In India, the festival of Maha Shivratri 2025 is one of the most sacred and significant festivals of Hindus. The Maha Shivratri is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is an important deity in the Hindu religion.
The greatness of Lord Shiva has been described in the Puranas, Vedas, and Hindu religious scriptures. Every day is auspicious for the worship of Lord Shiva, but Monday, Sawan, Shivaratri, and Maha Shivratri have special significance.
In this blog, we, together with 99Panditji.in, will explore Maha Shivaratri 2025 with its rituals, significance, and mythological stories related to Maha Shivratri 2025. So without a due let us get started!
Introduction to Maha Shivaratri 2025
Maha Shivratri 2025 is the festival of the union of Lord Shiva and Maa Shakti. Every year the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the wedding festival of Shiva-Gauri. It is a ritual wherein people worship Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati on this day. Devotees also observe the fast to receive the infinite blessings from Lord Shiva.
According to the Hindu Calendar, people celebrate the festival of Maha Shivratri 2025 on the monthly Shivratri of Falgun month. They celebrate Maha Shivratri on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha in the Falgun month.
The Shivratri fast occurs once every month. There are 12 Shivratri fasts in the whole year, and one of them is Mahashivratri. Shivratri is the time of celebration of life according to the Hindu calendar, which falls on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of any month.
On this day, Lord Shiva and his whole family are worshipped by fasting. By the grace of Shiva, a person’s sorrows end, sins are erased, and wishes are fulfilled. On the day of Shivratri, there is a rush of devotees at the temples. People perform Jalabhishek of Shivling.
Significance of Maha Shivaratri 2025
Maha Shivratri is observed on Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha of Falfun month. As per belief, the Maha Shivratri fast should be kept on the day when Chaturdashi falls at midnight. Mahashivratri 2025 festival has great importance in the Hindu religion.
If proper worship of Adidev Mahadev is done on this day, then all the wishes are fulfilled and troubles are eliminated. According to mythological texts, Lord Shiva and Shakti met on this day. According to Ishan Samhita, Bholenath appeared in the form of divine Jyotirlinga on the Chaturdashi date of Phalgun month.
This is the day on which, as mentioned in a story in Shivpuran, Lord Shiva married Mother Parvati, and Bholenath had abandoned the life of renunciation and taken to household life.
The fast of Mahashivratri also has astrological significance. According to Vedic beliefs, the Chaturthi date of every month is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the belief, the moon is very weak on this date, so Lord Shiva wears it on his head. By worshipping Lord Shiva on this day, the position of the moon in the devotee’s horoscope also becomes strong.
It is written in Shivratri Mahatmya that there is no other fast greater than Shivratri. The person who observes a waterless fast on Shivratri and worships it four times in the four hours of awakening and night attains the blessings of Shiva
Maha Shivaratri 2025 Date and Time
This year, the Maha Shivratri 2025 fast will be observed on 26 February 2025. On this day, the worship time in Nishita Kaal is going to be from 12:09 AM to 12:59 AM. The Shubh Muhurat for Maha Shivratri 2025 is given as follows:
- Night first Prahar puja time – 06:19 PM to 09:26 PM.
- Night Dwitiya Prahar Puja Time – 09:26 PM to 12:34 AM, February 27.
- Night third Prahar puja time – 12:34 AM to 03:41 AM, February 27.
- Night fourth Prahar puja time – 03:41 AM to 06:48 AM, February 27.
- Parana of Mahashivratri fast can be done after 8 AM on 27 February.
Mythological story related to Maha Shivaratri
Many mythological stories connect with Mahashivratri; one of those stories will reach us. Mythology says that Mother Parvati performed heavy penance to make Lord Shiva her husband. According to the mythology Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati married each other on Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha of Falgun month. Since then, Mahashivratri is highly sacred.
The Garuda Purana says that on the day of Mahashivratri, Nishadraj went hunting with his dog, but he could not find any prey. Tired and troubled by hunger and thirst, he went to the bank of a pond, where he found a Shivling installed under a Bilva tree.
Nishadraj plucked some Bilva leaves to rest his body, which also fell upon the Shivling. He sprinkled water from the pond on his feet to wash them, and a few drops of that water also dripped onto the Shivling.
