Agni Purāṇa
193 - Description of Sivaratrivrata
Agni said:
1-6. Listen! Ishall describe the vow of Siva's night that confers enjoyment and emancipation. The fourteenth day in the dark (fortnight) in between (the months of) mdgha (February-March) and phålguna (March-April) is endowed with kama (pleasure). One who practises the vowshould fast, keep awake (and resolve) "Ishall do Sivaratrivrata fasting on the four-teenth day and worship lord Siva after remaining awake and undertaking the vow. I invoke lord Sambhu (Śiva), the conferer of enjoyment and emancipation and the boat that rescues from the ocean of hell. Obeisance to you. Obeisance to lord Siva, the tranquil person, the bestower of progeny and kingdom, the giver of fortune, health, knowledge, material prosperity and the pathway to heaven. Give me righteousness. Give me riches. Give me fulfilment of desires and enjoyment. Give me the happiness of good quality and fame. Get me also heaven and emancipation. (By the practice of this vow) the greedy sinner Sundarasena acquired merit.
Summary of chapter 193 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The Mahāśivarātri vrata—observed on the Māgha-Phālguṇa-sandhi kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī night—is described as one of Śiva's most beloved festivals. Agni prescribes upavāsa with kāmya intention and jāgaraṇa throughout all four quarters of the night, each quarter involving a fresh Śiva-pūjā with flowers, bilva, dhūpa, and dīpa. The devotee's prayer addresses Śiva as the liberator from the ocean of naraka, the granter of prajā, rājya, saubhāgya, ārogya, vidyā, artha, svarga, and mokṣa. The story of Sundara-sena the hunter is narrated: a chronic sinner, he accidentally kept jāgaraṇa in a bilva tree on Śivarātri and unwittingly dropped bilva-leaves on a Śiva-liṅga below; through this unintended act alone he attained liberation, demonstrating Śiva's boundless grace toward any accidental devotion.
esc