Maha Shivaratri Vrat Katha

Maha Shivaratri Vrat Katha

Lord Shiva is one of the most revered deities of Hindu religion. One can not only get worldly enjoyment but also the rare salvation by worshipping Lord Shiva. The worship, fast and prayer done for the purpose of pleasing Lord Shiva is never ineffective. In Shiva Mahapurana and Jabali Shruti etc., there is discussion of ten such Shaiva Vrata(s) by which Lord Shiva becomes extremely happy and grants salvation by overcoming all the desires. But it is very difficult to observe these fasts during Kalikala. In ancient times, Lord Vishnu, Brahma Ji and Mata Parvati Ji had told Lord Bholenath the importance of 'Shivaratri' fast for the ultimate welfare of humans. Lord Shiva says that there is no other fast more beneficial than Shivaratri for people who aspire for enjoyment and salvation. This fast is a good medium to attain Dharma. This fast is acceptable for all Ashrams, castes, women, men, children, deities etc.

There is a description of the story regarding Shivaratri fast in Shiva Mahapurana. In which there is a story of purification of the intellect of a hunter and his attainment of 'Shivpada' due to Shivaratri fast observed even unknowingly. In Shiva Purana, Mahatma Sut ji tells the sages in Naimisharanya that,.

In ancient times, there lived a Bheel named Guru-Druha in a forest. He was very strong and had a cruel nature. There was no feeling of compassion in his heart. He earned his living by hunting animals in the forest. He had never done any good deed. Once, due to not getting good prey for several days, he and his family became distraught with hunger. He started wandering in the forest in search of prey but even after wandering the whole day he did not find any prey. Luckily it was the holy day of Shivaratri. Unwillingly, he and his entire family observed the fast on Shivaratri out of ignorance.

In this way he spent the whole day wandering in the forest. Despite it being night, considering the anxiety of his family members, he abandoned his decision to return home empty handed. Distraught at not finding prey, that Bheel took some water and climbed onto a branch of a Bael tree near the ghat of the pond armed with a bow and arrow with the aim that some animal would definitely come to this pond to drink water and he could hunt it at that very moment.

In the first half of the night a doe came to the pond to drink water. At that time the hunter aimed towards the doe with his bow. With the push of his hand a Bael leaf and water fell down. Coincidentally, an ancient Swayambhu Shivalinga was situated under that tree. That Bel Patra and water was offered directly to Shivalinga. In this way, Bheelraja unknowingly worshiped Shiva in the first Prahara. Due to the effect of worshiping Shiva, many of his sins were immediately destroyed. Seeing Bheel aiming the bow at herself, the deer got scared and asked the king of Vyadha - Vyadha! Tell me the truth about what you want to do?

The hunter replied that his family members were hungry, that is why he wanted to hunt the doe. And will satisfy his hunger along with his family. The doe prayed to him that she was ready to die if the hunter and his family were benefited by sacrificing his life. But his children are young and alone. She will leave those children with her sister and come back to the Huntsman. Bheel did not agree with this proposal of Hirani, then doe again prayed to the hunter and said-

"O Huntsman! I swear before you that I will definitely go and return. If a Brahmin sells the Vedas and does not observe Trikala Sandhya, if a wife disobeys her husband by being self-willed, then the sins they incur, also the sins of not accepting gratitude, disrespecting Lord Shiva, betrayal and those who commit treason what will piled to me if I don't come back."

By worshiping Shiva, some virtues of that hunter had emerged. Then after hearing this oath of doe, he allowed her to go. That doe drank water and went away from there. In this way, that part of the night was spent in vigil and fasting. Meanwhile, the sister of the same doe, searching for him, came to the same pond to drink water. Then, to kill the doe, the hunter offered his bow, due to which water and bel leaves were once again offered on the same Shivalinga. And hunter also unknowingly worshiped Lord Shiva in second Prahara also. When the second doe saw the hunter offering the bow, she got scared and asked the hunter the reason for killing her. The hunter told him that he would kill him because of his hunger.

