Mahashivaratri has several stories attached to it. Among them, two are two widely accepted ones.
Mahashivaratri – Union of Shiva and Parvati
The majority of us know that Mahashivaratri is the day Shivji and Mata Parvati get married with great pomp and adoration.
Mata Parvati, who was a form of Mata Sati had undergone severe penance to win over Shiva. And this was a divine intervention created by a combination of Niyati and the atrocities of Tarakasura.
The story dates back to when Mata Sati was humiliated by her father, Daksha Prajapati and self-immolated in the Yagyan pyre.
Shivji went into a frenzied fury on hearing about Sati Devi’s demise from Naradamuni and created Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali who wreaked havoc and decapitated almost everyone present.
After the death of Sati Devi, Shiva withdrew himself from society and went into deep meditation. Taking advantage of the situation, the demon Tarakasura secured a boon from Brahma that only the son of Shiva could defeat and kill him, which seemed like an impossible task at that time.
Tarakasur was the son of Vajraang, who was the son of Diti, the mother of the Asuras, making Tarakasur powerful and a force to be reckoned with. So, when he managed to please Brahma and obtain his boon of immunity, it was not long before he became a menace to the Devatas and the rest of the world.
The Devatas approached Brahmaji for help, who informed them that because of his boon, Tarkasur was undefeated, and the only way to restore stability and balance in the Universe was the Union of Shiva and Parvati that would produce an heir who would defeat Tarakasura.
Shiva the Adiyogi, was deep in meditation and Indra called Kamadeva, the Lord of Desire, to bring him out of his yogic state.
Kamadeva did manage to bring Shiva back into a conscious state for a while, during which Parvati was standing in front of him, an effort that earned him the wrath of Shiva and cost him his form.
But his arrows were not shot in vain.
Parvati, after seeing Shiva, took the vow to marry only Him, and the Gods supported her as their future depended on the Union. Devarishi Narad visited Parvati and gave her the Panchakshara Mantra – OM NAMAH Shivay – that bestows Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha and is pleasing to Shiva.
After receiving the mantra, Devi began her Tapasya. The Devatas, who were hopeful for the Union, visited Kailasha, bowed down in front of Shiva and asked him to marry Parvati. Shiva initially declined the proposal but finally agreed to the marriage after putting Devi through several tests that she successfully passed. Mahashivaratri is the day when they get married and celebrate their Union.
The Story Of Mahashivaratri as per the Linga Purana
According to the Shiva Purana and the Linga Purana, once Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over who was more powerful.
The intensity of the battle kept on increasing, and the other Gods, horrified at the potential outcome, went to Kailash, Shiva’s abode and requested him to intervene.
To make them realize the futility of their fight, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a fiery, flaming Linga in between Brahma and Vishnu and challenged them by asking them to measure the Linga.
Now, the Linga was beyond magnitude, and both Brahmaji and Hari realised that they were going to have a hard time measuring it. So they decided to find one end each to establish supremacy over the other.
Brahma took the form of a swan and went upwards. Hari or Vishnu assumed the form of a Varaha( a boar ) and went downwards. Both searched for thousands of miles but could not find the end of the pillar.
Hari went beyond Patala but couldn’t find the end of the fiery lingam. He returned back and admitted that he was not able to find the end and accepted his defeat.
Brahmaji, while on his journey upward, saw a beautiful Ketaki flower dislodged from above. It was full of fragrance and had not faded even though it had been dislodged many years ago. On witnessing the plight of Brahma and Hari during their quest for the end of the pillar, Shiva, the Parmeshwara, had laughed and shaken his head, resulting in the dislodging of the Ketaki flower.
Brahma convinced the Ketaki flower to falsely testify that he had seen the upper end of the column. And on returning down, he lied in front of a dejected Hari that he had seen the end of the column and had the Ketaki flower as a witness.
Shiva saw the deceit and could take it no more. He emerged from the Lingam and confronted Brahma. He was pleased with Hari and declared that henceforth, He would have his own Ksetra, the establishment of his own image, his festivities and worship. In the presence of a large number of Devatas, He granted him equal status.
Next was Brahma’s turn. Shiva was furious with him for his deceit and out of his fury, from the middle of his brows, emerged Bhairava, ready to sever Brahma’s 5th head. Just as he was getting ready to pluck his head off, Hari intervened and entreated Shiva to forgive him.
Other Devatas intervened as well and managed to pacify Bhairava. Shiva addressed Brahma and informed him that because of his deceit, he would not be worshipped in the worlds. Nor would he have his place or festivals. Brahma asked for forgiveness and entreated for a boon that the ever-kind Shiva granted as well. He granted Brahma the boon that he would preside over sacred ceremonies, and they would be incomplete without him.
Shiva was angry with the deceit of the Ketaki flower as well and cursed it that it would no longer be used in his worship, after which it was banished by the Devatas. It asked for forgiveness and the Ever-Forgiving-One pardoned it as well, declaring that while it could not be used in his worship, it would be worn by his followers and placed in the canopies raised for the Lord.
Following this, all the Devatas praised Shiva and Brahma and Hari seated Shiva and worshipped Him.Greatly pleased with their devotion, Shivji declared that He was pleased with the way they had worshipped him and this tithi (Chaturdashi Tithi) would be celebrated as Mahashivaratri. Anyone worshipping Him on that day would be as dear to him as Kartikeya. Worshipping his Linga form in which he showed himself that day would be highly auspicious and enable the Sadhak to accomplish whatever their heart desired.
