Hindu · 7 November 2026
Masik Shivaratri
मासिक शिवरात्रि
The monthly night of Shiva, on Krishna Chaturdashi.
Why it is celebrated
Every Krishna Chaturdashi is a Masik (monthly) Shivaratri; the one in Phalguna is Maha Shivaratri. Worship is at night, around midnight.
The story behind it
Chaturdashi of the dark fortnight is Shiva’s own night, when the moon is almost gone — a time to turn inward. The Shiva Purana says that keeping Shivaratri every month, even without knowing, brings great merit: it tells of a hunter who, hiding in a bel tree all night, dropped leaves and drops of water on a Shivling below and was blessed.
How to celebrate
- Fast and do abhishek with water and milk at night
- Offer bel leaves
- Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” 108 times
- Many devotees begin this vrat on Maha Shivaratri
More from this calendar
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