Various Legends of Masik Shivarathri 

Like any other Hindu festival, There are a few mythological facts and evidences for the celebration of Masik Shivarathri.

Nilkantha and Shivratri

As per Puranic texts, Shiva came to be known as the Neelakantha, after he opted to drink the Halahala poison that resulted from the churning of the Milk ocean. Mother Parvathi caught Lord Shiva by the throat and hence it is said that the poison stayed in his throat making it blue in hue. It is believed to be one of the prime reasons to follow this day as Shivaratri.

Shiva-Parvati and Shivratri

This also marks the marriage celebration of The Lord and Mother Parvathi. The Hindu mythology States that Shivaratri is celebrated as a tribute to their divine relationship.

Brahma-Vishnu and Shivratri

There is another legend which states that once the two pillars of the Hindu trinity, Brahma and Vishnu were in a fit to know who was superior. To mitigate this Lord Shiva turned into a huge pillar of light and asked them to find his start and end. Lord Vishnu proceeded to the netherworld and lord Brahma opted to travel to paradise. However both their efforts were futile.

Meanwhile Lord Brahma came across a Ketaki Flower which claimed that it had fallen from Shiva’s Head. As he knew he will not be able to reach the head, Brahma, asked the ketaki flower to be a false witness and say Lord Shiva that Brahma had seen his beginning.

Nonetheless, Lord Shiva knew he was deceitful and banned him and ketaki flower from any worship and spiritual offering respectively.