Rudraksha-Ratna
How to worship Lord Shiva :
People worship Lord Shiva in various ways ; by fasting , by chanting His devotional prayers , by visiting pilgrimages or simply meditating on Him . However on Maha Shivratri , it is better if one performs a simple Puja for His blessings . Keep all the puja items ready : Diya ( oil lamp ), agarbatti ( incense sticks ), Abhisheka vessel , ashtagandha , Bael leaves , flowers , fruits and sweets .
� Take a seat near Shiva Linga at a temple .
� Close your eyes and meditate on Him . Offer prayers to Him in your mind in whatever language you feel comfortable in .
� Now take some water in your right hand , think of your wish and drop it into a bowl . You can also follow if you want Him to forgive you for all your wrongdoings committed knowingly or unknowingly . � Offer a flower to Shiva and chant Om Pashupataye Namah . � Light up Diya and agarbattis .
� Chant Om Namah Shivay . You can also chant Mahamrityunjaya Mantra as it is one of the greatest Vedic mantras for protection against danger or any mishap .
Timings of Shiva Puja during Maha Shivratri 2017 :
Mahashivratri is celebrated on 24th of February in 2017 , Friday . To take advantage of this auspicious festival , it is better to know the exact timing for Maha Shivratri Puja & Abhishek vidhi .
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It starts at 00:08 to 00:59 at night on 24th of February followed by Maha Shivaratri Parana
Time 06:24 to 15:24 in the morning of 25th February . � On the night of 25th : The initial Prahara puja time is 6:13 PM to 9:23 PM . � The second Prahara puja time is 9:23 PM to 12:33 AM . �
The third Prahara puja time is 12:33 AM to 3:44 AM � The fourth Prahara puja time 3:44 AM to 6:54 AM .