Maha Shivaratri Puja
The night of Shiva: abhishek, bilva leaves and four watches
Common way — most homes
Maha Shivaratri, Krishna Chaturdashi of Magha (Amanta), through the night. The main worship is at midnight, in Nishita Kaal. Muhurtha shows the time on the festival card.
About 30 minutes for each puja; the night's watches are up to you
On this night devotees stay awake with Shiva. The Shivalinga is bathed with water and milk, offered bilva leaves, and his name is chanted through four watches of the night. Monthly Shivaratri can follow the same steps in a shorter form. If a mantra is hard, "Om Namah Shivaya" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›Om Namah Shivaya ›Mahamrityunjaya Mantra ›Om Jai Shiv Omkara ›Karpura Gauram ›
Get ready
The day before
- Clean the puja place and eat a light, simple meal.
- Buy bilva leaves, or ask a temple or garden; choose whole three-part leaves that are not torn.
On the day
- Bathe early and set the fasting intention in your morning sankalpa.
- Keep the milk, curd, honey and ghee for the abhishek ready before evening.
What you need
For Shiva
- 1Shivalinga, or a picture of ShivaA small linga on a plate with a rim works at home.
- 11, 21 or 108Bilva leavesWhole three-part leaves.
- A little of eachWater, milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar
- A littleSandal paste and bhasma (vibhuti)
- A handfulDatura or white flowers, and dhatura fruit if you have it
- 1 plateFruit and thandai or milk sweets
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Settle in
Sit facing east or north before the deity on a mat or folded cloth. Keep the plate on your right. Take a breath and let the day wait for a few minutes.
Achamana — sip water three times
Pour a little water into your right palm and sip it three times, saying the first three names, one with each sip. Then wash your right hand with a little water while saying the fourth.
ōm kēśavāya namaḥ. ōm nārāyaṇāya namaḥ. ōm mādhavāya namaḥ. ōm gōvindāya namaḥ.Salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava; salutations to Govinda.Purify yourself and the place
Hold a flower dipped in water and sprinkle a few drops on yourself, the plate and the altar while saying this verse.
ōm apavitraḥ pavitrō vā sarvāvasthāṁ gatō'pi vā. yaḥ smarēt puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ.Whether pure or impure, in whatever state, one who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord is pure within and without.Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Dhyana — invite the deity
Close your eyes and picture the deity before you. Offer a pinch of akshat as you invite them to be present.
ōm namaḥ śivāya. dhyāyāmi, āvāhayāmi.Abhishek — bathe the linga
Pour water over the linga slowly while chanting. Then, one at a time, milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar, with water between each. Finish with clean water, pat dry, and apply sandal paste and bhasma.
ōm namaḥ śivāya.Bilva leaves
Offer the bilva leaves on the linga one at a time, smooth side down, stem towards you, saying this verse.
tridalaṁ triguṇākāraṁ trinētraṁ ca triyāyudham. trijanmapāpasanhāraṁ ēkabilvaṁ śivārpaṇam.The three-part leaf, of the three qualities, three eyes and three weapons, which destroys the wrongs of three births: this one bilva I offer to Shiva.Pushpa — flowers
Offer the flowers at the deity's feet, one or a few at a time.
ōm namaḥ śivāya. puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi.Dhupa — incense
Light the incense and wave it gently before the deity three times, clockwise. Ring the bell with your left hand if you have one.
ōm namaḥ śivāya. dhūpam āghrāpayāmi.Deepa — the lamp
Lift the lamp and show it to the deity, circling it clockwise three times.
ōm namaḥ śivāya. dīpaṁ darśayāmi.Naivedya — food
Place the food before the deity. Sprinkle a little water around it, and offer it with folded hands. Wait a moment, as if it is being received.
ōm namaḥ śivāya. naivēdyaṁ nivēdayāmi.Chant Om Namah Shivaya
Chant this on a rudraksha or any mala 108 times, or as many as you can.
ōm namaḥ śivāya.Mahamrityunjaya
If you know it or want to read it, say the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, the prayer for healing and protection. Three times is enough; 108 if you have time.
Aarti
Light camphor and sing Om Jai Shiv Omkara with the family, circling the flame clockwise. Many close with the Karpura Gauram verse.
Pradakshina — circle in reverence
Turn around clockwise in your place three times (or walk around the altar if there is room), saying this verse.
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakr̥tāni ca. tāni tāni vinaśyanti pradakṣiṇapadē padē.Whatever wrongs were done in past lives are destroyed with every step taken around the Lord.Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.The four watches
The night is divided into four prahars. If you keep them, repeat the abhishek and bilva at the start of each. If not, one puja at midnight is the heart of it. Stay awake as long as you can, with chanting, reading or quiet.
Parana — break the fast
The next morning, after bathing and a short prayer, break the fast within the time shown on the fast card. Begin with the prasad.
Fasting
Many keep a strict fast through the day and night, with fruit and milk if needed, and break it the next morning. Elders, children, the unwell and those who are pregnant should eat as they need; the fast is not worth harm.
Good to do
- Keep the night quiet: less phone, more chanting or reading.
- Give fruit or milk to someone in need the next morning.
Tradition avoids
- Tradition does not offer tulasi, kumkum or turmeric to the Shivalinga.
- In a temple, tradition walks only part way round the linga and does not cross the channel where the water flows out.
Shiva is called Bholenath, the easily pleased. Water, one leaf and his name, offered sincerely, are said to be enough.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.