Shivaratri observed
A Shivaratri Puja celebration took place at the Shree Gita Mandir (temple) in Nirvana on Thursday.
POLOKWANE – A Shivaratri Puja celebration took place at the Shree Gita Mandir (temple) in Nirvana on Thursday.
Shivaratri Puja is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon in the dark fourth night during the month of Phalgun.
Devotees fast, offer flowers and bilwa (beal) leaves.
“Devotees observe spiritual discipline during the day and worship Lord Shiva at night. The Lord Shiva is worshipped in four different ways during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night.
“Bathing the Siva-Linga in milk in the first period. The Siva-Linga is then bathed in curd during the second period, in ghee (clarified butter) during the third period and in honey in the fourth and last period.
“Every three hours, a round of worship of Shiva Linga is conducted,” explained Jyoti Mistry, a member of the Hindu community.
“Qualities such as anger and jealousy are subdued. The devotees break the fast after the fourth and last round.”
The motivation behind the fast is mainly the promotion of physical and mental self-control by acts of penance, thanks giving, praise of the Supreme Lord and for desiring special boon.
To perform the worship of Lord Shiva on Shivaratri, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath. This is followed by worship to Surya, Vishnu and Shiva in accordance with the purification rite observed on all important Hindu festivals.
Devotees then wear fresh new clothes and pay a visit to the nearest temple. It is a tradition for devotees to fast on a Shivaratri day. “Some don’t even consume a drop of water,” said Mistry.
