Maha Shivaratri Puja – Perform the Rituals from Morning till Night

On the morning of Maha Shivaratri, wake up early and complete your daily cleansing rituals. Add black sesame seeds to your bath water if possible. This sacred bath purifies both the body and the soul. If you can, take a holy dip in the Ganga River. Alternatively, mix Ganga water or water from any sacred river into your bathing water at home.

After bathing, take a formal vow (sankalp) to observe a full-day fast and break it the next day. While taking the vow, promise to observe the fast with dedication and discipline. Pray to Lord Shiva for strength and blessings to complete the vrat without obstacles. Since this fast can be challenging, make a firm resolve before beginning.

Observe the Fast – Including Nirjala Vrat

During the fast, avoid all kinds of food. Some devotees follow the stricter form known as Nirjala Vrat, where they abstain from both food and water. However, many devotees consume fruits and milk during the day and maintain a stricter fast until night. You may choose the level of fasting according to your capacity and devotion.

In the evening, bathe again before performing the puja or visiting a temple. If you cannot visit a temple, create a temporary Shiva Lingam at home. You can make a clay Shiva Lingam, apply ghee over it, and use it for abhishekam and worship.

Maha Shivaratri Puja -Night Puja Rituals

Perform Maha Shivaratri Puja at night. You may perform the puja once or four times during the night. If you choose to worship four times, divide the entire night into four equal parts known as prahar. If you prefer to perform the puja only once, conduct it at midnight.

During the puja, perform Abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the Shiva Lingam using different sacred materials. Common offerings include:

Milk
Rose water
Sandalwood paste
Curd (yogurt)
Honey
Ghee
Sugar
Pure water

If you perform the four-prahar puja, follow this sequence:

First Prahar: Offer water (Jal Abhishek)
Second Prahar: Offer curd (Dadhi Abhishek)
Third Prahar: Offer ghee (Ghrita Abhishek)
Fourth Prahar: Offer honey (Madhu Abhishek)

After completing the abhishekam, offer a garland of Bilva (Bel) leaves to the Shiva Lingam. Apply sandalwood paste and light incense and lamps. Offer Madar (Aak) flowers and Vibhuti (sacred ash). Devotees prepare Vibhuti from dried cow dung cakes and consider it highly sacred.

Chant the powerful mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” throughout the puja to invoke Lord Shiva’s blessings.

Breaking the Fast (Vrat Paran)

On the following day, bathe and then break your fast at the proper time. To receive the maximum spiritual benefit, break the fast between sunrise and before the end of Chaturdashi Tithi.
By observing the fast with devotion, performing night worship, and following the correct rituals, devotees seek Lord Shiva’s blessings for peace, prosperity, and spiritual growth.