Maha Shiv Ratri
Maha Shiv Ratri Vrat begins on Trayodashi and ends on Chaturdashi tithi of the month of Phalgun in Krishna paksh. It is considered that those devotees who keep a fast without water on this day and devote themselves to Lord Shiva throughout the night obtain the special grace of Lord Shiva.
According to the Shiva Purana, devotion to Lord Shiva and to Shiva Linga on this night does not go without reward. The punya (virtue) gained from heartfelt devotion on this one night is equivalent to the punya gained after an entire year of fasting, controlled desires, truthfulness and devotion. Whoever worships a Shiva Linga on the night of Maha Shiv Ratri ensures the continuation of their family line - with someone in their family to continue Shiva Puja until the end of the world.
On this day, offerings of Bel patra (Bilva leaf) and Ganga Jal to a Shiva Linga hold particular importance to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva holds particular favour towards the offering of water on Shiva Linga. Shiva puja should ideally be conducted four times during the night of Maha Shiv Ratri - at approximately 6pm, 9pm, 12am and finally at 3am.
During the night, devotees can also chant the Rudrashtakam and/or 108 names of Lord Shiva, which are listed as follows:
108 Names of Lord Shiva
1 ॐ शिवाय नमः।
Om Shivaya Namah।
Always Pure
2 ॐ महेश्वराय नमः।
Om Maheshwaraya Namah।
Lord Of Gods
3 ॐ शंभवे नमः।
Om Shambhave Namah।
One Who Bestows Prosperity
4 ॐ पिनाकिने नमः।
Om Pinakine Namah।
One Who Has A Bow In His Hand
5 ॐ शशिशेखराय नमः।
Om Shashishekharaya Namah।
The God Who Wears The Crescent Moon In His Hair
6 ॐ वामदेवाय नमः।
Om Vamadevaya Namah।
The God Who Is Pleasing And Auspicious In Every Way
7 ॐ विरूपाक्षाय नमः।
Om Virupakshaya Namah।
Lord Shiva With Oblique Eyes
8 ॐ कपर्दिने नमः।
Om Kapardine Namah।
The Lord With Thickly Matted Hair
9 ॐ नीललोहिताय नमः।
Om Nilalohitaya Namah।
The One With Red And Blue Colour
10 ॐ शंकराय नमः।
Om Shankaraya Namah।
One Who Gives Happiness And prosperity
11 ॐ शूलपाणये नमः।
Om Shulapanaye Namah।
The One Who Carries A Trident
12 ॐ खट्वांगिने नमः।
Om Khatvangine Namah।
The God Who Carries A Knurled Club (Khatvanga)
13 ॐ विष्णुवल्लभाय नमः।
Om Vishnuvallabhaya Namah।
The One Who Is Dear To Lord Vishnu
14 ॐ शिपिविष्टाय नमः।
Om Shipivishtaya Namah।
The Lord Whose Form Emits Great Rays Of Light
15 ॐ अंबिकानाथाय नमः।
Om Ambikanathaya Namah।
Consort of Ambika (Parvati)
16 ॐ श्रीकण्ठाय नमः।
Om Shrikanthaya Namah।
Of Glorious Neck
17 ॐ भक्तवत्सलाय नमः।
Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namah।
The One Who Is Favourably Inclined Towards His Devotees
18 ॐ भवाय नमः।
Om Bhavaya Namah।
The God Who Is Existence Itself
19 ॐ शर्वाय नमः।
Om Sharvaya Namah।
Remover Of All Troubles
20 ॐ त्रिलोकेशाय नमः।
Om Trilokeshaya Namah।
The Lord Of All The Three Worlds
21 ॐ शितिकण्ठाय नमः।
Om Shitikanthaya Namah।
The Lord Who Has White Neck
22 ॐ शिवा प्रियाय नमः।
Om Shiva Priyaya Namah।
Beloved Of Parvati
23 ॐ उग्राय नमः।
Om Ugraya Namah।
The One Who Has Extremely Fierce Nature
24 ॐ कपालिने नमः।
Om Kapaline Namah।
One Who Wears A Necklace Of Skulls
