Devotees throughout India are immersed in profound spiritual fervor as Maha Shivaratri unfolds today, Sunday, February 15, 2026. Revered as the Great Night of Shiva, this auspicious festival honors Lord Shiva—the supreme destroyer and transformer in the Hindu trinity—and commemorates his cosmic union with Goddess Parvati, symbolizing the eternal balance of consciousness and energy.
Falling on the Chaturdashi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the Phalguna month, Maha Shivaratri 2026 offers a powerful opportunity for inner awakening. The most sacred Nishita Kaal puja window—the midnight period ideal for Shiva worship—occurs approximately from 12:09 AM to 1:01 AM on February 16 (with minor local variations across regions; devotees should consult local Panchang for precise timings).
This sacred night holds deep significance: it marks the triumph of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance, and the potential for moksha (liberation) through sincere devotion. Legends recount Lord Shiva’s Tandava dance of cosmic creation, preservation, and dissolution, as well as his heroic act of consuming poison during the Samudra Manthan to protect the universe, earning him the title Neelkanth.
Across the country, temples are alive with devotion. Major pilgrimage sites such as Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple, Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, and Somnath have witnessed massive crowds performing special abhishekams—ritual bathing of the Shivling with milk, honey, curd, ghee, and holy water—accompanied by bells, conch shells, and soulful bhajans. At Isha Yoga Center, nightlong satsangs, meditations, and performances led by Sadhguru draw thousands for a transformative all-night experience.
The spiritual energy resonates everywhere as millions observe rigorous fasts, limiting intake to fruits, milk, or simple sattvic foods, while staying awake through the night (jagran) in meditation, prayer, and chanting of the sacred mantra “Om Namah Shivaya.” Temples report unprecedented rushes, with queues stretching for hours as devotees seek Lord Shiva’s blessings for forgiveness of sins, removal of negative karma, and spiritual elevation.
As evening deepens into the divine night, the focus remains on introspection, reverence, and surrender to the divine. Maha Shivaratri serves as a powerful reminder to cultivate inner stillness amid life’s chaos, embracing Shiva’s qualities of compassion, detachment, and transcendence.
For our readers following via the Go Spiritual News Magazine & App, may this Maha Shivaratri shower you with Mahadev’s boundless grace, peace, and profound spiritual growth. Har Har Mahadev! 🔱
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