Shiva
Honoured alongside: Parvati
Shiva — worshipped through the night rather than by day. The Shiva linga is bathed continuously, and the vigil itself is the offering.
What the puja consists of
- Fast through the day; many keep it without water, others on fruit and milk.
- Abhishekam of the linga with water, milk, honey, curd, ghee and sugar, repeated through four watches of the night.
- Offer bel (bilva) leaves, dhatura and bhang flowers, white flowers and sandal paste.
- Stay awake — jagran — with chanting, bhajans and stories of Shiva between the watches.
- Break the fast the next morning after the final abhishekam.
Core chants
Named, not printed — each links to a recording where the catalogue has one.
- Mantra
Om Namah Shivaya (Panchakshari)ॐ नमः शिवाय
The five-syllable mantra repeated through the vigil, often 108 times per round.
- Mantra
Mahamrityunjaya Mantraमहामृत्युञ्जय मन्त्र
The Vedic mantra to Tryambaka, chanted for healing and protection.
- Stotra
Shiva Tandava Stotramशिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रम्
Ravana's hymn to Shiva's cosmic dance — recited in the later watches.
- Paath
Shri Rudram (Namakam & Chamakam)श्री रुद्रम्
The Vedic recitation accompanying a formal Rudrabhishekam, done by a priest.
Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.
- Mantra
Shiva Dhyana Mantra
Long-form chanting to hold attention through the night watches.
- Aarti
Om Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा
The aarti sung at the close of each watch.
Not in the catalogue yet — ask at your local temple or gurdwara, or learn it from a teacher in your tradition.
It differs where you are. In Kashmir the related Herath is a multi-day family observance; South Indian temples keep four formal watches with distinct abhishekam substances; in Nepal, Pashupatinath draws sadhus from across the subcontinent.
This page is editorial context, not religious instruction. Where your family, region or lineage does it differently, that is the version to follow — ask an elder or a teacher in your tradition rather than a website.