– One day before Mahashivratri i.e. on 14th February, Saturday night, eat satvik food and follow celibacy. Next day i.e. 15th February, Sunday, wake up early in the morning and take bath etc. Take a pledge to fast and worship with water and rice in your hand.
– Follow the rules of fasting throughout the day. Don’t eat anything, don’t lie to anyone, don’t get angry. Don’t speak ill of anyone. Make complete preparations for the puja before any auspicious time mentioned above. Clean any place in the house and purify it with Ganga water.
– Start the puja by establishing Shivalinga in the auspicious time. Anoint the Shivalinga first with pure water, then with cow’s milk and once again with pure water. After this, light a lamp of pure ghee. While offering flowers to Shivalinga, chant these mantras-
Devdev Mahadev Neelkanth Namostu Te.
Kartumichchhamyaham Dev Shivratrivratam tav.
Tav Prasaddevesh Nirvighnen Bhavediti.
Kamadya: Shatravo Maa Vai Peedaan Kurvantu Naive Hi.
– After this, offer things like Bilva Patra, Bhang, Dhatura, rice, plum, perfume, paan, honey, molly, Mandar flower, Dhatura, sacred thread etc. one by one on Shivalinga. In this way, after worshiping as per the rituals, offer seasonal fruits and sweets to Lord Shiva.
– After the puja, one must listen to the story of Mahashivratri, only then one gets the full benefit of this fast. At last perform Aarti of Lord Shiva along with the family. The person observing fast should keep chanting Lord Shiva’s mantra Om Namah Shivay in his mind throughout the day.
– If possible, do not sleep on the night of Mahashivratri and worship Lord Shiva in the auspicious time of all four Prahars with the method mentioned above. If you are not able to do puja, then stay awake the whole night and chant bhajans and kirtans of Lord Shiva or you can also chant mantras.
– Be sure to break the fast the next morning on 16th February, Monday. Provide food to the Brahmins and send them off with respect and donations. After this have your meal yourself. In this way, by fasting and worshiping on Mahashivratri, one gets the blessings of Mahadev.
