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Maha Shivaratri 2022 - Know the Date, History, Significance and Messages.

Maha Shivratri 2022 - This auspicious festival is also known by the name "Great Night of Lord Shiva" and is celebrated in many forms. Are you familiar with the history of Maha Shivratri? Have a look!

Maha Shivratri 2022This auspicious festival of Hindus is celebrated with great enthusiasm and aplomb by devotees. It is this year celebrated on Tuesday, 1 March. Drik Panchang says the festival falls on Chaturdashi Tithi in Krishna Paksha's month of Magha. Devotees observe fasting and rudra abhishek on this day to worship Lord Shiva in order to receive his blessings.

Shivratri is believed to be the union of Shiva and Goddess Shakti, two powerful forces in the universe. Shiva is the God of Death and Goddess Shakti the God that destroys evil powers.

Maha Shivratri: History

Puranas mentions many legends and stories about the origins of Shivratri.

According to one legend, a pot was found in the ocean that contained poison during Samudra Manthan. The entire world would be destroyed by this poisonous potion, and all the demons and Gods were afraid. So the Gods turned to Lord Shiva for help. Shiva took the poison and held it in the throat, rather than swallowing it. This was done to protect the world. His throat turns blue, and he is known as Neelakantha. Shivratri is a celebration of Shiva's saving the world.

The Shiv Purana also mentions another story: Once upon a while, Vishnu and Brahma were fighting over who was superior. The war was feared by other Gods, so they sought help from Lord Shiva. Shiva created a huge fireball that spanned the entire length of the universe to make them realize the futility of their struggle. Both Gods saw the magnitude and decided to choose one side to claim supremacy. For this, Brahma took the form of a swan to ascend while Vishnu assumed Varaha and entered the earth. The fire is unlimited and they searched thousands upon thousands of miles for the end. Brahma found a Ketaki blossom on the way up. Ketaki asked him where she was from. Ketaki answered that she had been offered at the top fiery column. Brahma couldn't find the upper limit, so he took the flower and came.

Shiva then revealed his true form and became furious. Brahma didn't find the highest limit and told lies. Shiva punished him for lying and cursed that no one would pray for him. Even the Ketaki flower was forbidden from being offered for worship. Maha Shivratri is an auspicious day because it is on this day, which falls in the dark half of Phalguna, that Shiva first appeared in the form of Linga. This day is considered to be a blessed day for those who worship Shiva.

Another legend states that Shiva gave Goddess Paravati, an avatar Shakti of Shiva, his blessing and wanted to marry her because he was impressed with her devotion. The goddess prayed for Shiva's good health on a dark night. An Indian woman prays for her husband's long life.

Maha Shivratri can be observed in many Indian states, including Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh as well as Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh (Punjab), Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

It is also celebrated as the anniversary Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is also remembered as the day Shiva saved the world by removing the poison pot. This day also marks the moment when Vishnu and Brahma got into an argument over their supremacy.

Maha Shivratri: Significance

Shiva devotees and followers perform special pujas, fast in many temples around the globe, and are known as Shiva followers. They offer milk to Shivalings and pray for moksha. Many devotees pray throughout the night and chant mantras to Lord Shiva. Women pray for a good husband and happy marriage. This day is celebrated with various cultural programs and temple fairs.

Read More...https://raahdekrishna.org/maha-shivaratri-2022-know-the-date-history-significance-and-messages

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Rakhi History: Everything You Need to Know About Raksha bandhan Ever wondered about the history of Raksha Bandhan?

It is amazing that each year so many women search for the perfect band to support their brother. As you may have guessed, Indian history has many stories that tell about this festival. Each story is different, but each one contains similar morals. Here are some of the most famous stories about the great festival of Rakhi .

