Mahashivaratri in Om Ashram 2015

Every year at the time of the second dark moon, the auspicious occasion of Maha Shiva Ratri or the 'Great Night of Lord Shiva' is celebrated.

This year this occasion fell on 17th of February. In Om Ashram we celebrated the event in Shree Deveshvar Mahadev Temple with with a pandit who led the whole ceremony. Four abhishekas with panch amrit (five nectars, namely: water, honey, milk, yogurt and ghee) were done. Abhisheka is a ritual bathing of the Shiva Linga while reciting Vedic mantras.

About the significance of Shivaratri and its ceremonies it is written in Shiva Purana:

विचार्य सर्वशास्त्राणि धर्माश्र्चैवाप्यनेकश: ।

शिवरात्रिव्रतमिदं सर्वोत्कृष्टं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥

VICĀRYA SARVA-ŚĀSTRĀṆI DHARMĀŚCAIVĀPYANĒKAŚAḤ |

ŚIVARĀTRI-VRATAM-IDAM SARVŌTKṚṢṬAM PRAKĪRTITAM ||

After study of the Sastras and other religious scriptures, the Shivaratri ceremony has been declared as the best.