Mahashivratri is coming up on 26th Feb 2025. We should be gearing up to raise our energies as this is the time when the universe is in giving mode. It’s the period when Shiv and Shakti united to create the universe. In this blog, we will tell you the significance, muhurta, stories, and rituals for Mahashivratri 2025.
Mahashivratri 2025 Timings
Below are the Mahashivratri 2025 timings.
Puja Time: February 26, 12:14 AM – 01:04 AM.
Ratri First Prahar Puja Time: February 26, 06:24 PM – 09:32 PM.
Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time: February 26, 09:32 PM – February 27, 12:39 AM
Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time: February 27, 12:39 AM – 03:46 AM
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time: February 27, 03:46 AM – 06:53 AM
Significance of Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri is a night dedicated to Shiva. Indian culture is so beautifully designed that all 365 days have been assigned with special significance for people on different paths. Each day brings a new energy that can be utilized for a specific purpose.
The fourteenth day of the Lunar Month or just a day before the new moon is called Shivratri. Mahashivratri is one such day. Out of all Shivratris, the Shivratri falling in Feb -March is considered as most auspicious as the energy pours out from the sky and is available to use to progress in life. The scientific reason is that the Northern Hemisphere is positioned in such a way that there is a natural surge of energy in the atmosphere. For grihastis, this is a special day as it’s celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Shiv and Shakti whereas for yogis it’s the day when Shiva became one with Mount Kailash. Devotees stay awake all night, and sing, dance, and do sadhana to make the most of this energy.
If you wish to understand Mahashivratri, read this blog
Mahashivratri Katha From Shiv Purana
Shivpurana has several stories related to Lord Shiva. One such popular story is of Gurudruha who unknowingly performed Mahashivratri vrat and met the divine himself.
Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived a hunter named Gurudruha. He was strong, fearless, and lived by hunting animals. Every day, he would roam the forest with his bow and arrows, looking for prey to feed his family.
One day, it was Shivratri, but Gurudruha had no idea what that meant. He only knew he had to find food. So, he picked up his bow and set out deep into the jungle. But luck was not on his side. He searched everywhere, but not a single animal was in sight.
As the sun began to set, Gurudruha reached a pond where animals often came to drink water at night. He decided to wait there, so he climbed a Bilva tree and hid among the branches, hoping to catch something.
What he didn’t know was that under this very tree, there was a Shivling—a sacred stone worshipped as Lord Shiva’s form. But Gurudruha wasn’t paying attention to that.
As he sat on the tree, he felt sleepy. To keep himself awake, he started plucking the Bilva leaves and dropping them one by one. Some of these leaves fell onto the Shivling below. Without realizing it, he was performing a sacred offering to Lord Shiva.
After a while, a deer came to the pond to drink water. Gurudruha immediately drew his bow and was about to shoot. But before he could, the deer spoke in a gentle voice,
“O Hunter, I have little fawns waiting for me. Let me go back to them just once. I promise I will return.”
Gurudruha thought for a moment. If the deer didn’t return, he would lose his meal. But something in his heart told him to let her go. So, he did.
Time passed, and another deer came. Again, Gurudruha aimed his arrow, but this deer too pleaded, “Please, let me go. My family is waiting for me. I will return.”
Gurudruha sighed but let this one go as well.
Soon, a third deer arrived, and the same thing happened. One by one, all three deer promised to return and ran off into the jungle. Gurudruha was getting frustrated. It was already midnight, and he was still hungry!
He stayed awake all night, still plucking leaves and dropping them, unknowingly worshipping Lord Shiva.
Finally, all three deer came back together, just as they had promised. They stood in front of him, ready to accept their fate.
But something strange happened. Gurudruha couldn’t bring himself to kill them anymore. He had spent the whole night listening to their words, seeing their honesty and something inside him had changed. His hands shook. His heart felt heavy.
He dropped his bow.
At that very moment, a divine light appeared in the sky, and before him stood Lord Shiva Himself! His voice was deep yet full of kindness.
“Gurudruha” Shiva said, “Tonight, you have unknowingly worshipped Me. You stayed awake, fasted, and offered Bilva leaves. Your heart has softened, and you have shown mercy. Because of this, I bless you. Your past sins are washed away, and you shall attain liberation.”
Gurudruha fell to his knees, overwhelmed with emotion. He had spent his whole life hunting, never thinking twice about it. But that night, he had changed his fate without even knowing it. From that day on, he gave up hunting and spent the rest of his life worshipping Lord Shiva.
How To Make The Best Out of Mahashivratri 2025
These are general guidelines only. If you’re doing some sadhnas, please continue that.
- Wake up early in the morning.
- Take bath. If possible use herbal powders for bathing instead of soap.
- Wear white or light colored loosing clothing.
- Clean your temple and decorate it with fresh flowers
- Offer milk, water, or panchamrit to Shivling while chanting the ‘Om Namah Shivay’ mantra 108 times.
- As you might have heard in several stories, it’s best to stay awake on this night to make the best out of the surrounding energies. You can sing the glories of lord Shiva, read Shivapurana, or just simply worship Shivling at midnight.
We have given a specially designed Mahashivratri sadhana below that you can start from Shivratri and continue till Holi.
Mahashivratri Sadhna
This is a special sadhana that starts on the night of Mahashivratri and continues till Holi. The main benefit of doing this sadhana is whatever blockages you have created over time will be removed slowly with the blessings of Mahakaal. People who pull you down will disappear from your life. If you do it with complete devotion, this is one of the most life-changing sadhana which will completely help you reassess your life and see it in a new light. Complete details are given in this video.
Conclusion
If you feel stuck in life and have completely lost your way, we recommend you check out Rituals of Happy Souls. This book helps you align with universal energies through small rituals like lighting a dia, drawing yantras, and listening to specific ragas. This book has healed many people and helped them experience the magic of the cosmos. In the end, we all require energy from the sky to transform our lives powerfully.
For those who wish to master Kaalchakra dasha, Mahashivratri is an excellent day to get started. Without the blessings of Lord Shiva, no one can learn this dasha. Check out Lunar Astro’s Kaalchakra dasha course which gives complete overviews, examples, and techniques of Kaalchakra dasha.
