Shivaratri
/ˌʃɪvəˈrɑːtri/noun
Shivaratri is a Hindu festival honoring Shiva, traditionally observed with fasting, prayer, and nighttime vigil.
Did you know?Maha Shivaratri is traditionally observed through the night in four worship periods, symbolically moving from darkness toward spiritual awakening and renewal.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nókʷts / *nókʷt-rih₂
“Night; the reconstructed root underlying Sanskrit terms for night and related words across Indo-European languages.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śiva
“Auspicious, gracious, benevolent; later the principal name of the Hindu deity Shiva.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
rātri
“Night, especially the darkness or period from sunset to sunrise.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śivarātri
“The night of Shiva; a religious observance devoted to Shiva.”
Medieval India
Sanskrit
Mahāśivarātri
“The Great Night of Shiva, the major annual festival associated with Shiva worship.”
Modern English
English
Shivaratri
“An English transliteration used for the Hindu festival, especially Maha Shivaratri.”