How to benefit from Mahashivratri?

Fasting, good deeds and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

We celebrate Mahashivratri on the Krishna Trayodashi and Krishna Chaturdashi of Magha month. It is a very auspicious day. To derive maximum contentment and happiness on Mahashivratri, we should do any of the following activities according to our available time and resources.:

1. Perform any puja,

2. Keep a fast, or

3. Engage in some sattvik work  

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Fasting on Mahashivratri:

Mahashivaratri commences from the night of Krishna Trayodashi. Keeping fast on both Trayodashi and Chaturdashi is auspicious. Many people keep fast on the day newspapers declare Shivratri date. However, although Shivaratri starts from the night of Trayodashi, in Ling Purana, it is said that it is auspicious to do fast on Chaturdashi. 

Some people fast on both days, some people eat only once on Trayodashi and do complete fasting on Chaturdashi. Even if we cannot keep a strict fast, we should restrict ourselves to consuming fruits and kutu preparations during the day or in the evening.

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Alternative of keeping fast:

If any of us cannot keep fast because of various reasons, an effective alternative is to recite Shiva Mantra or Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Sri Rudram Namakam (11th Anuvaka, Sloka 14 & 15) narrates the powerful Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

If we have time at hand, then we should listen to or recite Vedic Nava Graha Shanti Mantras which are freely available on RationalAstro YouTube Channel. I have tried singing these suktams as per the prescribed rendition. 

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Let’s reduce the tamas within:

Lord Shiva is the only form of the Almighty that can reduce the tamas within us. As our tamas decreases, our inner harmony increases.

Either we keep a fast or recite the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra or Nava-graha suktams on this auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, we should do it with a pure heart. Our mind should be positively and peacefully disposed.

Let’s do Shiva Puja and listen to the auspicious Mahamrityunjaya Mantra to celebrate a happy Mahashivratri:

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🙏 Om Namah Shivay 🙏

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