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Know why Mahashivratri is celebrated

New Delhi: Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri.  Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

PTI Published : Mar 09, 2013 22:19 IST, Updated : Feb 27, 2014 6:32 IST


The uncut shank of the coconut symbolizes his tangled hair and the three spots on the fruit Shiva's three eyes.

The phallus symbol representing Shiva is called the lingam. It is usually made of granite, soapstone, quartz, marble or metal, and has a 'yoni' or vagina as its base representing the union of organs.  

Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship it throughout the night. It is bathed every three hours with the 5 sacred offerings of a cow, called the 'panchagavya' - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung.

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