ŚIVARĀTRI PŪJA Śivarātri is considered as one of the sacred nights. There are many mythological stories on Śivarātri. It is said that Lord Śiva married Pārvatī during this time. Another version says that during Śivarātri, Śiva swallowed ālakāla poison that frothed out while churning Divine Ocean. Another version says that Śiva peprformed Cosmic dance on this night to unleash the great deluge (mahāpralaya). This is night is observed by fasting through the day and in the night pūjā is performed to Lord Śiva. Here is a quick guide to perform pūjā during Śivarātri. Mainly lotus and bilva leaves, which is also known as śrīpatra, are used. Śiva is

very fond of bilva leaves. Bilvāṣṭaka – बिल्वाष्टक explains the importance of offering bilva

leaves to Śiva. While placing the bilva leaves on Śivaliṅga, the bottom portion of bilva leaf, where nerves crisscross should be on the liṅga.

बिदल ंबिगणुाकारं बिनेि ंच बियायधु ं

बिजन्म पापसहंारं एकबिल्व शिवारपणं॥

tridalaṁ triguṇākāraṁ trinetraṁ ca triyāyudhaṁ

trijanma pāpasaṁhāraṁ ekabilva śivārapaṇaṁ ||

Meaning: I offer one bilva leaf having three leaflets that is capable of eradication all types of sins accrued to me over the last three births to Śiva, who is the Lord of three guṇa-s (sattva, rajas, and tamas, which are the cause of creation) and who has three eyes. Therefore on Śivarātri day, bilva leaves should be used while worshipping Śiva. There are mythological stories associated with bilva leaves and Śiva.

Procedure of pūjā is the same, as done in normal days. But, certain additional abhiṣeka can done using the following material in that order.

1. sesame oil (gangly oil)

2. pañcakavya

3. rice flour (it is supposed give relief from debts)

4. powdered gooseberry power

5. turmeric powder

6. pañcāmṛta (milk, curd, butter, honey, and sugar; alternatively five fruit pieces mixed with honey can also be used)

7. milk

8. curd

9. ghee (clarified butter)

10. honey

11. sugarcane juice

12. other fruit juices

13. tender coconut water

14. boiled rice/cooked rice (annabhiṣeka)

15. śaṅkha (conch)

16. kalaśa

At the end of pūjā following eight arghya-s are to be offered. For offering, milk and water should be mixed and kept in a big vessel. One has to hold a flower at the tips of ring and middle fingers and offer arghya using an uttaraṇi. Everyone in the family can offer arghya. Following are the arghya mantras.

संकल्पम ्saṁkalpam: (for arghya-s)

सांिपरमेश्वर पजूान्त ेक्षीरर्घयय प्रदान ंकररष्ये॥

sāṁbaparameśvara pūjānte kṣīrarghya pradānaṁ kariṣye ||

1. The following arghya should be done three times:

नमःशिवाय सांिाय सवयपापहराय च। शिवरािौ मया दत्त ंइदं अर्घय ंगहृाण भो॥ सांिशिवाय नमः इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

namaḥśivāya sāṁbāya sarvapāpaharāya ca | śivarātrau mayā dattaṁ idaṁ arghyaṁ gṛhāṇa bho || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

2. The following arghya should be done three times:

मया कृतान्यिषेाणण पापानन नदु िङ्कर। शिवरािौ मया दत्त ंगहृाणार्घय ंप्रशसद मे॥ सांिशिवाय नमः इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

mayā kṛtānyaśeṣāṇi pāpāni nuda śaṅkara | śivarātrau mayā dattaṁ gṛhāṇārghyaṁ prasida me || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ ||

3. The following arghya should be done three times:

आकािददक् िरीराय ग्रहरक्षि माशलने। सरु शसन्ध ु ववनािाय दत्त ंअर्घय ं मया शिव॥ सांिशिवाय नमः इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

ākāśadik śarīrāya graharakṣatra māline | sura sindhu vināśāya dattaṁ arghyaṁ mayā śiva || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

4. The following arghya should be done three times:

व्योमकेि नमस्तभु्य ंसोमात्मन ्व्योमरूवपणे। नक्षिमाशलने देव गहृाणार्घय ंइदं प्रभो॥ सांिशिवाय नमः इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

vyomakeśa namastubhyaṁ somātman vyomarūpiṇe | nakṣatramāline deva gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ prabho || sāṁbaśivāya namaḥ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

5. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for Pārvati)

अबंिकाय ैनमस्तभु्य ं नमस्त ेदेवव पावयनत। गहृाणार्घय ंमया दत्त ंसवुप्रता वरदा भव। अबंिकाय ैनमः। इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

aṁbikāyai namastubhyaṁ namaste devi pārvati | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ mayā dattaṁ supritā varadā bhava | aṁbikāyai namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

6. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for Kārttikeya कावत्तयकेय

son of Pārvati and Parameśvara)

सबु्रह्मण्य महाभाग कानत यकेय सरुोत्तम। गहृाणार्घय ंइदं दत्त ंसवुप्रतो वरदो भव। सबु्रह्मण्याय नमः। इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

subrahmaṇya mahābhāga kārtikeya surottama | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ dattaṁ suprito varado bhava | subrahmaṇyāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

7. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for नन्न्दकेश्वर nandikeśvara, the vehicle of Śiva)

नन्न्दकेि महाभाग शिवध्यान परायण। गहृाणार्घय ं इदं दत्त ंनन्न्दकेश्वर नमोऽस्तुते। नन्न्दकेिाय नमः। इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

nandikeśa mahābhāga śivadhyāna parāyaṇa | gṛhāṇārghyaṁ idaṁ dattaṁ nandikeśvara namo'stute | nandikeśāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

8. The following arghya should be done three times (this arghya is for चन्ण्िकेश्वर Caṇḍikeśvara, an attendant of Śiva)

चन्ण्िकेिाय नमः। इदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय ंइदमर्घय॥ं

caṇḍikeśāya namaḥ | idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ idamarghyaṁ ||

At the end of these arghya-s, the following mantra is to be recited.

अनया पूजया अर्घययप्रदानेन च सपररवारः सांिशिव प्रीयताम।्

anayā pūjayā arghyapradānena ca saparivāraḥ sāṁbaśiva prīyatām |