Maha Shivratri 2026: Origin, Significance, Dates & Times
In this article, you will read about:
Scriptural Origin
Spiritual Significance
Dates & Times for Maha Shivratri 2026
Maha Rudra Sadhana with Om Swami
In Sanskrit, ‘maha’ means great, and ‘ratri’ means night. So, Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival that means the Great Night of Lord Shiv (the ascetic God of transformative destruction and spiritual enlightenment). Maha Shivratri is the most important period to worship Him and a very potent period for spiritual pratices in general, such as Yoga and meditation.
Scriptural Origin
Shiv Puran, Skand Puran, Ling Puran and the Shaiva Agamas are some of the core, authoritative Hindu texts that describe Lord Shiv, His various stories, and the methods to worship or realise Him. The Vidyeśvara Saṁhitā of Shiv Puran is one of the principal scriptural origins of the festival of Maha Shivratri.
It narrates that when Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were having a dispute regarding who is supreme, Lord Shiv manifested in the form of an Infinite Jyotirling — a divine vertical beam of light with no beginning or end — to test their egos. Lord Vishnu admitted that He couldn’t find its beginning or end, while Lord Brahma lied that He did. Lord Shiv then manifested as Kal Bhairav from His third eye, who decapitated Brahma’s 5th head to give Him a reality check.
Here, Lord Brahma represents the ego. Lord Shiv, as the infinite pillar of light, represents the Supreme Reality called Brahman. It is realised only after the ego’s death (the decapitation).
As this boundless pillar of light appeared on the night of Krishna Paksh Chaturdashi of the Hindu month of Magh/Phalgun, the sacred night is celebrated as Maha Shivratri every year.
Spiritual Significance
As per the Shaiva Agamas, the moon represents Manas (mind). And on Krishna Paksh Chaturdashi (the 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight), the crescent moon is almost invisible. So, only a subtle residue of mental fluctuation remains.
This is the ideal period for the dissolution of the ego and the experience of pure awareness, or the dissolution of the thinking mind into the stillness of the witness consciousness.
Therefore, the Krishna Paksh Chaturdashi of every month is considered a Masik (monthly) Shivratri. Among them, the one in Magh/Phalgun is considered the most potent by texts such as the Shiv Puran and Ling Puran, because it occurs at the end of winter (a period of contraction) and just before the surge of spring (a period of expansion).
It is the yearly seasonal moment of maximum stillness, creating the perfect conditions to still the mind — whether through internal practices or external worship to attain the grace of Lord Shiv.
Dates & Times for Maha Shivratri 2026
According to Indian Standard Time (IST), here are the Tithi details of Maha Shivratri 2026:
Dates: 15 & 16 Feb 2026 (Sunday & Monday)
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins: 05:04 PM on 15 Feb 2026 (Sunday)
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends: 05:34 PM on 16 Feb 2026 (Monday)
Nishit Kal Puja: 12:09 AM to 01:01 AM (15-16 Feb)
Shivratri Paran: 06:59 AM to 03:24 PM (16 Feb)
1st Prahar: 06:11 PM to 09:23 PM (15 Feb)
2nd Prahar: 09:23 PM to 12:35 AM (15-16 Feb)
3rd Prahar: 12:35 AM to 03:47 AM (16 Feb)
4th Prahar: 03:47 AM to 06:59 AM (16 Feb)
Maha Rudra Sadhana with Om Swami
It is said that Mahavidya Sadhana is incomplete without Lord Bhairav. Wherever there is Devi, there is Bhairav, empowering Her as the Witness Consciousness.
He is invoked subtly in the Tantra Sadhana app during the Mahavidya Sadhanas. Now, you have a rare opportunity to invoke His fierce Rudra Tattva with complete focus.
After almost a year, Om Swami, the founder of Vedic Sadhana Foundation and creator of Vedic Sadhana and Tantra Sadhana apps, will be joining us to perform a 12-Day Maha Rudra Sadhana, from 15 Feb (Maha Shivratri) to 26 Feb.
Anyone across the world can participate for free, exclusively through the Vedic Sadhana app, without bothering about any physical preparations from beginning to end, as the Sadhana is entirely virtual. Dakshina is optional, and its amount is for you to decide.
How It Begins
On Mahashivratri (15 Feb), at 6:00 PM IST, Om Swami will perform the Maha Shivratri Abhishekam and reveal the Rudra Sadhana Mantra, formally initiating the Sadhana LIVE. Participants can perform the Abhishekam alongside in the app.
After that, every day will begin with a Live Yagna from 5:15 AM (during Brahma Muhurta), with step-by-step guidance from Om Swami. The Sadhana will also include daily Japa of the provided Mantra. The daily time commitment is of 1 hour only.
As per Tantric scriptures, Lord Shiv, in the form of Bhairav, revealed all existing Tantric knowledge in several deep conversations with His consort, Ma Bhairavi — one of the Mahavidyas worshipped in the Tantra Sadhana app. Invoking His presence during this potent period is sure to enhance your Tantric Mahavidya Sadhanas noticeably.
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