Margashirsha Masik Shivratri Vrat on 18 November, Tuesday – Mahant Rohit Shastri (Jyotishacharya)

Perform Shiva worship, donation, and mantra-chanting according to your zodiac sign

The worship of Lord Shiva strengthens willpower and fills the inner self with immense courage and determination.

Jammu & Kashmir: From the perspective of Vedic astrology, the lord of the Chaturdashi tithi is Lord Bholenath Himself. Every month, the Masik Shivratri is observed on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi.

The President of Shri Kailakh Jyotish avim Vedic Sansthan Trust (Jyotishacharya) Mahant Rohit Shastri informed that the Margashirsha Masik Shivratri will be observed on 18 November, Tuesday. On this day devotees start gathering in Shiva temples early in the morning.
If visiting a temple is not possible, it is considered auspicious to worship at home by making a Parthiv (clay) Shivling. This day also marks the Jayanti of Shri Balaji.

During the vrat, Lord Shiva is bathed and worshipped with Ganga water, milk, curd, ghee, honey, flowers, clean clothes, bilva leaves, incense, lamp, naivedya, sandalwood paste, seasonal fruits, flowers of the aak–dhatura plant, rice, and other offerings.

On Masik Shivratri, performing Shiva-puja, reading the Shiv Purana, Rudrabhishek, Shiva-katha, chanting Shiva stotras and “Om Namah Shivaya,” and keeping vigil at night is said to bestow the merit equal to the Ashwamedha Yajna. The Shivratri fast grants liberation (moksha) and destroys all sins.

Shivratri also holds special significance for women. Unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Lord Shiva, while married women observe the fast for the well-being of their husbands and families.

Devotees observing the fast should remain in meditation of Lord Shiva throughout the day. After taking a bath in the morning, applying bhasma tilak and wearing a rudraksha mala is considered highly auspicious.

If one cannot perform worship or chanting in a temple, they may do so at home in a calm and peaceful place.

One must remember not to eat any food offered to Lord Shiva. If a Shaligram is present near the Shivling, consuming the offered food is not considered inappropriate.

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Shiva Worship According to Zodiac Signs

Daily Shiva worship, or worship performed on Mondays and Shivratri days, brings excellent benefits and deep satisfaction to all devotees.

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Aries (Mesh)

Perform abhishek with water mixed with jaggery, sugarcane juice, or honey. Apply red sandalwood paste on the Shivling. Write Om Namah Shivaya on bilva leaves with red sandalwood and offer them along with red flowers. Donate the Shiv Purana to 11 Brahmins.

Taurus (Vrishabha)

Offer abhishek with cow’s milk and curd. Offer rice, white sandalwood, white aak flowers, white cloth, and jasmine flowers. Chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Donate rudraksha malas to 11 Brahmins.

Gemini (Mithun)

Perform Rudrabhishek with sugarcane juice. Offer bilva leaves, shami leaves, whole green moong, bhang, durva, and kush grass. Recite the Shiv Chalisa and offer 11 copies to the temple.

Cancer (Karka)

Perform abhishek with milk, curd, and ghee. Apply white sandalwood paste. Offer whole rice, white roses, and shankhpushpi. Recite the Shiv Ashtak 11 times and donate white clothes.

Leo (Simha)

Perform abhishek with water mixed with jaggery, red sandalwood, and honey. Offer red flowers. Prepare kheer made from jaggery and rice and distribute it in the temple. Recite the Shiva Mahimna Stotra. Donate 11 lotus-seed malas.

Virgo (Kanya)

Perform Rudrabhishek with sugarcane juice. Offer betel leaves, bilva leaves, dhatura, bhang, and durva. Recite or listen to the Shiv Purana.

Libra (Tula)

Perform abhishek with jasmine oil, curd, perfume, ghee, and milk. Apply white sandalwood paste. Donate white clothes. Offer mishri and kheer. Recite the Shiva Tandava Stotra.

Scorpio (Vrishchika)

Perform abhishek with water mixed with jaggery, red sandalwood, and honey, and also with Panchamrit. Offer saffron and red flowers. Offer red halwa as prasad. Chant the 1000 Names of Shiva (Shiva Sahasranama).

Sagittarius (Dhanu)

Perform abhishek with milk mixed with saffron, turmeric, and honey. Apply saffron or yellow sandalwood. Offer yellow marigold flowers. Donate yellow clothes. Recite the Shiv Panchakshar Stotra.

Capricorn (Makara)

Perform abhishek with water mixed with milk or wheat. Offer sesame oil and blue flowers. Donate blue clothes. Chant the 108 Names of Lord Shiva.

Aquarius (Kumbha)

Perform Rudrabhishek with coconut water or sesame oil. Offer flowers of the shami tree. Recite the Shiv Ashtak.

Pisces (Meena)

Perform abhishek with saffron-mixed water. Offer Panchamrit, curd, milk, and yellow flowers. Chant Om Namah Shivaya. Reciting the Shiv Chalisa brings auspicious results.

Mahant Rohit Shastri (Jyotishacharya)
President, Shri Kailakh Jyotish avim Vedic Sansthan Trust (Registered)
Raipur Thather, Jammu & Kashmir