The Basics
Who is known as the Destroyer in Hinduism?
Shiv Bhagwan
What weapon does Shiv Bhagwan carry with three points and what do the three points represent?
Trishul or Trident and it represents the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Mahesh).
What does Mahashivratri mean?
The Night of Shiv
What do devotees pour on the Shivling during abhishek?
Milk, honey, and water
What dangerous substance did Shiv Bhagwan drink during Sagar Manthan?
Poison
What mountain does Shiv Bhagwan live on with Parvati?
Mount Kailash
What does the Ganga river show?
It shows coolness, holiness and serenity.
In which Hindu month does Mahashivratri occur?
Fagun
How often is puja performed during the night?
Every three hours
Who stopped the poison from reaching Shiv Bhagwan’s stomach?
Parvati
How many eyes does Shiv Bhagwan have?
Three
What animal skin does Shiv Bhagwan sit on and what does it represent?
He sat on Tiger skin. It represented his power being beyond the power of nature.
On which lunar night is Mahashivratri celebrated?
14th night of the new moon
What spiritual practice do devotees observe on Mahashivratri?
Fasting or Upvas
What body part changed color because of the poison?
Shiv Bhagwan’s neck
What sacred river flows from Shiv Bhagwan’s hair and where is it located?
Ganga River in India
What does the cobra around Shiv Bhagwan’s neck represent?
That he is beyond the power of death in this world.
Which leaves are most precious to Shiv Bhagwan on this day?
Bili leaves
What must devotees accept to break their fast?
Prasad
Who was the hunter in the story of the deer?
Gurudruha
What is Shiv Bhagwan also called because of his blue neck?
Nilkanth
Shiv Bhagwan’s four arms represent which four elements?
Fire, Earth, Water, Air
Mahashivratri usually falls between which two months?
February and March
What are the two things that the ritual brings?
Peace and liberation
What did the hunter unknowingly perform all night?
Shiv puja