Mahashivaratri is marked by annual dance festivals at major Hindu temples Konark, Khajuraho, Pattadakal, Modhera and Chidambaram. The chanting of hymns, the reading of Shiva scriptures by devotees joins this cosmic dance. Legend speaks of Maha Shivaratri as the night when Shiva performs the dance of creation, preservation and destruction. It is also believed that flowers bloom exactly the day after Maha Shivratri, hinting at the fertility of the earth. ThatвЂ™s how the day came to be known as Maha Shivratri. Lord Shiva agreed to save the world on the condition that its inhabitants worship him with dedication and passion. Since Lord Shiva helped pacify the Gods, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in his honour.ДЄccording to another belief, Goddess Parvati once pleaded with Lord Shiva to save the earth from destruction. As the Ketaki flower had testified falsely, she too was banned from being used as an offering for any worship. Till date, there is only one temple dedicated to him, the Pushkar temple in Ajmer, Rajasthan. This infuriated Shiva who then punished Brahma for lying and cursed him that no one would ever pray to him. Lord Brahma decided to end his search and take the flower as witness. When asked where she came from, the flower replied that she had been offered at the top of the fire column. During his journey, Lord Brahma came across a Ketaki flower wafting down slowly.

Shiv mahima in hindi story