Greatness of Shivaratri

The rishis said

You are blessed and have succeeded in your aims. Your birth is fruitful, father. You have let us hear Maheshvara's auspicious account, which many rishis have told. Still we have a doubt, so tell us: what vow pleases Shiva so that he gives happiness to the virtuous? You are skilled in matters of Shiva, which is why we ask. By what vow, kept with devotion, does one gain pleasure and liberation? Disciple of Vyasa, we bow to you. Tell us this specially.

Suta replied

Best of rishis, you are full of compassion and your question is fitting. Remembering Shiva's lotus feet, I will tell you what I have heard. Once Vidhatri, Hari and Shivaa asked Shankara exactly what you ask: "What vow pleases you enough that you give pleasure and liberation?" Hara answered them, and I will tell you what I heard. It destroys sins.

Shiva said

Many vows give pleasure and liberation, but ten are counted as the most important. Those versed in the Jabala text name ten vows for Shiva, and brahmanas should always strive to keep them. On ashtami one eats only at night. On kalashtami, Hari, one gives up all food. Vishnu, food is also given up on ekadashi in the bright fortnight. On ekadashi in the dark fortnight one may eat at night after worshipping me. On trayodashi in the bright fortnight one eats only at night, but those who follow Shiva's vows do not eat on trayodashi in the dark fortnight. On Mondays one eats only at night, for devotees of Shiva, in both fortnights. All who follow Shiva's vows should feed the best of brahmanas as far as they can, which completes the vow. Brahmanas should make these vows a rule, and brahmanas who abandon them are reborn as thieves. Those who know the way of liberation should keep these rules. Four means of liberation are taught: worship of Shiva, repetition of Rudra, fasting in Shiva's temple, and death in Varanasi, which gives lasting liberation. Shiva should be pleased on an ashtami that falls on a Monday and on chaturdashi in the dark fortnight. Of these four, Hari, the strongest is the Shivaratri vow. Those who seek pleasure and liberation should keep it. No other vow brings men greater benefit, and among all vows for the pursuit of dharma it is the best. It holds for all men, with or without desires, of any caste or stage of life, for women, children, servants of both sexes, gods and all who have bodies. It is supreme among beneficial vows, and the one in the dark fortnight of Magha is especially distinguished. The vow runs until midnight and destroys the sin of a crore of killings.

Keshava, on that day the rites begin in the morning. Listen attentively, for out of my great affection for you I will describe them. A wise person rises full of joy, carefully does his daily rites, bathes, goes to Shiva's temple and worships by the rules. He bows to Shiva and states his resolve properly: "Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, Nilakantha, I bow to you. Divine lord, I wish to keep your Shivaratri vow. By your power let it be completed without obstacle. Let desire and the other enemies not trouble me." Having made this resolve, he gathers what the worship needs. The lingam should be in an excellent place, one praised in the agamas. He goes there himself at night and completes all the rites. The materials are placed near Shiva on an auspicious spot to the south or west. That excellent man bathes again by the rules, wears auspicious clothes and inner garments, sips water three times and begins. The worship starts with the matching mantra for each object, for Hara's worship is not done without mantras. In the first watch a learned person repeats a mantra, and with devotion uses song, dance and instruments. If he knows mantras, he makes an excellent earthen lingam. After the daily rites he worships it, having first made it and then performed the rites of installing it. He pleases Vrishadhvaja with many hymns. A wise person reads the greatness of the vow aloud, and noble devotees who want the vow completed should listen. There must be four images for the four watches. In due order one invokes first and dismisses afterward. One should gladly stay awake all night with festivities. In the morning he bathes again, installs Shiva and worships. He bows his shoulders, joins his hands and prays to Shambhu. After finishing the vow he bows again and again: "Mahadeva, at your command I have kept all the restraints. Lord, the excellent vow is done, and I now dismiss you. Lord of the gods, I kept the vow as far as I could. Sharva, be satisfied and show me your compassion." Then he offers flowers to Shiva and gives a gift by the rules. Having bowed, he observes the restraints and dismisses the god. As far as he can, he feeds brahmanas, especially those devoted to Shiva, and after satisfying them he eats himself.