25 ॐ कामारये नमः।
Om Kamaraye Namah।
Enemy of Kamadeva
26 ॐ अन्धकासुरसूदनाय नमः।
Om Andhakasurasudanaya Namah।
The Lord Who Killed The Asura Andhaka
27 ॐ गंगाधराय नमः।
Om Gangadharaya Namah।
The God Who Holds The Ganges River In His Hair
28 ॐ ललाटाक्षाय नमः।
Om Lalatakshaya Namah।
One Who Has An Eye In The Forehead
29 ॐ कालकालाय नमः।
Om Kalakalaya Namah।
He Is The Death Of Death
30 ॐ कृपानिधये नमः।
Om Kripanidhaye Namah।
The God Who Is The Treasure Of Compassion
31 ॐ भीमाय नमः।
Om Bhimaya Namah।
The One Who Has Fearful Form
32 ॐ परशुहस्ताय नमः।
Om Parashuhastaya Namah।
The God Who Holds Axe In Hands
33 ॐ मृगपाणये नमः।
Om Mrigapanaye Namah।
The God Who Possess Deer In Hands
34 ॐ जटाधराय नमः।
Om Jatadharaya Namah।
The God Who Keeps Tress (Jata)
35 ॐ कैलाशवासिने नमः।
Om Kailashavasine Namah।
Native Of Kailasha
36 ॐ कवचिने नमः।
Om Kawachine Namah।
The God Who Possess Armour
37 ॐ कठोराय नमः।
Om Kathoraya Namah।
The God Who Has A Strong Body
38 ॐ त्रिपुरान्तकाय नमः।
Om Tripurantakaya Namah।
The God Who Killed Tripurasura
39 ॐ वृषांकाय नमः।
Om Vrishankaya Namah।
The God Who Has A Flag With A Symbol Of Bull
40 ॐ वृषभारूढाय नमः।
Om Vrishabharudhaya Namah।
The One Who Rides Bull
41 ॐ भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाय नमः।
Om Bhasmodhulitavigrahaya Namah।
The One Who Applies Ashes All Over The Body
42 ॐ सामप्रियाय नमः।
Om Samapriyaya Namah।
The One Who Loves With Equality
43 ॐ स्वरमयाय नमः।
Om Swaramayaya Namah।
The God Who Lives In All Seven Notes
44 ॐ त्रयीमूर्तये नमः।
Om Trayimurtaye Namah।
The One Who Possess Veda Form
45 ॐ अनीश्वराय नमः।
Om Anishwaraya Namah।
The One Who Does Not Have Any Lord
46 ॐ सर्वज्ञाय नमः।
Om Sarvajnaya Namah।
The One Who Knows Everything
47 ॐ परमात्मने नमः।
Om Paramatmane Namah।
Everyone's Own Soul
48 ॐ सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनाय नमः।
Om Somasuryagnilochanaya Namah।
The One Who Has Eyes In The Form Of Sun, Moon And Fire
49 ॐ हविषे नमः।
Om Havishe Namah।
He Who Is Wealthy In The Form Of Ahuti
50 ॐ यज्ञमयाय नमः।
Om Yajnamayaya Namah।
The Architect Of All Sacrificial Rites
51 ॐ सोमाय नमः।
Om Somaya Namah।
The One Who Includes The Form Of Uma
52 ॐ पंचवक्त्राय नमः।
Om Panchavaktraya Namah।
God Of The Five Activities
53 ॐ सदाशिवाय नमः।
Om Sadashivaya Namah।
The One Who Is Eternally Auspicious
54 ॐ विश्वेश्वराय नमः।
Om Vishveshwaraya Namah।
Lord Of The Universe
55 ॐ वीरभद्राय नमः।
Om Virabhadraya Namah।
Who Is Violent , Yet Peaceful
56 ॐ गणनाथाय नमः।
Om Gananathaya Namah।
God Of The Ganas
57 ॐ प्रजापतये नमः।
Om Prajapataye Namah।
The One Who Is The Creator Of Dynasty
58 ॐ हिरण्यरेतसे नमः।
Om Hiranyaretase Namah।
The One Who Emanates Golden Souls
59 ॐ दुर्धर्षाय नमः।
Om Durdharshaya Namah।
The One who Is Unconquerable
60 ॐ गिरीशाय नमः।
Om Girishaya Namah।
Lord Of Mountains
61 ॐ गिरिशाय नमः।
Om Girishaya Namah।
The God Who Sleeps On Kailash Mountain
62 ॐ अनघाय नमः।
Om Anaghaya Namah।
He Who Is Pure
63 ॐ भुजंगभूषणाय नमः।
Om Bujangabhushanaya Namah।
Lord Adorned With Golden Snakes
64 ॐ भर्गाय नमः।
Om Bhargaya Namah।
Lord Who Ends All Sins
65 ॐ गिरिधन्वने नमः।
Om Giridhanvane Namah।
