Maha Shivarathri: The Night of Greatness – By Thulasi Muttulingam Source : sundayobserver On March 8, Hindus all over the world will celebrate Maha Shivarathri, which literally translates to ‘Great Night of Shiva.’ It is a night auspicious to legions of Hindus all over the world, the one night in the year when devotees stay up all night, chanting Shiva’s name (Om Namah Shivaya), or singing songs in praise of him. The day falls on the 13th or 14th day after the full moon, in the month of Magha, corresponding to either February or March in the Western calendar. It is the night before the New Moon, when the Moon has all, but waned. Hindus believe that this is a very powerful time of the year, when mantras chanted or spiritual exertions undertaken are magnified several-fold in their beneficence. Therefore, they fast all day and stay up all night, trying to ...