Hare krishna .I read in some news paper article that 1 shiv ratri vrat is equal to thousands of ekadashi vrat ..is it true .comments r welcomed. Jai srila prabhupada
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From various scriptures and legends, the following quotes are given:
"One day, Goddess Parvati asked Shiva that his devotees perform many rituals to please the Lord, but which one pleases him most. To this, Lord Shiva replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Phalgun is his favorite day. The day is celebrated as Shivaratri. On this day, devotees observe strict spiritual discipline and worship Shiva in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. Lord further said that the devotees offer him bel leaves on the day and that those leaves were precious to him than the precious jewels and flowers. Explaining the right way of worshipping to Shiva, the Lord said, devotees should bathe me in the milk during the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter in the third and in honey in the fourth and the last period. Lord Shiva further added that next morning devotees must feed the Brahmins first and, only after following the prescribed ritual must he break the fast. Shiva further told Parvati that rituals of Shivaratri could not be compared with any other."
I don't think it is good or possible to compare merits of vrats whether those recommended by Lord Shiva or recommended by Lord Vishnu. It is the devotion and desire for purification based on proper understanding of the reasons behind the vrats which I think is more important.
Ekadasi vrats are really important though since the personality of kali hides in all grains and other food which is not considered proper for eating on ekadasi days.
Replies
Hare Krsna,
From various scriptures and legends, the following quotes are given:
"One day, Goddess Parvati asked Shiva that his devotees perform many rituals to please the Lord, but which one pleases him most. To this, Lord Shiva replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Phalgun is his favorite day. The day is celebrated as Shivaratri. On this day, devotees observe strict spiritual discipline and worship Shiva in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. Lord further said that the devotees offer him bel leaves on the day and that those leaves were precious to him than the precious jewels and flowers. Explaining the right way of worshipping to Shiva, the Lord said, devotees should bathe me in the milk during the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter in the third and in honey in the fourth and the last period. Lord Shiva further added that next morning devotees must feed the Brahmins first and, only after following the prescribed ritual must he break the fast. Shiva further told Parvati that rituals of Shivaratri could not be compared with any other."
I don't think it is good or possible to compare merits of vrats whether those recommended by Lord Shiva or recommended by Lord Vishnu. It is the devotion and desire for purification based on proper understanding of the reasons behind the vrats which I think is more important.
Ekadasi vrats are really important though since the personality of kali hides in all grains and other food which is not considered proper for eating on ekadasi days.
Hari Bol,