God Whose Weapon Is A Mountain
66 ॐ गिरिप्रियाय नमः।
Om Giripriyaya Namah।
Lord Who Is Fond Of Mountains
67 ॐ कृत्तिवाससे नमः।
Om krittivasase Namah।
God Who Wears Clothes Of Elephant Skin
68 ॐ पुरारातये नमः।
Om Purarataye Namah।
Destroyer OF Town Or "Pur" Named Enemy
69 ॐ भगवते नमः।
Om Bhagawate Namah।
God Of Prosperity
70 ॐ प्रमथाधिपाय नमः।
Om Pramathadhipaya Namah।
God Who Is Served By Goblins
71 ॐ मृत्युंजयाय नमः।
Om Mrityunjayaya Namah।
Victor Of Death
72 ॐ सूक्ष्मतनवे नमः।
Om Sukshmatanave Namah।
God Who Has A Subtle Body
73 ॐ जगद्व्यापिने नमः।
Om Jagadvyapine Namah।
God Who Lives In The World
74 ॐ जगद्गुरुवे नमः।
Om Jagadguruve Namah।
Guru Of All The Worlds
75 ॐ व्योमकेशाय नमः।
Om Vyomakeshaya Namah।
Whose Hair Spreads In The Sky
76 ॐ महासेनजनकाय नमः।
Om Mahasenajanakaya Namah।
Father Of Kartikya
77 ॐ चारुविक्रमाय नमः।
Om Charuvikramaya Namah।
The Guardian Of Wandering Pilgrims
78 ॐ रुद्राय नमः।
Om Rudraya Namah।
The One Who Gets Sad By The Pain Of Devotees
79 ॐ भूतपतये नमः।
Om Bhutapataye Namah।
Lord Of Panchabhoota Or Bhootapreta
80 ॐ स्थाणवे नमः।
Om Sthanave Namah।
Firm And Immovable Deity
81 ॐ अहिर्बुध्न्याय नमः।
Om Ahirbudhnyaya Namah।
The One Who Possess Kundalini
82 ॐ दिगंबराय नमः।
Om Digambaraya Namah।
The God Whose Robes Is The Cosmos
83 ॐ अष्टमूर्तये नमः।
Om Ashtamurtaye Namah।
Lord Who Has Eight Forms
84 ॐ अनेकात्मने नमः।
Om Anekatmane Namah।
The God Who Possess Many Forms
85 ॐ सात्विकाय नमः।
Om Satvikaya Namah।
Lord Of Boundless Energy
86 ॐ शुद्धविग्रहाय नमः।
Om Shuddhavigrahaya Namah।
Lord Of Pure Soul
87 ॐ शाश्वताय नमः।
Om Shashvataya Namah।
Lord Who Is Eternal And Endless
88 ॐ खण्डपरशवे नमः।
Om Khandaparashave Namah।
Lord Who Wears Broken Axe
89 ॐ अजाय नमः।
Om Ajaya Namah।
The One Who Is Boundless
90 ॐ पाशविमोचकाय नमः।
Om Pashavimochakaya Namah।
Lord Who Releases All Fetters
91 ॐ मृडाय नमः।
Om Mridaya Namah।
The Lord Who Shows Only Mercy
92 ॐ पशुपतये नमः।
Om Pashupataye Namah।
Lord Of Animals
93 ॐ देवाय नमः।
Om Devaya Namah।
Lord Of Devas
94 ॐ महादेवाय नमः।
Om Mahadevaya Namah।
Greatest Of The Gods
95 ॐ अव्ययाय नमः।
Om Avyayaya Namah।
The One Who Never Subject To Change
96 ॐ हरये नमः।
Om Haraye Namah।
Same As Lord Vishnu
97 ॐ भगनेत्रभिदे नमः।
Om Bhaganetrabhide Namah।
The Lord Who Damaged Bhaga's Eye
98 ॐ अव्यक्ताय नमः।
Om Avyaktaya Namah।
Shiva Who Is Unseen
99 ॐ दक्षाध्वरहराय नमः।
Om Dakshadhwaraharaya Namah।
Destroyer Of Daksha's Conceited Sacrifice (Yagya)
100 ॐ हराय नमः।
Om Haraya Namah।
The Lord Who Dissolves All Bondage And Sins
101 ॐ पूषदन्तभिदे नमः।
Om Pushadantabhide Namah।
One Who Punished Pushan
102 ॐ अव्यग्राय नमः।
Om Avyagraya Namah।
Lord Who Is Steady And Unwavering
103 ॐ सहस्राक्षाय नमः।
Om Sahasrakshaya Namah।
One Who Has Limitless Forms
104 ॐ सहस्रपदे नमः।
Om Sahasrapade Namah।
The Lord Who Is Standing And Walking Everywhere
105 ॐ अपवर्गप्रदाय नमः।
Om Apavargapradaya Namah।
Lord Who Gives And Takes All Things
106 ॐ अनन्ताय नमः।
Om Anantaya Namah।
The One Who Is unending
107 ॐ तारकाय नमः।
Om Tarakaya Namah।
The Lord Who Is Great Liberator Of Mankind
108 ॐ परमेश्वराय नमः।
Om Parameshwaraya Namah।
The Great God
