Maha Shivaratri is the fourteenth night of the dark half of Magha. Karnataka keeps it at Gokarna on the coast, where the Atmalinga is touched by every pilgrim; at Dharmasthala, Nanjangud and Murudeshwara; and in the Lingayat heartland of the north, where the linga is worn on the body. The day is a fast, the night a vigil of four pujas.
The story
Gokarna's linga is the Atmalinga that Ravana won from Shiva and was tricked by Ganesha into setting down on the shore; it could not be lifted again.
In the twelfth century Basavanna and the Sharanas of Kalyana taught that Shiva needs no temple. Their vachanas, short prose poems in plain Kannada, are recited on this night alongside the Sanskrit hymns.
ಉಳ್ಳವರು ಶಿವಾಲಯವ ಮಾಡುವರು, ನಾನೇನ ಮಾಡುವೆ ಬಡವನಯ್ಯಾ
The rich will build temples to Shiva. What shall I do, a poor man? My legs are the pillars, my body the shrine, my head its golden pinnacle
Basavanna, twelfth century
How the night is kept
- UpavasaA fast through the day; the first food is taken next morning.
- JagaraneThe vigil, with bhajans and harikathe.
- AbhishekaWith water, milk and bilva leaves in each of the four watches.
- RathotsavaAt Gokarna the great chariot is drawn through the car street some days later.
Why this date
Maha Shivaratri is the Chaturdashi of the dark half of Magha, on the day that tithi covers midnight.
Maha Shivaratri in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Saturday | |
| 2031 | Thursday |
More Kannada festivals
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiರಥಸಪ್ತಮಿ
22 MarchHoliಹೋಳಿ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
7 AprilYugadiಯುಗಾದಿ
15 JanuaryMakara Sankrantiಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ
20 December 2026Vaikuntha Ekadashiವೈಕುಂಠ ಏಕಾದಶಿ
15 AprilSri Rama Navamiಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮ ನವಮಿ
Where to see Maha Shivaratri
In Karnataka
- Mahabaleshwar Temple, GokarnaKarnatakaThe Atmalinga by the sea; the festival runs nine days.
- MurudeshwaraKarnatakaA temple on a headland, with a colossal Shiva above the surf.
- Srikanteshwara Temple, NanjangudKarnatakaCalled the Kashi of the south, on the Kapila river.
- DharmasthalaKarnatakaPilgrims arrive on foot from across the state.
Across India
- SrisailamAndhra PradeshThe Jyotirlinga most visited by Kannadigas.
- VaranasiUttar PradeshKashi Vishwanath and the wedding procession of Shiva.
- CoimbatoreTamil NaduThe all-night gathering before the Adiyogi statue.