History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.921

v6.c81.921

The proper time for this vrata is night, since, as stated in the Skanda⁵⁸⁹ 'goblins, the Śaktis and Śiva (who wields the trident) move about at night and therefore these are to be worshipped at that time on caturdaśī.' The Skanda⁵⁹⁰ provides 'A fast should be observed on that caturdaśī of the dark half that is joined to niśītha (i. e. that exists at that time); that tithi is the best and leads to companionship with Śiva'. Hemādri quotes Nāgarakhaṇḍa⁵⁹¹ as follows: on the 14th of the dark half of Māgha I shall go in the Kaliyuga on the surface of the earth at night and not by day. I shall undoubtedly transfer myself to all lingas, whether movable or permanently fixed, for the removal of the sins committed in the (preceding) year; therefore the man who offers worship to me at night with these mantras will be free from sin'. In the Īśānasaṃhitā it is said 'The first God (Śiva) appeared in the form of Śivaliṅga, whose refulgence was equal to that of a crore of suns, on the 14th of Māgha dark half. The tithi to be accepted for the Śivarātri vrata should be one that covers that time. A man should perform this vrata on that tithi when the 14th covers the time before and after midnight.'⁵⁹² Hemādri also quotes a verse like this 'The 14th tithi called Śivarātri that covers pradoṣa should be accepted (for vrata); one should observe a fast on that tithi since there has to be a jāgara (in that vrata) at night.'⁵⁹³