Bhubaneswar: The ‘Mahadeepa’ will be lifted atop the Shree Kingaraj Temple in Odisha capital by 10 pm on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
The festival, which celebrates the divine union of Shiva and Shakti, will be observed on February 26 with special puja being performed across temples. Followers and devotees of Lord Shiva break their fasts in the state only after the ‘Mahadeepa’ is raised atop the 11th-century shrine.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva married Maa Shakti, his divine consort, for a second time on this night. While Lord Shiva signifies Purusha, which is mindfulness, Maa Parvati signifies Prakriti, which is nature. The union of this consciousness and energy promotes creation. Another legend says that Lord Shiva was incarnated as Lord Rudra during the midnight of Maha Shivaratri during the creation of the universe with the grace of Lord Brahma.
Here is a detailed timeline of the rituals for Maha Shivaratri as decided by the Lingaraj Temple administration.
- Temple doors to open at 2.30 am
- Mangala Alati and Avakash Niti from 3 am to 3.30 am
- Sahana Mela darshan from 3.30 am to 11 am
- Rosha Homa at 6.30 am
- Chhamu Pariskar from 11 am to noon
- Maha Snana Besha from noon to 12.45 pm
- Surya Puja and Dwarapala Puja from 12.45 pm onwards
- Bhuwaneswari’s Sakala Dhupa at 2.30 pm
- Bhoga Mandap ritual at 2.45 pm
- Sahana Mela darshan from 3.45 pm to 4.45 pm
- Chhamu Pariskar from 4.45 pm to 5.15 pm
- Lord Lingaraj’s Besha at 5.15 pm
- Veera Kishore Ballabha, Dwiprahar Dhupa at 5.45 pm
- Pahuda at 7 pm
- Sandhya Alati and Tera Fita at 7.10 pm
- Majana and Besha of Lord Lingaraj at 7.30 pm
- Jatra Puja and Bedha Parikrama at 8.10 pm
- Sandhya Dhupa and Tirtha Jal Anayana at 8.55 pm
- Maha Deepa will be raised atop the temple at 10 pm
- Sahana Mela darshan till 11 pm
