What is the objective of Maha Shivaratri Puja?

Among the vows that please Shiva, the Shivaratri vow is the strongest; those who seek both worldly fulfilment and liberation should keep it. The source says this vow benefits everyone: those with desires and those without, people of every varna and stage of life, women, children, male and female servants, and every embodied being.

How to do Maha Shivaratri Puja?

1. Rise early and finish the daily duties such as bathing; then go to a Shiva temple, worship as prescribed and bow to Shiva. 2. Make the vow (sankalpa) before Shiva, using the words of verses 2 and 3 below: that you wish to keep the Shivaratri vow, that it may be completed without obstacles, and that desire and the other inner enemies may not trouble you. 3. Gather the materials for worship. At night go to a well-known Shiva linga, place the materials on Shiva's south or west side, bathe again, put on clean clothes, sip water three times (achamana) and begin the worship. 4. In each of the four watches (prahara) of the night, worship with devotion, with song, music and dance, and chant the mantra. One who knows the mantra may make an earthen (parthiva) linga and worship it. Please Shiva with many hymns, and read or listen to the story of the vow. 5. First watch: worship the earthen linga with many offerings. First offer the five substances, each separately with its own mantra, then pour a stream of water, reciting the mantra 108 times as you pour. Use the mantra given by your guru, or otherwise the name-mantra. Offer sandalwood paste, unbroken rice and black sesame. 6. Offer lotus and oleander (karavira) flowers with the eight name-mantras: Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahan, Bhima and Ishana, each preceded by "Shri" and in the dative form (as in "Shri Bhavaya"). Then offer incense, a lamp, cooked food, an arghya with a shriphala and betel; after that bow, meditate and chant your guru's mantra, or otherwise the five-syllable mantra. 7. Show the dhenu mudra and offer clean water (tarpana), and as your means allow, pledge a meal for five brahmins. Celebrate until the watch ends, then offer the fruit of the worship to Shiva and close that watch's worship. 8. Second watch: renew the vow (or make one vow for all four watches at once). Worship with the same substances and stream of water, chanting the mantra twice as many times as before. Worship with sesame, barley and lotuses, and above all with bilva leaves. Offer arghya with a citron (bijapura) and kheer (payasa) as the food offering. 9. Third watch: worship as before, but use wheat in place of barley, and arka (crown flower) blossoms. Offer various incense and lamps, sweet cakes (apupa) and many kinds of vegetables, perform aarti with camphor, give arghya with a pomegranate, and double the japa again. 10. Fourth watch: worship with urad, priyangu (foxtail millet), mung or the seven grains, shankhapushpi flowers and bilva leaves. Offer various sweets or a dish of urad, an arghya of banana or other fruits, and double the japa again. Pass the time until first light with song, music and dance among devotees. 11. At sunrise bathe again and worship Shiva with many offerings, including an abhisheka. Give gifts and food to brahmins and renunciants, in keeping with the number of watches kept. 12. Bow to Shiva, offer a handful of flowers (pushpanjali) and pray with folded hands (verses 5–7 below). Receive a tilak and blessings from brahmins, formally release the vow, and eat yourself only after feeding Shaiva brahmins and renunciants as your means allow. 13. At home many people keep a simpler form: in each of the four watches they bathe the Shiva linga with water, milk, curd, ghee and honey, offer bilva leaves and a lamp, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" and stay awake through the night. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice)

What are the benefits of Maha Shivaratri Puja?

This night of Magha Krishna Chaturdashi is said to destroy even ten million grave sins. Shiva is never far from one who keeps the vow this way; even kept without special effort, it becomes a seed of liberation. Shiva says that through this vow he removes all sorrow and grants worldly fulfilment, liberation and every desired fruit.

What should you keep in mind on Maha Shivaratri Puja?

Take the Krishna Paksha chaturdashi of Magha that prevails at midnight (nishitha). In the amanta calendar this is Magha Krishna Chaturdashi, and in the purnimanta calendar used in much of North India it is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi; both name the same night, Maha Shivaratri. (common practice) Keep a joyful vigil through the whole night. The source says the vow may also be kept every month with devotion (Masik Shivaratri), and that completing it later with an udyapana ceremony brings its full fruit. Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)

What should you not do on Maha Shivaratri Puja?

Do not perform Shiva's worship without mantras; offer each substance with its own mantra. Do not eat on Shivaratri; in the same Purana's Shivaratri story the stag counts it among sinful acts.

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Maha Shivaratri Puja

Maha Shivaratri Puja: Meaning, Procedure and Source Text

Pooja · 7 verses · original in Sanskrit

About Maha Shivaratri Puja

In the Koti Rudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana (ch. 38), Shiva tells Vishnu that the Shivaratri vow is the strongest of his vows. It is kept on the night of Magha Krishna Chaturdashi that lasts through midnight: a vow in the morning, worship with different offerings in each of the four watches of the night, an all-night vigil, and a closing worship the next morning. The procedure here is taken from these verses.