While in this process, he bent down with one of his arrows falling which he bent towards the Shivling to pick up. In this way, he unknowingly completed the process of Shiva worship on Shivratri. After death, when Yamdoot came to take him, then Shiva’s Ganas protected him and drove them away.
In this way, worshipping Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri out of ignorance brought auspicious results.
Maha Shivaratri 2025: Rituals
To observe the fast of Maha Shivratri 2025, you should stick to the following rituals:
1. Cleanliness
Take a shower, and be neat and presentable in clean, appropriate clothing. Sweep or dust the place where you want to carry out the puja or where you have the puja room.
2. Puja Setup
Begin the puja by placing an image or idol of Lord Shiva, along with the Shiv Linga or Shiva yantra, on a platform or pedestal. Decorate the place with flowers, leaves, and fruits around the idol.
3. Offerings
You can offer different fruits, milk, honey, and other favourite foods of Lord Shiva. You can also offer bel patra, which are considered propitious on this occasion.
4. Mantra Chanting
Recite mantras, including Om Namah Shivaya or Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. One can also pray Shiva Chalisa or any other prayer.
5. Shiva Linga Abhishek
This step includes Abhishek, pouring milk, honey, or water on the shiva linga as well as exercising fascination with mantras.
6. Aarti of Lord Shiva
Finally, complete the Puja by performing the Aarti of Lord Shiva with a lighted lamp or Deepak.
Maha Shivaratri 2025: Puja Vidhi
- One should change into clean clothes after taking a bath in the early morning on the day of the fast
- After that, you should take a pledge to observe the fast on Maha Shivratri day.
- On the day of Maha Shivratri, perform puja in the morning and puja in the evening.
- On this day, take a bath in the evening then go to the temple of Lord Shiva and worship as the occasion demands.
- Offer Belpatra, Bhaang and Dhatura to Lord Bholenath on the day of Mahashivratri celebrated during magha Shravan maas.
- Pujan of Maha Shivratri 2025 is particularly recommended to be performed in ‘Nishith Kaal.’
Top 5 Powerful Mantras of Lord Shiva for Maha Shivaratri 2025
1. Panchakshari Shiva Mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय ||
Om Namah Shivaya
2. Mahamrityunjaya mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् |
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat
3. Shiva Rudra Mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते रूद्राय।
Om Namo Bhagwate Rudraay
4. Shiva Gayatri Mantra
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात ।
Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Mahadevaya Deemahi Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat
5. Shiva Dhyan Mantra
करचरणकृतं वाक् कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसंवापराधं ।
विहितं विहितं वा सर्व मेतत् क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्री महादेव शम्भो ॥
Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaya Jam Karmajam Vaa
Shravannayanjam Vaa Maansam Vaa Paradham
Vihitam Vihitam Vaa Sarv Metat Kshamasva
Jay Jay Karunaabdhe Shri Mahadev Shambho
Conclusion
Maha Shivaratri 2025 is a great chance to return to your soul’s purpose, ask for God Shiva’s grace, and find inspiration within. Regardless of whether you are a first-time visitor to this strong festival or simply a regular, this night can open the door to a change in your life.
Many Puranas mention the reason for celebrating Mahashivratri. In the Pradosh Kaal, the lord of destruction, Lord Shiva, did the Tandava to demolish the universe with his rage and fire coming from the third eye. For this reason, the Mahashivratri is called Kaalratri.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article; we will come back with more interesting blog posts and articles about the spirituality of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Till then stay connected with 99Panditji.in. Happy Reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Every year the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the wedding festival of Shiva-Gauri. It is a ritual wherein people worship Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati on this day, and devotees do fasting on Maha Shivratri.
Anyone who desires to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva can observe the Maha Shivratri Vrat. However, for pregnant women, people with diseases, and those who are physically weak, it is best to consult a doctor before starting the fast.
Devotees who observe Maha Shivratri Vrat should not have any grain items, such as rice and wheat. They could have fruits, nuts, and milk products.
Keeping the Maha Shivratri Vrat is said to bring inner peace and spirituality, and the blessing of Lord Shiva to a devotee's life. The mind and body are purified, and one is overcome with negative tendencies.