Maha Shivratri 2023: Why does Mahadev wear Mundamala around his neck? Learn here!
According to the Hindu calendar, this year Mahashivaratri is falling on 18 February. Lord Shiva wears ahi, vyal, and bhunjag, bhasma on his body, a garland of Narmund around his neck, and tiger skin wrapped around his waist, all these are outwardly inauspicious garments. Still, Mahadev is Mangaldham. That's why Mahadev himself is Shiva who has mercy on all the gods and all the creatures.
According to the scriptures, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married on Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi. Goddess Parvati in her previous birth was Sati, the wife of Mahadev. Once at the behest of Narad Muni, Sati asked for the secret of the Purush Mundamala lying around Lord Shankar's neck. Let's know the secret of Mundamala according to mythology!
According to the Puranas, this Mundamala symbolizes the eternal love of Lord Shiva and Sati. Devi Sati asked Mahadev for his secret on the advice of Narad. When Sati did not agree even after a lot of persuasions, Mahadev told her that all the heads of this Mundamala are yours. Shivji said this is your 108th birth. You have already taken birth 107 times and left the body. This head is just a symbol of those births. Knowing the secret of wearing Mundamala, Sati asked Shiva that I sacrifice my body again and again, but you do not sacrifice, then Mahadev told her that I have knowledge of Amarkatha, so I should not sacrifice my body again and again. Sati also expressed her desire to hear the immortal story from Mahadev. It is believed that when Mahadev was narrating the story to Sati, Sati could not listen to the entire story and fell asleep in between. Due to this, he had to commit self-immolation by jumping into the yagya of King Daksha.
Mother Parvati attained immortality
After the self-immolation of Goddess Sati, Lord Shankar built 51 Peethas from the body parts of the Lord, but Shiva wrapped Sati's head in his garland. Thus Mahadev wore a garland of 108 heads. However, Sati later took another birth as Parvati. Mother Parvati attained immortality in this birth and after that, the Goddess did not have to leave her body.