Maha Shivaratri (Shaiva Siddhanta)
Lord Shiva (Sadashiva, Nataraja, Dakshinamurti)
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Maha Shivaratri in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition — the great night of Shiva, observed with all-night vigil, four-prahar abhishekam, and continuous Sri Rudram and Tirumantiram recitation. At Chidambaram (the dance hall of Nataraja), Thiruvannamalai (Arunachala), Madurai Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar, and every Shaiva temple in Tamil Nadu, the maha-abhishekam continues from sunset through Brahma-muhurta.
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya — the Panchakshara mantra
Salutations to Shiva — the five-syllable mantra revealed in the Sri Rudram, the central mantra of the Shaiva Siddhanta path.
How to recite
Maintain jagaran (all-night vigil) on Shivaratri. Perform abhishekam to the Shivalinga in four prahar (3-hour watches) through the night — milk, curd, ghee, honey, panchamrit, sandalwood paste, and finally water in each prahar. Chant Sri Rudram (Namakam-Chamakam) and the Tirumantiram of Tirumular (the Shaiva Siddhanta scripture). Recite the 63 Nayanmar Puranams.
Benefits
Maha Shivaratri is held in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition (the dominant Shaiva path of Tamil Nadu) as the night Shiva performed the cosmic Tandava and revealed the Tirumantiram to Tirumular. All-night vigil and abhishekam grants the highest punya of any single observance — equal to a year of regular Shiva-puja per the Shiva Mahapurana.
✦ Special Note
Chidambaram's Nataraja Maha Shivaratri abhishekam in the Kanaka Sabha is the most attended. Thiruvannamalai sees lakhs of devotees performing the Girivalam (14 km circumambulation of Arunachala hill) through the night. Dates per the Thirukanthika Panchangam (Tamil Shaiva almanac, Chennai reckoning), cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Phalahar (fruits, milk, panchamrit) through the day and night; sundal and sabudana kheer as ritual prasadam after each prahar abhishekam; full curd rice and akkaravadisal for parana the next morning.
🪔 Aarti
Om Jai Shiv Omkara
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा । ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥ एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे । हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥ दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे । त्रिगुण रूप निरखत त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥ अक्षमाला वनमाला मुंडमाला धारी । त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी ॥ श्वेतांबर पीतांबर बाघंबर अंगे । सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥ कर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी । सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका । प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये ये तीनों एका ॥ काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी । नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी ॥ त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे । कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे ॥
Karpur Gauram Karunavataram
कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
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At 7pm the evening before, each time it comes around. Turn it off anytime.
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