Lord Shiva once said, as recorded in the scriptures, that whoever worships his and Ma Parvati’s statue on Mahashivaratri and fasts will be dearer to him than his own son Kartik. The benefits that one gets from a mere glimpse of Lord Shiva are unmatchable.
Therefore, Lord Shiva’s devotees observe a strict fast on Mahashivaratri, with many people not even consuming a drop of water. Worshippers dutifully follow all the traditions and customs for the fast as they strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this auspicious day releases a person from all his sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death. As Shiva is regarded as the ideal husband, unmarried women pray for a husband like him, while married women pray for the well being of their husbands.
Devotees wake up early in the morning on Mahashivaratri, and after taking a bath and wearing fresh clothes, they visit the nearest Shiva temple, to give a ritual bath to the Shiva Lingam (with milk, honey, water, etc.). The worship continues the whole day and night. The next morning, devotees break their fast by partaking the prasad offered to Lord Shiva. Chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya” continues throughout the day and night. Belva leaves are continuously offered to the Lingam. Hymns of Lord Shiva are sung with great devotion.
Here are the methods prescribed for observing a fast and worshipping Lord Shiva on Mahashivaratri:
Time
Offerings
First Quarter
Til (Sesame Seeds), Jav, Lotus, Belvapatra
Second Quarter
Fruit of Vijora, Lemon, Kheer
Third Quarter
Til, Wheat, Malpua, Pomegranate, Kapur
Fourth Quarter
Udadh dhal (white lentils), Jav, Moong, Shankhpushpi leaves, Belva-patra and Pakodas (fries) of Udadh
Benefits of worshipping Lord Shiva
Ablution of Lord Shiva is said to purify one’s soul.
By making offerings (Naivaidya) one is said to attain a long and satisfactory life.
By lighting a lamp, one becomes knowledgeable.
By offering Tambul to Lord Shiva, one can get favourable results.
One begets children by sprinkling/ pouring milk on the Shiva lingam.
After bathing Lord Shiva with curd, one can buy vehicles.
By offering Lord Shiva darbha (a kind of grass) mixed in water, one can get rid of diseases.
If honey, ghee and sugarcane are offered to Lord Shiva, one can attain wealth.
By bathing Lord Shiva with the holy water of the river Ganges, one can attain salvation.
Kanakadhara Stotram : Real Story behind this wonderful Stotram
The beautiful story of poor womens devotion -
Adi Sankaracharya was born in kaladi in 8th century when Hinduism had few problems. The Shiva worshippers , vishnu worshippers, ganesha worshippers , has misunderstandings . It is Sankaracharya who organized Hinduism and helped in its upliftment.
Once Sankaracharya was going to few houses to take bhiksha. He came across a hut and asked for bhiksha. ( food ). The women inside the house was embarrassed as a saint has come to her house for food but she is so poor that nothing was available in her house. She searched all the places and finally found an old Amla fruit (Emblic myrobalan) ( nelli kani in tamil, nelli kaya in telugu ). The poor women was feeling shy to give only this little amla fruit to Sankaya but she has immense devotion and don't want to send the saint who came to her house empty handed. She offered the amla fruit in the bowl of Lord Sankaracharya.
Birth of Kanakadhara stotram :
Sankaracharya realized the womens devotion irrespective of being poor. He immediately started singing twenty one slokas praising Goddess Mahalakshmi , praying her to bless the poor women by driving her poverty and grant her riches.
As you sow, So you reap :
Mahalakshmi replied that the lady has not done any good deeds ( helping others in charity ) in her previous birth. so she doesn't deserve riches and is destined to suffer in poverty. Adi sankaraya accepted it but said though the poor lady din't do any good deeds in previous birth, in this birth, she has such a kind heart that irrespective of being poor, she gave this little amla fruit to him and this good deed alone is enough to bless her with all prosperity.
Goddess Mahalakshmi's grace :
Listening to Sankaracharya's beautiful stotra and his arguement that the poor women must be blessed for her good deed in this birth ( offering of little amla fruit ), Mahalakshmi was moved. Friends, here comes the greatness of this Goddess. She really is for devotion and purity of heart. If we always involve in good deeds , always chanting Gods name, we will surely be blessed by Mahalakshmi.
As Sanakaracharya was singing Kanagadhara stotram, Mahalakshmi showered Golden amla fruit like rain infront of the poor womens hut. Imagine, rain of golden fruit showering from sky . How beautiful is this story friends . How beautiful is the devotion of the poor lady and how great is the saint Adi Sankaraya who sang in praise of Mahalakshmi and beyond all this How graceful is this Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Adi Sankaya has sung this "Kanakadhara stotra" for welfare of everyone who is suffering their past karma and suffering in poverty.
" Learn the art of giving heart fully". Keeping all your calculations aside.
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