Rainaz Photography

Maha Shivratri  (the 'Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu  festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva.  Maha Shivratri is associated with Marriage of Shiva and Shakti. The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael  or golden apple or  Bilva / Vilvam  leaves to  Lord Shiva , all-day fasting and an all-night-long vigil (jagarana). All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namah Shivaya", a sacred Panchakshara mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva. In accordance with scriptural and discipleship traditions, penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga  and meditation, in order to reach life's highest good steadily and swiftly. On this day, the planetary positions in the Northern hemisphere act as potent catalysts to help a person raise his / her spiritual energy easily. The benefits of powerful ancient Sanskrit Mantras such as Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra महामृत्युंजय मंत्र increase manifold on this night . After

The Kanheri Caves constitute a group of rock-cut monuments that are located north of Borivali on the western outskirts of Mumbai, India.