Maha Shivratri

Shivratri is observed as a festival as well as a vow. It means the Night of Shiva and falls on Shiva Chaturdashi of Phalgun that is on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March).

On Shivratri, Shiva is worshiped in the form of LINGODBHAVAMURTI, the pillar of fire that appears to span the neither world and the sky, but has indeed neither a beginning nor end. On shivratri the worship of LINGDBHAVAMURTI is with Bilva leaves, Heaps of Bilva gathered from quince trees tended with godly respect and affection.