All You need to Know about Mahashivaratri Fast: Benefits Of Fasting On Shivaratri
Shivaratri Fast is considered to be the most important fast for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Shiva Purana goes on to say that if a devotee observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Every year devotees observe Maha Shivaratri fast with devotion and sincerity. Though many go on a diet of fruits and milk, some do not consume even a drop of water all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival.
Legend
According to Hindu mythology, observance of mahashivratri Vrat with discipline helps a devotee to control the two great natural forces that afflict a man, rajas guna (the quality of passionate activity) and tamas guna (the quality of inertia). When a devotee spends an entire day in the Feet of Lord and worships with sincerity, his motion is controlled and evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. Besides, when a devotee observes vigil throughout the night (jaagran) he manages to conquer the evils of Tamas Guna too. It has also been mentioned that when a devotee observes a round of worship every three hours, the Shivaratri Vrata becomes perfect.
Devotees of Lord Shiva believe consider Shivratri fast to be extremely auspicious and rate it equal or more than performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. Some believe that a devotee who observes a Shivaratri Fast with sincerity and utters the name of Lord Shiva with perfect devotion is absolved from all sins. Such a devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shiva and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
Since immemorial our ancestors have been fasting during important rituals and occasions. And one such major occasion is Maha Shivaratri where devotees fast all through the day and night. The purpose of fast is that it helps to detoxify the body and keeps the mind alert.
It is said that people who fast on Maha Shivaratri with all sincerity they appease Lord Shiva. People who fast should be aware of what food to avoid like rice, wheat and table salt is the most common thing to be avoided. It is ideal to take fruits and you can substitute with rock salt instead of table salt.
We list some of the recipes that are easy and light
1.Sabudana khichdi
2.Kuttu puri
3.Singhara halwa
4.Sama ke chawal or barnyard millet
5.Pumpkin soup with rock salt
Benefits Of Fasting On Shivaratri
Come Shivaratri, temples resonate with hymns and chants and serpentine queues of devotes start from very early morning itself. Hindus believe that having the blessings of Lord Shiva on that auspicious day is very important.
The festival is quite significant among the Hindus and many fast during this day. It is interesting to note that while fasting for other festival ends after pooja is performed, however, on Maha Shivaratri day, the fast continues throughout the day and the night.
People who fast avoid certain types of ingredient and prefer to keep it light. It is said that people who fast with earnest devotion would appease Lord Shiva and would absolve them from all the sins. The fast is also considered vital as one can attain moksha.