On this, the doe requested the hunter with prayer, "Hunter! I am blessed because this body will benefit someone. But I have two small children at home. Once I hand them over to my husband, I will return to you." The hunter refused to do this. Then the doe took an oath and said to the hunter, "O hunter! I swear by Lord Vishnu that if I do not come back, I will lose all my virtue; Because the one who makes a promise and breaks it, destroys his virtues. The man who cheats on his wife and goes to another woman, who violates the Vedic religion and follows imaginary sects, who is a devotee of Lord Vishnu and insults Lord Shiva, who does not perform Shraddha of his dead parents and don't observe their date, keep promise with a heavy heart, then whatever sin they get, I will get the same sin, if I may not come back."

The hunter ordered him to go. His heart was becoming pure by worshiping Shiva. The second hour also passed in wakefulness and fasting. But hunger was bothering him. He was surprised when the doe did not return and started waiting for them. Meanwhile he saw a deer near the pond. He offered a bow to kill him but due to fate again water and Bela Patra were offered to him on Shivalinga. Probably Lord Shiva showed mercy on that victim. And he also worshiped lord Shiva in third Prahara unknowingly. Beware of falling leaves, the deer asked the hunter why he wanted to kill him. The hunter again argued for the welfare of his family.

The deer said, "It will be my good fortune if my strong body is used for the survival of your family. The one who is not charitable, everything gets destroyed. One who does not do good despite being capable goes to hell in the next world. I will return to you once I hand over my children to their mother."

The hunter was astonished by these events and told the deer that those who came here before you also talked to me about knowledge and promised to return but no one came back. If you also go, how will my family be fed? His sins were destroyed by worshiping Lord Shiva. Because of that a cruel hunter was arguing with his prey.

The deer said to the hunter, "What I am saying is true. The entire living universe rests on truth. All the virtues of a liar are destroyed. Still O Bheel! Listen to my promise, if the sin committed by having sex during the evening, by eating food on the day of Shivaratri, by giving false witness, by usurping the property of others, Dwija who does not observe evening and by never uttering the name of Lord Shiva, by plucking coconut during the festival, eats non-edible food, eats food without worshiping Shiva, then what Sin (Pataka) will be attained be the same for me if I do not return."

Due to the influence of virtue arising from worshiping Shiva, the hunter permitted the deer to return and ordered it to return immediately. All three deer gathered at one place, and everyone told their respective stories of getting tied in vows. And everyone decided that they must return to the hunter. Then the eldest doe said to her husband deer, "Swami! How will the children survive without you, and I have made a promise earlier that both of you should stay at home, I will become food for the hunter." But no one thought it appropriate to break their promise. All three of them set out to become prey for the hunter. Then his children also followed him.

Seeing so many victims coming together, the hunter was very happy. He again put an arrow on his bow, due to which the leaves and water again spilled out and were offered to Shivalinga. In this way, even after the fourth Prahara, Shiva was worshiped by the hunter and all his sins were destroyed.

All the deer said to the hunter, "O hunter! Please quickly bless our body and make it meaningful." Hearing these words of the deer, the hunter's heart was filled with compassion and mercy. He thought that these deer are blessed who are engaged in charity despite being ignorant. And secondly, I am the one who, despite being a human being, keeps hurting others. What will be my fate after committing such sins? Thinking this, he said to the deer, "O deer, you are blessed, go to your home." Lord Mahadeva, pleased with the hunter providing protection to the deer, appeared at that very moment. And he touched the hunter and said, "O Nishada Raja, I am very pleased with your fast, ask for boons." Seeing Lord Shiva, Bheel immediately became free from life. And saying "I have achieved everything" he fell at the feet of God.

Then Lord Shiva gave him a boon and named him 'Guha' and said, "O hunter! I am very happy with your worship. You go to Shringaverapura and enjoy the divine pleasures. Your clan will continue to grow. Lord Shri Rama will visit your house one day. And you will be friends with them. And in the end you will attain the rare salvation." At the same time, by the grace of the Lord Shiva, the deer left their bodies and went to the divine abode after getting the divine body. And Bheel also first enjoyed the divine bliss due to the blessing of Lord Shiva and later by the grace of Shri Ram he attained Sayujya salvation.

Mahatmya

Sut ji says that due to the effect of fasting rituals done unknowingly, Nishadaraja got well-being. Then, those who observe Shivaratri fast with devotion, attain rare pleasures and ultimate liberation. In this world, various types of fasts, various pilgrimages, donations and even the most difficult penances cannot match the fast of Shivaratri. That is why Shivaratri fast has been called 'Vrataraj '.