Happy Mahashivaratri to all Shiva bhakts

MahaShivratri which literally means the “the great night of shiva” is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in the honour of the GOD SHIVA. Maha shivratri is a hindu festival that signifies the overcoming of darkness in life and world! All shiva followers generally celebrate this auspicious day by maintaing a jagraan (an overnight prayer ceremony) worshiping lord shiva and singing melodies in his favour in order to overcome darkness in life!

Maha Shivaratri in Nepal:

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated widely in the temples all over Nepal but especially in the Pashupatinath temple. Thousands of devotees visit the famous Shiva Shakti Peetham nearby as well. The Nepalese army parades around the city of Kathmandu to pay tribute to Lord Shiva, and holy rituals are performed all over the nation. Artists from various classical music and dance forms perform through the night. On Maha Shivaratri, married women pray for the well being of their husbands, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, considered as the ideal husband. Shiva is also worshipped as the Adi Guru (first teacher) from whom the yogic tradition originates.

Why sadhus or Shiv bhakts smoke weed

It is said that Marijuana plants grew at all places where the nectar dropped or touched the earth. In one of the myths, Shiva reinvigorated himself in the heat of the sunlight by consuming leaves of the Marijuana plants. It is offered as a gift to Shiva by devotees, especially during the Shivaratri festival. This can be seen at the temples of Benares, Baidyanath, Tarakeswar & Pashupatinath. Consuming it in reasonable proportions is believed to cleanse sins, unite the soul with god & avoid the torments of hell in the afterlife. However, excessive consumption, without adherence to rituals, is viewed as sinful. Their medicinal value is said to assist in Sadhana or meditative practice, by enabling the yogis to overcome the miseries of the body & enter a state of trance. In the extreme climatic conditions of the mountainous regions, marijuana products help calm the nerves, in the biting cold. The mighty Shiva has thus been invoked on many an occasion, be it wedding ceremonies, prayers before battles or for spiritual advancement, with this holy herb.