Masik Shivratri 2024: Date, Benefits, Rituals and Significance

Masik Shivratri falls on Thursday, July 4, 2024 [Image: Canva]

Masik Shivratri falls on Thursday, July 4, 2024. It is observed on the 14th day of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) every month.

Masik Shivratri 2024 Date and Timings

Observing Masik Shivratri offers spiritual and practical benefits to devotees. It purifies the mind and soul, granting peace and clarity. Fasting and prayers on this day are believed to remove obstacles, fulfill desires, and bring prosperity. By honoring Lord Shiva with rituals and devotion, devotees seek blessings for health, wealth, and spiritual growth. Masik Shivratri strengthens faith and deepens the connection with the divine, fostering inner strength and resilience in life's journey.

Masik Shivratri Rituals

• Fasting: Devotees fast throughout the day and night, consuming only fruits, milk, and water.
• Puja: A night-long vigil is kept, with devotees performing Abhishekam (ritual bathing) of Lord Shiva's idol or lingam with milk, honey, water, and bel leaves.
• Mantra Chanting: Reciting prayers and chanting of "Om Namah Shivaya" and other Shiva mantras.
• Offerings: Offerings of bael leaves, fruits, and flowers to Lord Shiva.
• Jagran: Staying awake all night, engaging in bhajans, kirtans, and reading scriptures related to Lord Shiva.

According to Hindu mythology, Masik Shivratri commemorates the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that observing this fast and performing the rituals with devotion can cleanse one of sins and bestow blessings for a harmonious life.

Masik Shivratri holds great spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. It is believed to be a night when Lord Shiva performs the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. Devotees observe fasts and perform rituals to seek blessings for prosperity, health, and spiritual growth.

Masik Shivratri is not just a religious observance but also a time for introspection, spiritual growth, and strengthening one's bond with Lord Shiva, the supreme deity of destruction and transformation in Hinduism.