SHIVRATRI VRAT & Importanacre of Belpatra

SHIVRATRI VRAT & Importanacre of Belpatra:-

Actually there are twelve Shivratri's in one calendar year. As per shastras the Chaturdeshi tithi of every krishnpaksh is Shivratri. But the one falling in the month of Magh is the most auspicious. The devotees usually fast the whole day and perform the ritualistic puja four times in the night.

As per Shivpuran once Brahma, Vishnu and Parvati asked Shiva about his favourite puja that made him the most happiest.

Shiva mentioned ten vrats,but his most favoured vrat was Shivratri. The rituals should be performed four times as mentioned in Shivpuran. You have to prepare a parthiv or mud lingam and establish (staphna it with the chanting of Panchakshar mantra of Om Namah Shivay.

Follow it up with the sixteen step(Shodshhopchar/ षोड्षोपचार) puja right from bathing, offerings of flowers, dhoop, deep and naivedya. This shivling has to be worshipped four times and at the end of the night, it has to submerged in river,tank or pond.

There is an elaborate mention of all the offerings to be made seperately with different items for four times in Shivpuran. In the earliest puja use of Panchamrit, Chandan, Rice, Black sesame, lotus, Red flower of Kaner should be offered with seperate mantra for each offering.

In the next puja add oats or jao, double the Lotus flowers  and make a prasad of Ghee, Honey and Milk and chant along Om Namah Shivay after every offering.

In the third puja add Wheat made food, Madaar flower, Dhoop, Deep, Naivedya along with camphor.

In the fourth puja apart from lentils also add seven types of Foodgrains, Sweets, Fruits like Pomegranate and banana. Increase the number of chants.

In each puja you compulsarily have to offer Bilva leaves(बेल पत्र).

Finish the puja by feeding  Brahmins.

The importance of four time Puja is explained in the story of the deers and a Bhil named Gurudruh.

This Bhil Gurudruh was very cruel and did not hesitate to perform any sinful activity. He lived with his parents in abject poverty doing petty crimes.On feeling hungry, his parents asked him to get something to eat. The Bhil carried his bow and arrow and left for the forest to hunt for some wild animal. He waited for his prey from morning to sunset but was not successful. Tired,he went near a pond to take some water and carried it with him.He climbed a Bilva(बेल) tree nearby and sat waiting for his prey to come near the pond as he was sure some animal would surely come there to drink water. Unknown to him a shivling stood under the tree. Atlast a buck doe(she- deer) came along to drink water. Immediately the Bhil raised his hand to kill the deer with his arrow. During this activity some Bilva leaves(बेल पत्र) and few drops of water fell on the Shivling. This reduced his number of sins unknown to him.

The deer, smelling a hunter, became alert. He pleaded with the Bhil to let her go for now,but she would definitely return to be killed after she handed her children to her sister and she left.

After sometime the sister deer happened to come there.Again this Bhil picked up his bow and arrow to strike her, Resulting in few Bilva leaves falling and a few drops of water spilling on the shivling. Thus reducing more sins of this Bhil. This deer too pleaded to be allowed and hand over her son to the husband.Her plea was convincing enough to be allowed to go and return back.

The Bhil once again waited for his prey to arrive. The husband deer also came there in search of water. Once again as the Bhil picked up his bow and arrow to strike again a few Bilva leaves and droplets of water fell on the lingam. More sins were reduced. This deer also sensed the danger and pleaded before the Bhil to be allowed to go home in order to arrange for the children to be sent to relatives. Again the convinced Bhil allowed him to go and return.

Interestingly all the three deers met on the way. They all discovered that all the three were facing the same danger.

Ultimately they said that one of them had to die so let us face the ordeal. All of them were ready to sacrifice themselves first.So they all came together  towards the pond. The Bhil saw the deer family arriving again he raised his hands to strike them which again resulted in few Bilva leaves falling and and drops of water falling on the lingam.

But a miracle occurred.

Instead of killing them he left them free since good sense prevailed on him due to his doing the Shivling Puja four times, the day was Shivratri. All his sins were destroyed. Shivji himself came to bless him and was granted a boon that resulted in his becoming the King of that state.

Therefore it is stressed again and again that you should pray four times in the Shivratri night.

Source - Shiv puran ,Ling puran and Skanda puran