Text: Shiva Purana (Koti Rudra Samhita, ch. 38) (Puranic)

Meanings and summaries are editorial, written for this library from the cited edition.

Practical guidance

Objective

Among the vows that please Shiva, the Shivaratri vow is the strongest; those who seek both worldly fulfilment and liberation should keep it. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.19-20
The source says this vow benefits everyone: those with desires and those without, people of every varna and stage of life, women, children, male and female servants, and every embodied being. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.21-23

Benefits

This night of Magha Krishna Chaturdashi is said to destroy even ten million grave sins. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.24
Shiva is never far from one who keeps the vow this way; even kept without special effort, it becomes a seed of liberation. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.83-84
Shiva says that through this vow he removes all sorrow and grants worldly fulfilment, liberation and every desired fruit. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.86

How to do it

Rise early and finish the daily duties such as bathing; then go to a Shiva temple, worship as prescribed and bow to Shiva. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.26-27
Make the vow (sankalpa) before Shiva, using the words of verses 2 and 3 below: that you wish to keep the Shivaratri vow, that it may be completed without obstacles, and that desire and the other inner enemies may not trouble you. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.27-29
Gather the materials for worship. At night go to a well-known Shiva linga, place the materials on Shiva's south or west side, bathe again, put on clean clothes, sip water three times (achamana) and begin the worship. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.30-33
In each of the four watches (prahara) of the night, worship with devotion, with song, music and dance, and chant the mantra. One who knows the mantra may make an earthen (parthiva) linga and worship it. Please Shiva with many hymns, and read or listen to the story of the vow. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.35-39
First watch: worship the earthen linga with many offerings. First offer the five substances, each separately with its own mantra, then pour a stream of water, reciting the mantra 108 times as you pour. Use the mantra given by your guru, or otherwise the name-mantra. Offer sandalwood paste, unbroken rice and black sesame. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.47-52
Offer lotus and oleander (karavira) flowers with the eight name-mantras: Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahan, Bhima and Ishana, each preceded by "Shri" and in the dative form (as in "Shri Bhavaya"). Then offer incense, a lamp, cooked food, an arghya with a shriphala and betel; after that bow, meditate and chant your guru's mantra, or otherwise the five-syllable mantra. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.53-57
Show the dhenu mudra and offer clean water (tarpana), and as your means allow, pledge a meal for five brahmins. Celebrate until the watch ends, then offer the fruit of the worship to Shiva and close that watch's worship. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.58-59
Second watch: renew the vow (or make one vow for all four watches at once). Worship with the same substances and stream of water, chanting the mantra twice as many times as before. Worship with sesame, barley and lotuses, and above all with bilva leaves. Offer arghya with a citron (bijapura) and kheer (payasa) as the food offering. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.60-64
Third watch: worship as before, but use wheat in place of barley, and arka (crown flower) blossoms. Offer various incense and lamps, sweet cakes (apupa) and many kinds of vegetables, perform aarti with camphor, give arghya with a pomegranate, and double the japa again. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.65-68
Fourth watch: worship with urad, priyangu (foxtail millet), mung or the seven grains, shankhapushpi flowers and bilva leaves. Offer various sweets or a dish of urad, an arghya of banana or other fruits, and double the japa again. Pass the time until first light with song, music and dance among devotees. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.69-74
At sunrise bathe again and worship Shiva with many offerings, including an abhisheka. Give gifts and food to brahmins and renunciants, in keeping with the number of watches kept. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.75-76
Bow to Shiva, offer a handful of flowers (pushpanjali) and pray with folded hands (verses 5–7 below). Receive a tilak and blessings from brahmins, formally release the vow, and eat yourself only after feeding Shaiva brahmins and renunciants as your means allow. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.41-45, 38.77-82
At home many people keep a simpler form: in each of the four watches they bathe the Shiva linga with water, milk, curd, ghee and honey, offer bilva leaves and a lamp, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" and stay awake through the night. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice)

What to keep in mind

Take the Krishna Paksha chaturdashi of Magha that prevails at midnight (nishitha). Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.24
In the amanta calendar this is Magha Krishna Chaturdashi, and in the purnimanta calendar used in much of North India it is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi; both name the same night, Maha Shivaratri. (common practice)
Keep a joyful vigil through the whole night. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.40
The source says the vow may also be kept every month with devotion (Masik Shivaratri), and that completing it later with an udyapana ceremony brings its full fruit. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.85
Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)

What not to do

Do not perform Shiva's worship without mantras; offer each substance with its own mantra. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.34
Do not eat on Shivaratri; in the same Purana's Shivaratri story the stag counts it among sinful acts. Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 40, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104503, Koti Rudra Samhita 40.64

Sourced items paraphrase the cited verses in plain language. Items marked "common practice" are editorial notes written for this library.