Krishna and Draupadi

The most famous story in Indian mythology, Draupadi and Lord Krishna, is 'The wife the five Pandavas'. According to the legend, Krishna accidentally cut his finger while handling sugarcane on Makar Sankranti. Rukmini, his Queen, immediately sent an official to apply bandages. Draupadi was watching and cut off a small portion of her Saree to stop the bleeding. Krishna offered to help her if she needed it. Krishna provided help during Draupadi unceremonious disrobing. Krishna made Draupadi a saree that would never end, saving her embarrassment and giving her protection when she most needed it

Rani Karnavati, Emperor Humayun

Rani Karnavati, Emperor Humayun are two other famous versions of Rakhi's history. After Rana Sanga's death, Karnavati became the official of Mewer. Vikramjeet, her older son, was her ruler. Mewer was attacked by Bahadur Shah, Gujarat for the second consecutive time. He had defeated Vikramjeet earlier. The Queen started looking for support from other kingdoms. Although initially apprehensive at first, the nobles eventually agreed to take on Shah. Karnavati wrote to Humayun in the meantime. She sent him a Rakhi and requested protection. It was interesting to learn that Humayun's father Babur had defeated Rana Sanga in 1527 when he led an amalgamation Rajput armies against Rana Sanga. He abandoned the campaign and turned his attention towards Mewar.

He was unable to make it in time because the Rajput army had been defeated at Chittoor. Bahadur Shah was unable to save the queen from the humiliation of her fall. Shah could not continue and was forced to leave Chittoor when Mughal military reinforcements arrived shortly after. Humayun restored the kingdom to Karnavati son Vikramjeet.

Yama & the Yamuna

Another legend states that Yama, the Lord Of Death, and Yamuna (the river that flows in India), followed the ritual of Raksha bandha. According to the legend, Yama, the Lord of Death granted Yamuna immortality when he tied a Rakhi to Yama. He was so moved by the gesture that he declared that any brother who tied a Rakhi to Yama would be granted immortality.

The Birth and Death of Santoshi Maa

This version of the festival of rakhi refers to the Santoshi Maa birth. Lord Ganesha's sister Manasa visits him on an auspicious day to tie him a rakhi. After seeing this, Ganesha's children insist on getting a sister. Ganesha’s gives in to his demands and creates goddess Santoshi using the divine flames said to have come from his consorts Siddhi, Riddhi, and Siddhi.

Roxana, King Porus

Another legend states that Alexander the Great invaded India 326 BC. Roxana, Roxana's wife, sent Porus a sacred thread, and requested him not to hurt her husband on the battlefield. Alexander refuses to be killed after he honors his request. Porus would eventually lose the Battle of the Hydaspes, but Alexander would earn his respect and honor. Porus would eventually become a loyal Macedonian satrap after his death.

Read More...https://raahdekrishna.org/rakhi-history-everything-you-need-to-know-about-raksha-bandhan-ever-wondered-about-the-history-of-raksha-bandhan

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True Vrindavan story: Krishna appears to be a devotee on Govardhan

Five years ago, there was a horrible monsoon. As if the end had come, water poured out of the sky. The small lanes became torrents of water, creating a lot trouble for both animals and men.

The worst affected were the free-roaming cattles, who began to wander the streets in desperate search of shelter from the torrential rains.

Baba, a sadhu that the village called, felt the distress of the cows and decided to abandon his spiritual practice to help them.

Baba thought: Krishna had five thousand years ago helped cows by lifting the mountain Giriraj, and holding it up like an umbrella...Something urgent needed to be done as the cows were in the same situation.

Baba worked tirelessly for two days, getting help from everyone who was willing to help. He had built a rain-shelter that was large enough to house the cows of Aniyor. Then he brought them under the roof at his "goshala", a temporary cow-ashram

He was exhausted and went to bed with the cows. He woke up soon and couldn't fall asleep again. After working so hard, he didn't have any time to eat for 48 hours.

He saw a small boy enter the cowshed at midnight. Baba was sweetly presented with a bowl of laddu's that he had brought along.

"You must be hungry, so eat these laddu's. I will take my bowl to the kitchen in the morning. You may also need it,

He quickly left Baba's hand with these words and handed him a stick for cattle-herding. Everything happened in the darkness and very quickly.

There was much commotion in the village the next morning. The priests at the temple on the Giriraj mountain ordered a search of all the village

The temple was broken into by a thief who stole Nathaji that night (The name of the local Krishna deity), silver bowl and His cowherd sticks.