Masik Shivaratri मासिक शिवरात्रि
Dedicated to Shiva
About Masik Shivaratri
Masik Shivaratri (Monthly Shivaratri) occurs on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi (14th day of the waning moon) of every Hindu month. While Maha Shivaratri in Phalguna is the most famous and widely celebrated, each monthly Shivaratri carries significant spiritual merit for Shiva devotees. The night of Chaturdashi — just before the new moon — is considered powerful for Shiva worship because Lord Shiva is believed to manifest most powerfully during this darkest phase. Devotees observe a day-long fast, perform the four-prahar puja through the night (dividing the night into four watches, each with a separate abhishekam of the Shiva Lingam), and stay awake chanting mantras and singing bhajans. The practice of observing all twelve Masik Shivaratris in a year is considered equivalent to performing a significant pilgrimage and is believed to bring Shiva's direct blessings for liberation.
मासिक शिवरात्रि प्रत्येक हिंदू माह की कृष्ण पक्ष चतुर्दशी (घटते चंद्रमा का 14वाँ दिन) को आती है। फाल्गुन की महा शिवरात्रि सबसे प्रसिद्ध है, लेकिन प्रत्येक मासिक शिवरात्रि शिव भक्तों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण आध्यात्मिक पुण्य रखती है। चतुर्दशी की रात — नवचंद्र से ठीक पहले — शिव पूजा के लिए शक्तिशाली मानी जाती है क्योंकि भगवान शिव इस सबसे अंधेरे चरण में सर्वाधिक शक्तिशाली रूप से प्रकट होते माने जाते हैं। भक्त दिन भर व्रत रखते हैं, रात्रि में चार-प्रहर पूजा (रात को चार पहरों में बाँटकर, प्रत्येक में शिवलिंग का अलग अभिषेक) करते हैं, और मंत्र जाप और भजन गाते हुए जागरण करते हैं। वर्ष में सभी बारह मासिक शिवरात्रियों का पालन एक महत्वपूर्ण तीर्थयात्रा के समतुल्य माना जाता है।
Spiritual Significance
Masik Shivaratri honors Lord Shiva on the darkest night before each new moon. Regular observance throughout the year is believed to accumulate the merit of all twelve monthly observances and bring Shiva's blessings for spiritual liberation.
मासिक शिवरात्रि प्रत्येक नवचंद्र से पहले सबसे अंधेरी रात को भगवान शिव का सम्मान करती है। वर्ष भर नियमित पालन सभी बारह मासिक व्रतों का संचित पुण्य और मोक्ष के लिए शिव का आशीर्वाद प्रदान करने वाला माना जाता है।
Key Rituals & Practices
- Observe a fast from sunrise to the next morning after puja
- Perform Shiva Lingam abhishekam with milk, honey, water, and bilva leaves
- Stay awake through the night (jagran) with prayers and meditation
- Chant Om Namah Shivaya, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, or Rudra Ashtadhyayi
- Visit a Shiva temple during the night for darshan and aarti
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Masik Shivaratri different from Maha Shivaratri?
Masik Shivaratri occurs every month on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi, while Maha Shivaratri specifically refers to the Shivaratri in the month of Phalguna (February-March), which is considered the most powerful and widely celebrated. The rituals are essentially the same — fasting, night vigil, and Shiva puja — but Maha Shivaratri carries greater cosmic significance. It is believed that the alignment of celestial energies on Maha Shivaratri is uniquely powerful for spiritual awakening. However, observing all twelve monthly Shivaratris is considered a complete spiritual practice on its own.
What is the four-prahar puja on Shivaratri?
The traditional Shivaratri night vigil divides the night into four prahars (watches or quarters), each approximately 3 hours long. In each prahar, a separate abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the Shiva Lingam is performed with different offerings: first prahar with milk, second with curd (yogurt), third with ghee (clarified butter), and fourth with honey. Between the abhishekams, devotees chant mantras, sing bhajans, and meditate. This four-fold worship represents a complete offering of devotion through all phases of the night and is considered the ideal way to observe Shivaratri.
Which month's Masik Shivaratri is most significant after Maha Shivaratri?
After Maha Shivaratri (Phalguna), the Shivaratri of Shravan month (July-August) is often considered the next most significant, as the entire month of Shravan is sacred to Lord Shiva. Mondays in Shravan (Shravan Somvar) are already major Shiva worship days, and Shivaratri falling in this month carries exceptional merit. The Kartik Shivaratri also holds special importance as it falls near Dev Deepawali. However, all twelve monthly observances are spiritually valuable, and consistency of practice matters more than choosing specific months.
Festival Details
- Deity
- Shiva
- Category
- Vrat & Fasting
- Regions
- All India
- Calendar Basis
- Monthly Recurring
- Importance
- normal