Shivaratri is the best day to please Lord Shiva and take his blessings. Worshiping Lord Shiva on Shivaratri is a very good remedy for Rahu/Ketu, Moon and Shani. One should keep fast on this day but it totally depends on you, but One must do Shiva Pooja in proper way on that day. If you have Shivalingam at home then fine else you can do in nearest temple, considering the crowd in temple, you can do Abhisheka in temple and chant Mantra at home.

Just one day before Shivaratri , arrange following items for Pooja.

6 items necessary for Abhisheka – milk, rose water, sandalwood paste, yogurt( dahi ), honey, Ghee, sugar and water. Arrange maximum of these items to offer after Abhisheka – flower, Bilva leaves, dhatura, sandalwood paste, Ber. Apart from these you should have Diya and incense stick (or dhoop).

1st part of Pooja in temple if you don’t have Shivalingam at home : Considering the fact that this is not possible to perform pooja in temple due to heavy crowd on Shivaratri day. Do this 1st part in temple.

1st wake up early in the morning, take bath and wear clean clothes. Put milk, rose water, sandalwood paste, yogurt, honey, Ghee, sugar , flower, Bilva leaves, dhatura, sandalwood paste, Ber etc. in one basket or thali in separate utensils . Go to temple and perform Abhisheka of Shiva Lingam with milk, rose water, sandalwood paste, yogurt, honey, Ghee and sugar and keep chanting Oum namah shivaya continuously . After this , offer flower, Bilva leaves, dhatura, sandalwood paste, Ber.

2nd part of Pooja at home:

You can perform 2nd part of this pooja at Pooja place in your home. Light a Diya and incense stick (or dhoop) . Then start Shiva vandana Mantra:

ॐ वन्दे देव उमापतिं सुरगुरुं, वन्दे जगत्कारणम् l
वन्दे पन्नगभूषणं मृगधरं, वन्दे पशूनां पतिम् ll
वन्दे सूर्य शशांक वह्नि नयनं, वन्दे मुकुन्दप्रियम् l
वन्दे भक्त जनाश्रयं च वरदं, वन्दे शिवंशंकरम् ll

Oum Vande Dev Umapatim surgurum, vande Jagatkaranam.                                                            

Vande pannganhushanam mrigadharam, vande pashunam patim.                                                

Vande Surya shashank vahni nayanam, vande mukundpriyam.                                                        

Vande Bhak janakshayam cha varadam, vande Shivshankaram.

Now Chant Mahamrityunjay Mantra 11 times.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मा मृतात् ।।

Oum Trayambakam yajamahe sugandhim pishthivardhanam.
Urvarukamiv bandhanan mrityormuksheeya maa mritaat.

Now Chant Dwadasa Jyotirlinga stotra

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च, श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालं ॐ कारममलेश्वरम् ॥
परल्यां वैधनाथ च, डाकिन्यां भीमशंकरम् ।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं, नागेशं दारुकावने ॥
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं, त्र्यंबकं गौतमीतटे ।
हिमालये तु केदारं, धुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥
ऐतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि, सायंप्रात: पठेन्नर ।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ॥

Saurashtre somanatham cha, shreeshaile mallikarjunam.
Ujjaiyinyam mahakalam oum karamamleshwaram.
Paralyam vaidhnath cha, dakinyam bheemshankaram.
Setubandhe tu ramesham, nagesham darukavane.
Varanasyam tu Vishvesham, trayambakam gautamitate.
Himalaye tu kedaram, dhushmesham cha shivalaye.
Aitani jyotirlingani, sayampratah pathennar.
Saptjanmkritam papam smaren vinashayti.

At the end, you can do Shiva Aarti. In the evening if you do Shiva chalisa then it will be much better.

You need to do this pooja with dedication and do not worry if you cannot read these mantra properly, there is no harm as Lord Shiva knows that you are doing it with true heart.

Astrologer Mrityunjai Ojha

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