Devotees celebrate Maha Shivaratri in DK and Udupi

Devotees celebrate Maha Shivaratri in DK and Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 2: Mahashivaratri is being celebrated across the country today by observing fast and performing pooja in honour of Lord Shiva.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devout Hindus have been observing Maha Shivarathri since ancient times. Literally, Maha Shivarathri means “a night devoted to Lord Shiva” and arrives on the 14th day of the waning moon during the month of Margashira, according to the Hindu calendar.

A large number of devotees visit Shiva temples all over the country to pray to Lord Shiva for peace, happiness, prosperity and others. Mahashivathri is celebrated in silence, with devotees staying awake all night, fasting, and singing bhajans in honor of Lord Shiva.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thousands of devotees thronged the ‘ Kudroli Gokarnath Kshethra and Kadri Temple’ in Mangalore and Somanatheshwara temple in Ullal on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

Mahashivarathri is grandly celebrated in Kadri Temple, Mangalore, with the holy place reverberating with the sound of chanting and bells. A large number of devotees offerred prayers and participated in Loka Kalyanartha Poojas, Shiva Linga abhisheka, Siyalabhisheka, Homas, and others.

Since Wednesday morning, the temples were a flurry of activity. Devotees, mostly women with their families, thronged the premises decked up in their finery and took the lead in observing the rituals, which included pouring of water and milk on the ‘lingam’ (icon of Lord Shiva) and offering fruits and sweetmeats as ‘prasadam (divine offering).

Devotees believe that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvathi and danced the Tandava on this particular day. They observe the day by visiting temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and offer a wide range of services such as abhisheka, offering holy fig leaves to the Lingam, and others. The most popular way of observing the day is by offering holy fig leaves to the Lingam because a number of legends speak of how devotees earned the Lord’s blessings by offering holy fig leaves and water.

Lord Shiva is known by hundreds of names such as Eshwara, Bholenath, Hara, Shambhunatha, and others. Though generous, he has a fierce temper. Devotees believe that he is in a graceful and benevolent mood on the day of Maha Shivarathri, owing to which they fast throughout the day and remain awake at night, spending time in the temples, serving the Lord in various ways, and singing bhajans composed in his honor.

In Mangalore, all the temples devoted to Lord Shiva have been decorated and arrangements have been made to receive devotees. Shiva temples such as Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple and Kadri Manjunatheshewara Temple attract huge crowds of devotees, who queue up to witness the large number of programmes arranged by the temple authorities.