Shivratri will be celebrated across the country today with various programmes throughout the day. On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, shiva pujas are being organised in a grand manner in temples in different parts of the state including Sivdal in Sivasagar.
Shiva means mars. But sometimes this Shiva has also established himself as a symbol of destruction by holding rudra idol in the form of a creator of destruction. No one can say for sure since when people started worshipping Shiva. It is to be noted that an ancient sculpture was discovered during the excavation of Mohenjo-daro. The sculpture in which the engraved image represents Shiva.
One of the characteristics of Shiva is his Trinayan. It is said that with this third eyes, he burnt Kamadeva and consumed him. In the same way, the moon prevails in shiva’s jatadhari head. For which another name for Shiva is Chandrasekhar. His other name is Vibhutibhushan because of the coating of bhasma i.e. vibhuti in sarvangata.
It is to be noted that according to some yogis, on the day of Shivaratri, Shiva saved the earth by drinking halahal. Maha Shivaratri is mentioned in the Skanda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana. These medieval texts have different legends associated with Shivaratri, but all mention fasting and showing respect for Shiva’s symbols such as linga.
