvas. This rule exempts those who are suffering from health complications which require them to eat. However on this date try to stick to falahar, and avoid any grains.
- What is the main Tithi during which I should follow the Vrat Vidhi?
Mahashivratri Vrat and Puja vidhi are followed during the chaturdshi tithi on the 4th day of Kirshna Paksha