Informative

Mahashivratri 2023, Sadhana and Preparation Details

One of the most revered Tantra festivals of the year, the Mahashivratri is on Feb 18, 2023. Sadhaks from around the world gather and bask in the glory of the Divine Union. Mahadev, Lord Shiv and Maharani, Maa Parvati were married on Mahashivratri. Maha means great and Shivratri means the night of Shiva. The great night of Shiva, is when the Paurash (The Great Masculine) and Prakriti (The Great Feminine), come together and become one. Energy meets matter and knowledge and together, they create the universe. For science enthusiasts, this is something similar to the big bang. When the two greats come together, the divine energies come out and they are vibrating at their highest frequencies. This is the wedding of the universe and what do people do at weddings? That’s right, they dance, they enjoy, they make merry and they play. It’s a joyful dance of the universe when the divinity is at its highest. In addition, on the wedding day, families of the bride and groom fast all day, before the feast. They prepare, perform rituals and get ready for the ultimate shower of blessings. 

In this blog, we are listing down the preparations for the Mahashivratri Sadhana, the things you need and the instructions for the Sadhana and Puja – 

Ingredients Needed – 

1. Panchamrit (Made of Ghee, Milk, Honey, Sugar, Curd) Watch this video to see the recipe

2. Water from a running source (like a river or waterfall, rainwater or even a tap). 

3. Attar (this is fragrant oil)

4. Janeu (Janeu is a white thread worn on the right shoulder by brahmin men in India, it represents the sacred vision to see things in a just way).  

5. Whole rice grains (You can use basmati rice grains for this, just ensure the rice grains aren’t broken).

6. Flower garland (You can use rose, hibiscus or white crown flowers). 

7. Belpatra (It’s the leaf of the Bel/Bilva tree (Aegle Marmelos). You can search it online as well. 

8. Dhatura. Bhang (Bhang is an edible mixture made from the buds, leaves, and flowers of the female cannabis, or marijuana, plant). This is optional since Bhang isn’t legal in many states. 

9. Seasonal fruits, Dakshina (Coins) and a plate to keep the Diya in. 

10. Ghee (clarified butter), diya (earthen or metal lamp), 

11. Durva leaves (Bermuda grass).

12. Dhoop (these are extruded incense sticks, lacking the bamboo stick core)

13. Kapoor (Camphor).

14 . Some sweets. 

Puja Vidhi – 

First, wash the Shiva Linga with water, then the Panchamrit, then again with water. Collect the residue water and Panchamrit in a bowl for after. Now bathe the Shiva Linga with Attar and the water you got from the running source. Now offer Janeu to Lord Shiva. Now, offer Akshats, flower garland, belpatra, dhatura and bhang.  Now, offer the seasonal fruits, and coins. Now take the diya, dhoop and kapoor on the plate, light them, and sing Lord Shiva’s aarti (you can find the aarti online). If you are unable to pronounce all of it, you can just play it. After the aarti, thank Lord Shiva for fulfilling all your desires, intentions and goals and ask for His forgiveness for anything wrong you might have intentionally or unintentionally done. 

Post this, sit on your Sadhana mat and perform Lord Shiva’s Sadhana, the mantra is – Om Haum Jum Sah for at least thirty minutes. Chant in your mind and align with the powers of Maa Parvati and Lord Shiva, and visualize them blessing you abundantly. 

It is believed that when you perform the puja and Sadhana wholeheartedly, all your desires, goals and intentions are fulfilled and the divine union blesses you abundantly. 

Please note that the Puja and Sadhana ingredients and instructions are recommended and you don’t need to worry so much if you can’t find some of them at your location. The Sadhana and Puja’s success depend on your purity of heart and intention more than anything else. 

We hope this blog helps you perform Lord Shiva’s Sadhana and Puja on Mahashivratri and that all your goals, intentions and desires are fulfilled. 

Har Har Mahadev, Jai Mata Di. 
For any queries, write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com