The Story of Maha Shivratri

Story

It was a bright sunny morning, the sky was clear and a gentle breeze was soothing everything. A group of children had gathered under the big banyan tree in the park, filling the air with their chatter and laughter. They noticed Dadaji, the storyteller of the neighbourhood, offering water to Shivalinga in a nearby temple. As soon as he came out of the temple, all the children shouted, “Dada Ji.”

"Tell us a story, Dadaji!" little Aarav called out, tugging at the old man's kurta. The other children joined in, clapping their hands.

“Dadaji, please tell the story of Maha Shivaratri. We have a school holiday tomorrow, and our teacher said it is Maha Shivaratri,” said Divya.

Mohan said, “Yes Dadaji, we want to know everything about it.”

Dadaji smiled and said, "Alright, little ones. Today, I’ll tell you the story of Maha Shivaratri, it is a night dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva."

The children sat cross-legged on the grass, their eyes wide with curiosity as Dadaji began.

Dadaji said,” One of the most widely believed stories is that Maha Shivratri is the night of the marriage of Bhagwan Shiva and Devi Parvati. Devi Parvati wanted to marry Bhagwan Shiv. After a rigorous tapa (sacrifice) by Devi Parvati, Shiva agreed to marry her. Their sacred marriage or union brought harmony and balance to the universe.

"But, Dadaji," interrupted Meera, the youngest in the group, "why do we stay awake all night on Maha Shivaratri?"

"Ah, good question!" Dadaji replied with a smile.

"The whole night we pray to Bhagwan Shiva to shower his blessings on us and guide us on the right path. It’s also believed that on this special night, Bhagwan Shiva performed his heavenly dance, the Tandava, which represents the cycle of life. Devotees stay awake, sing bhajans, and offer prayers to Shivji."

The children nodded, listening intently.

Dadaji continued, "There’s another story, too. Do you know about the churning of the ocean, the Samudra Manthan?"

The children shook their heads, eager to learn more.

"During the churning of the ocean," Dadaji explained, "a deadly poison called Halahala emerged, which could destroy the world. The gods and demons were terrified and rushed to Bhagwan Shiva for help. Out of his love for the universe, Shiva drank the poison but held it in his throat, due to which his throat turned blue. That’s why we call him Neelkanth, the one with the blue throat. Maha Shivaratri also celebrates this great act of sacrifice and compassion by Bhagwan Shiv."

"Wow!" Aarav exclaimed. "Shivji is so brave!"

"Indeed, he is," Dadaji said. "Maha Shivaratri teaches us the importance of faith, devotion, and selflessness. So, when you see people fasting, meditating, and offering bael leaves and milk to the Shivalinga, remember it’s all about connecting with Bhagwan Shiv and holding onto these virtues."

Dadaji said, “Do you know there is another story related to Maha Shivaratri?”

All the children shook their heads in disbelief.

Ritika exclaimed,” So many stories on Maha Shivaratri!”

Dadaji smiled and said, “Yes so many stories and this story tells us about the manifestation of the Shiva Linga.”

“When Bhagwan Vishnu and Bhagwan Brahma argued over who was superior, Shiva appeared as an infinite pillar of light and challenged them to find its beginning or end. Neither Bhagwan Brahma nor Bhagwan Vishnu could find the beginning or end of the infinite pillar, which showed Shiva's supreme power. This event shows Shiva being formless, timeless, and infinite.”

Dadaji asked all the children, “Now tell dear children, what have you learned from this story?”

All the children shouted together and said, “Shivaji is great, He is powerful, He is very loving and He teaches us to be faithful, devoted and brave.”