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.