Text and meaning

Shiva Purana 4.38.24

माघस्य ह्यसिते पक्षे विशिष्टा सातिकीर्तिता ।। निशीथव्यापिनी ग्राह्या हत्याकोटिविनाशिनी ।।२४।।

māghasya hyasite pakṣe viśiṣṭā sātikīrtitā || niśīthavyāpinī grāhyā hatyākoṭivināśinī ||24||

The (chaturdashi, Shivaratri) in the dark fortnight of Magha is especially renowned. The one that prevails at midnight (nishitha) is to be taken; it destroys even ten million sins as grave as killing.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.24

Shiva Purana 4.38.28

देवदेव महादेव नीलकण्ठ नमोऽस्तु ते ।। कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं देव शिवरात्रिव्रतं तव ।। २८ ।।

devadeva mahādeva nīlakaṇṭha namo'stu te || kartumicchāmyahaṃ deva śivarātrivrataṃ tava || 28 ||

O God of gods, Mahadeva, Nilakantha, salutations to you. O Lord, I wish to keep your Shivaratri vow.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.28

Shiva Purana 4.38.29

तव प्रभावाद्देवेश निर्विघ्नेन भवेदिति ।। कामाद्याः शत्रवो मां वै पीडां कुर्वन्तु नैव हि।।२९।।

tava prabhāvāddeveśa nirvighnena bhavediti || kāmādyāḥ śatravo māṃ vai pīḍāṃ kurvantu naiva hi||29||

O Lord of gods, by your power may it be completed without obstacles, and may desire and the other enemies not trouble me.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.29

Shiva Purana 4.38.54

भवः शर्वस्तथा रुद्रः पुनः पशुपतिस्तथा ।। उग्रो महांस्तथा भीम ईशान इति तानि वै ।। ५४ ।।

bhavaḥ śarvastathā rudraḥ punaḥ paśupatistathā || ugro mahāṃstathā bhīma īśāna iti tāni vai || 54 ||

Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahan, Bhima and Ishana: these are (Shiva's eight name-mantras).

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.54

Shiva Purana 4.38.78

तावकस्त्वद्गतप्राणस्त्वच्चित्तोऽहं सदा मृड ।। कृपानिधे इति ज्ञात्वा यथा योग्यं तथा कुरु ।। ७८ ।।

tāvakastvadgataprāṇastvaccitto'haṃ sadā mṛḍa || kṛpānidhe iti jñātvā yathā yogyaṃ tathā kuru || 78 ||

O Mrida (gracious Shiva), I am always yours; my life and my mind rest in you. O treasure of compassion, knowing this, do as is fitting.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.78

Shiva Purana 4.38.79

अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाज्जपपूजादिकं मया ।। कृपानिधित्वाज्ज्ञात्वैव भूतनाथ प्रसीद मे ।।७९।।

ajñānādyadi vā jñānājjapapūjādikaṃ mayā || kṛpānidhitvājjñātvaiva bhūtanātha prasīda me ||79||

Whatever japa, worship and the rest I have done, unknowingly or knowingly, O Lord of beings, accept it out of your compassion and be pleased with me.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.79

Shiva Purana 4.38.80

अनेनैवोपवासेन यज्जातं फलमेव च ।। तेनैव प्रीयतां देवः शंकरः सुखदायकः।।4.38.८०।।

anenaivopavāsena yajjātaṃ phalameva ca || tenaiva prīyatāṃ devaḥ śaṃkaraḥ sukhadāyakaḥ||4.38.80||

By whatever fruit has come from this fast, may Lord Shankara, giver of happiness, be pleased.

Source: Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501, Koti Rudra Samhita 38.80

