[Janaki Mohan]

Having a good sleep is considered good for our body and health. Then why is it demanded of people to stay awake during Shivratri? Is there any specific reason behind it or is it just as a symbolic gesture revering Parvati Devi for her strict tapasya to get Lord Shiva as her husband?

[Vedka A]

The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon is known as Shivarathri. Among all the twelve Shivarathris that occur in a calendar year, Mahashivarathri, the one that occurs in February-March is of the most spiritual significance. On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. It is to make use of this, that in this tradition, we establish a certain festival which is night-long. One of the fundamentals of this night-long festival is to ensure that to allow this natural upsurge of energies to find their way you remain with your spine vertical you stay awake. By staying awake on this night we can increase our concentration and it can make us tougher. In Hinduism waves and vibration plays a major role. By chanting panchakshari mantra we are tuning our body to accept the energy. For instance the word aum produces more vibration in our body than any other word helping us to match the frequency. By observing fast we make our body an ideal receiver, here the lingams act as transmission centers.

[Midhun Narayan]

Shivaratri Fast is considered to be the most important vrat for Shaivites or Shiva Bhakts. Shiva Purana goes on to say that if a Shiva bhakt observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva.

There are merits for observing the Shivratri Vrat:
According to Hindu mythology, observance of mahashivratri Vrat with discipline helps a devotee to control the two great natural forces that affects us, Rajas Guna (the quality of passionate activity) and Tamas Guna (the quality of inertia). When a true bhakt spends an entire day at the Feet of the Lord and worships with sincerity, his motion is controlled and evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. Besides, when a bhakt observes vigil throughout the night (jaagran) he manages to defeat the evils of Tamas Guna too. It has also been mentioned that when a devotee observes a round of worship every three hours, the Shivaratri Vrata becomes perfect.

At the end of the day it’s about the strength of your belief. I suggest you take/ observe a fast only if you truly believe in Lord Shiva. Performing any action halfheartedly will never yield results. Observe a Shivaratri Fast with sincerity and chant the name of Lord Shiva with perfect devotion to be absolved from all sins. Such a devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shiva and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

[sharmaakshay19101]

people show their faith in lord shiva so they do fasting and stay awake to do worship of shiva through his mantras and singing songs in a group

[zarajazmin]

rhfhf

[aniagul7643]

Devotees stay awake during Shivratri not as a punishment or a symbolic gesture, but to harness the spiritual energy that is said to peak during this night.

The alignment of the planets and the natural upsurge of energies within the human system create an optimal time for spiritual growth and connection with the divine.

[Author]

Posts