Hari, in each watch of Shivaratri an excellent devotee does a particular worship, which I now tell you. In the first watch the earthen lingam is installed and worshipped with many offerings and great devotion. Hara is always worshipped first with the five substances, each offered separately with its mantra. After offering them, one pours a stream of water, washing the five substances with it first. He chants the hundred and eight mantras, pours the water, and worships Shiva in his formless and formed aspects. Vrishadhvaja may be worshipped with the mantra given by one's guru, or Sadashiva with the mantra bearing his name. Shambhu, the paramatman, is worshipped with different sandalwood pastes, unbroken rice and black sesame, with lotuses and karavira flowers. As the flowers are offered, the mantras with his eight names are used: Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahat, Bhima and Ishana. When the names are used in worship, AUM goes before them and they are in the dative. Incense and lamps are offered, then food. In the first watch a wise person offers food of cooked grain. As arghya he offers coconut and betel leaves. After bowing and meditation he repeats the mantra from his guru, or else Shankara is pleased with the five-syllable mantra. Showing the cow-mudra, he makes fine water offerings. Then, as he can, he thinks of feeding five brahmanas. While the watch lasts there should be great festivity. He offers the fruit of the worship to the god and dismisses him. Then, with a resolve, the rites of the second watch follow, or by the rules there can be one resolve for the whole worship. As before, materials are offered with a stream of water, and Shiva is worshipped with double the mantras of the first watch, first with sesame, barley and lotuses. For Parameshvara bilva leaves are special. The arghya is citron and the food is sweet milk rice. Janardana, the mantras are double those of the first watch. Then one thinks of feeding brahmanas, and the other acts continue until the second watch ends. When the third watch begins one worships as before, but with wheat instead of barley and arka flowers, with many incenses and lamps. Vishnu, the food is cakes and various vegetables. The arati is done properly with camphor. The arghya is pomegranates, and the repetitions are double those of the previous watch. One arranges for feeding brahmanas and gives them gifts, and the festivities continue as long as the watch lasts. Before the fourth watch arrives one dismisses the god and then does the worship properly with all its parts. Parameshvara is worshipped with black gram, priyangu, green gram, the seven grains, shankhi flowers and bilva leaves. To satisfy Sadashiva many kinds of sweet food are offered, such as black gram or cooked grain. Hari, plantains or other fruit may be given as arghya, and many fruits should be offered. An excellent man repeats mantras double the number of the last watch. A learned man thinks of feeding brahmanas as he can. He spends the time devotedly in song, dance and instruments, with the other devotees keeping up great festivities until sunrise. When the sun rises he bathes and worships Shiva again, with many offerings and the anointing of the god. There are many gifts and different foods, and the number of brahmanas and mendicants fed equals the number of watches. Bowing to Shankara, he offers flowers in his cupped hands, and an accomplished person praises and prays with mantras: "Mridha, as long as I live I am yours and my mind is always absorbed in you. Ocean of compassion, knowing this, do what is fitting. In this worship I have done things knowingly and unknowingly. Bhutanatha, ocean of compassion, knowing this, show me favour. Fruits have come from this fast. Divine Shankara, giver of happiness, be content with them. Mahadeva, may my line always be engaged in worshipping you. Let me not be born in a line where you are not the god." After offering the flowers he receives the tilaka and blessings from brahmanas, and then Shambhu is dismissed.

If this vow is kept, Hara does not stay far away. I cannot describe its fruits, and there is nothing I cannot give in return. If this supreme vow is kept even without strain, the seeds of liberation are sown, without doubt. Men should keep it devoutly every month, and when the concluding rites are done, they gain all its fruits. I am Shiva, who always takes away miseries. If this vow is kept I certainly grant pleasure, liberation and every wished-for fruit.

Suta concluded

Hearing Shiva's beneficial words, Vishnu went back to his own abode. After that, people began to keep this excellent vow for their own good. Once Keshava told Narada of the divine Shivaratri vow, which gives pleasure and liberation.