Guided home worship
Maha Shivaratri Puja
महाशिवरात्रि
Chaturdashi of Krishna paksha, Phalguna
Choose a puja
Puja sequence
Understand each step before you begin
- 01
Achamana & Sankalpa आचमन · संकल्प
Sip water three times, then state the intention aloud: the day, the place and the purpose of the rite.
Why this step
Saying the purpose out loud settles the mind and fixes the boundary of the rite in time and place.
- 02
Ganapati smarana गणपति स्मरण
Invoke Ganesha briefly before the main worship.
Why this step
A fixed opening used across sampradayas so every rite begins the same way.
- 03
Abhisheka अभिषेक
Pour water in a slow unbroken stream over the linga, reciting Om Namah Shivaya.
Why this step
The core act of welcome and cooling; the unbroken stream is itself the attention practice.
- 04
Bilva patra arpan बिल्व पत्र अर्पण
Offer bilva leaves smooth-side down, three leaves joined.
Why this step
Bilva is the leaf prescribed for Shiva in the Puranas; the three leaves are read as the three gunas or three eyes.
- 05
Dhupa, Deepa, Naivedya धूप · दीप · नैवेद्य
Offer incense, then lamp, then food, in that order.
Why this step
The sequence moves through the senses — scent, sight, taste — so the offering is complete rather than symbolic only.
- 06
Jagaran & Katha जागरण · कथा
Stay awake through the four praharas of the night, with the Shivaratri katha read between them.
Why this step
Wakefulness through the night is the distinctive observance of this vrata — vigilance made literal.
- 07
Arati & Kshama prarthana आरती · क्षमा प्रार्थना
Camphor arati, then ask forgiveness for errors in the rite.
Why this step
The closing acknowledges that the procedure was imperfect — the intent is what is offered.
Afterwards
Distribute prasad, break the fast at the prescribed parana time the next morning, and immerse or compost the used offerings respectfully.
Home and temple sequences differ; several traditions omit milk abhisheka, and permitted vrata foods vary by region.