Frequently asked questions

What is the objective of Maha Shivaratri Puja?: Among the vows that please Shiva, the Shivaratri vow is the strongest; those who seek both worldly fulfilment and liberation should keep it. The source says this vow benefits everyone: those with desires and those without, people of every varna and stage of life, women, children, male and female servants, and every embodied being.
How to do Maha Shivaratri Puja?: 1. Rise early and finish the daily duties such as bathing; then go to a Shiva temple, worship as prescribed and bow to Shiva. 2. Make the vow (sankalpa) before Shiva, using the words of verses 2 and 3 below: that you wish to keep the Shivaratri vow, that it may be completed without obstacles, and that desire and the other inner enemies may not trouble you. 3. Gather the materials for worship. At night go to a well-known Shiva linga, place the materials on Shiva's south or west side, bathe again, put on clean clothes, sip water three times (achamana) and begin the worship. 4. In each of the four watches (prahara) of the night, worship with devotion, with song, music and dance, and chant the mantra. One who knows the mantra may make an earthen (parthiva) linga and worship it. Please Shiva with many hymns, and read or listen to the story of the vow. 5. First watch: worship the earthen linga with many offerings. First offer the five substances, each separately with its own mantra, then pour a stream of water, reciting the mantra 108 times as you pour. Use the mantra given by your guru, or otherwise the name-mantra. Offer sandalwood paste, unbroken rice and black sesame. 6. Offer lotus and oleander (karavira) flowers with the eight name-mantras: Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahan, Bhima and Ishana, each preceded by "Shri" and in the dative form (as in "Shri Bhavaya"). Then offer incense, a lamp, cooked food, an arghya with a shriphala and betel; after that bow, meditate and chant your guru's mantra, or otherwise the five-syllable mantra. 7. Show the dhenu mudra and offer clean water (tarpana), and as your means allow, pledge a meal for five brahmins. Celebrate until the watch ends, then offer the fruit of the worship to Shiva and close that watch's worship. 8. Second watch: renew the vow (or make one vow for all four watches at once). Worship with the same substances and stream of water, chanting the mantra twice as many times as before. Worship with sesame, barley and lotuses, and above all with bilva leaves. Offer arghya with a citron (bijapura) and kheer (payasa) as the food offering. 9. Third watch: worship as before, but use wheat in place of barley, and arka (crown flower) blossoms. Offer various incense and lamps, sweet cakes (apupa) and many kinds of vegetables, perform aarti with camphor, give arghya with a pomegranate, and double the japa again. 10. Fourth watch: worship with urad, priyangu (foxtail millet), mung or the seven grains, shankhapushpi flowers and bilva leaves. Offer various sweets or a dish of urad, an arghya of banana or other fruits, and double the japa again. Pass the time until first light with song, music and dance among devotees. 11. At sunrise bathe again and worship Shiva with many offerings, including an abhisheka. Give gifts and food to brahmins and renunciants, in keeping with the number of watches kept. 12. Bow to Shiva, offer a handful of flowers (pushpanjali) and pray with folded hands (verses 5–7 below). Receive a tilak and blessings from brahmins, formally release the vow, and eat yourself only after feeding Shaiva brahmins and renunciants as your means allow. 13. At home many people keep a simpler form: in each of the four watches they bathe the Shiva linga with water, milk, curd, ghee and honey, offer bilva leaves and a lamp, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" and stay awake through the night. This is common practice, not what the verses above state. (common practice)
What are the benefits of Maha Shivaratri Puja?: This night of Magha Krishna Chaturdashi is said to destroy even ten million grave sins. Shiva is never far from one who keeps the vow this way; even kept without special effort, it becomes a seed of liberation. Shiva says that through this vow he removes all sorrow and grants worldly fulfilment, liberation and every desired fruit.
What should you keep in mind on Maha Shivaratri Puja?: Take the Krishna Paksha chaturdashi of Magha that prevails at midnight (nishitha). In the amanta calendar this is Magha Krishna Chaturdashi, and in the purnimanta calendar used in much of North India it is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi; both name the same night, Maha Shivaratri. (common practice) Keep a joyful vigil through the whole night. The source says the vow may also be kept every month with devotion (Masik Shivaratri), and that completing it later with an udyapana ceremony brings its full fruit. Look after your health before fasting. Anyone who is pregnant, ill, diabetic, elderly or on regular medication should keep a strict or waterless fast only on medical advice; such people commonly keep a lighter rule, such as fruit only or a single meal. (common practice)
What should you not do on Maha Shivaratri Puja?: Do not perform Shiva's worship without mantras; offer each substance with its own mantra. Do not eat on Shivaratri; in the same Purana's Shivaratri story the stag counts it among sinful acts.

Sources and licence

Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 38, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104501. CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription); underlying text public domain
Shiva Purana 4 (Koti Rudra Samhita) ch. 40, Sanskrit Wikisource, revision 104503. CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription); underlying text public domain

The verses are copied character for character from the source page, including its markers such as "4.38.80". The start of the chapter (38.10, 38.15–16) addresses these Shaiva vows to the twice-born, and verse 16 says twice-born men who abandon them become thieves; that caste-based passage is left out of the guidance. The source itself (38.21–23) says the vow benefits everyone. The "five substances" (38.48) are not listed in the source, so they are not named here. One "what not to do" item comes from chapter 40 (verse 64) of the same Purana. IAST is generated by a fixed rule.