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Mahashivratri 2026Image Credit source: Freepik

Mahashivratri 2026: The festival of Mahashivratri is considered very special in Sanatan Dharma. This festival is not just a fast, but it is the day of union of Shiva and Shakti. This year this festival will be celebrated on 15 February. According to mythological beliefs, on the day of Mahashivratri, Lord Mahadev accepted Mother Parvati as his better half. The union of Shiva and Mother Parvati was not so simple. This story of the union of Shiva and Shakti is one of sacrifice, unwavering faith and waiting for ages. Let us know how Shiva-Shakti got married?

According to the story, Goddess Parvati could not bear the insult of Mahadev by her father Daksh. He sacrificed his life by jumping into the Yagya Kund. After this, in separation from Sati, Shiva went into meditation and took samadhi in the Himalayas, away from the world. Here the power of Shiva was incomplete without Shiva and without power the balance of the entire creation got disturbed.

Goddess Parvati took rebirth

Later Goddess Parvati was reborn in the place of mountain king Himalaya. She was born as Parvati. Parvati was a great devotee of Mahadev since childhood. When she grew up, she took a firm resolve that she would marry only Mahadev. After this, Narada Muni told him that Mahadev can be found only by doing hard penance. Because Mahadev can awaken only through devotion.

Hearing the words of Narada Muni, Goddess Parvati gave up all pleasures. She went to the Himalayas and started doing penance. For thousands of years he ate only fruits and flowers. Not only this, she lived only by drinking water for many years. For some time the goddess also ate dry leaves, but later she stopped eating dry leaves also. That's why she was called 'Aparna'. Due to the effect of his penance, Mahadev got up from meditation, but he tested Goddess Parvati.

Lord Shiva accepted the prayer

Lord Shiva went to Goddess Parvati in the form of a Brahmin and started criticizing himself. He said that the resident of the crematorium, the scoundrel with a snake wrapped around his neck, is not worthy of you. Goddess Parvati got angry at this. He said that my love is not based on external appearance. The basis of my love is the soul of Shiva. Seeing the emotion of Goddess Parvati, Mahadev came in his real form and accepted her prayer.

After this, on the day of Krishna Chaturdashi in the month of Phalgun, Lord Shiva reached the place of Mother Parvati with a unique procession. Gods, Gandharvas, ghosts and Nandi etc. participated in the procession of Lord Shiva. Shiva and Shakti were married on Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalgun month.