Sunday, February 15, 2026
The Great Night of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe a day-long fast and perform night-long worship with Rudrabhishek, offering bael leaves, milk, and water on the Shiva Linga. Commemorates the night Shiva performed the Tandava dance and his marriage to Parvati.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva (Adiyogi)
Observe a day-long fast (nirahara or phalahara). Bathe in the evening and wear clean white or light clothes. Clean the puja area thoroughly.
Sit facing east or north. Hold water, akshat (unbroken rice), and a flower in your right palm. The Sankalp mantra below is pre-filled with today's panchang (tithi, nakshatra, samvat year, lunar month, and weekday) — only the bracketed cues marked [say "…"] remain for you to fill in: your city, your gotra, and your full name. Women replace गोत्रोत्पन्नः with गोत्रोत्पन्ना. Release the water, akshat, and flower onto a plate as you finish the mantra.
ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य अद्य ब्रह्मणो द्वितीये परार्धे श्वेतवाराहकल्पे वैवस्वतमन्वन्तरे कलियुगे प्रथमचरणे जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे भरतखण्डे आर्यावर्तान्तर्गते [say "your city name"] नगरे, विक्रम संवत्सरे 2083 (सिद्धार्थी) वत्सरे, चैत्र मासे, कृष्ण पक्षे, त्रयोदशी तिथौ, शनिवासरे, धनिष्ठा नक्षत्रे, [say "your gotra, e.g. Kashyapa"] गोत्रोत्पन्नः, [say "your full name"] नामाहम्, सकल दुरित क्षय पूर्वक सकल अभीष्ट सिद्ध्यर्थं श्री महादेव प्रीत्यर्थं श्री महाशिवरात्रि व्रत पूजनम् अहं करिष्ये।
The tithi, nakshatra, lunar month, weekday and samvat year in the mantra above are for Maha Shivaratri Puja's upcoming date: Saturday, 6 March 2027. These values auto-update each year.
Place a kalash of water with mango leaves and coconut on the right of the Shiva Linga. Worship Lord Ganesha first with durva, flowers, and a modak.
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः॥
Invoke Lord Shiva into the Linga by chanting the Pranapratishtha mantra and placing a bilva patra on top. Chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' continuously while preparing for abhishek.
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
At sunset (first prahar), perform abhishek with raw milk while chanting the Rudrashtadhyayi or a short form of the Rudram. After the abhishek, wipe the Linga dry, apply chandan, and offer bilva leaves one by one with the Shiva Ashtottara Shatanamavali.
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्॥
At the second prahar (around 9 PM), perform abhishek with curd. Offer more bilva leaves and white flowers. Recite the Shiva Mahimna Stotra.
At midnight — the most sacred Nishita Kaal — perform abhishek with ghee. This is when Shiva is most accessible to devotees. Offer the central bilva leaves and chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' 108 times on a rudraksha mala. Recite the Lingashtakam and Rudrashtakam.
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥ (108 times)
Before dawn, perform the final abhishek with honey (or sugarcane juice). Offer dhatura and dhoop. Recite the Shiva Tandava Stotra.
After the final prahar, perform the Shiva Aarti with camphor — singing 'Om Jai Shiv Omkara'. Put the Linga to symbolic rest (shayan) with white flowers.
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा। ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव अर्धांगी धारा॥
At sunrise (after Chaturdashi tithi ends or per tradition), break your fast by consuming the naivedya prasad. Distribute bilva leaves and kheer as prasad. Donate black sesame and rice to the needy.
This guide reflects classical Parashari tradition. Regional variations exist — consult a family priest for specifics.
