Mahashivratri 2026: When and how to perform Rudrabhishek?

Mahashivratri is celebrated every year on Chaturdashi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Phalguna. One of the major Hindu festivals celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm across the country. Devotees of Lord Shiva celebrate this festival immense devotion and dedication, they observe rigorous fast and perform various puja rituals and spiritual activities. The festival is celebrated as the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This year, Maha Shivratri is going to be celebrated on February 15, 2026. As we have mentioned above that devotees perform various types of religious and spiritual activities and performing Rudrabhishek is one of the those activities. Performing Rudrabhishekam of Mahashivratri festival holds a great religious significance and Lord Shiva bless the devotees with immense happiness, good fortune, good health, and wealth. Today, in this article we will give you the full detail about Rudrabhishekam and what is the best time to perform that. Here is the list of the sacred items which you need to use while performing the Rudrabhishekam:Pure water, gangajal, curd, milk, sugar power, honey, cow ghee, sugarcane juice, diya, cotton wicks, itra, incense sticks, five seasonal fruits, dry fruits, sweets, ber (chinese apple) fruit is must, garland, bel patra, dhatura, bhang, bael, betel leaf, janeu, mauli, akshat, kamal gatta, betel leaf, betel nut, laung, elaichi, black sesame seeds, clothes for Lord Shiva, shringar items (5/7/9/11/16) for Mata Parvati. You can perform Rudrabhishekam during the time of prahar puja or in case if its not possible then you can choose the Gudhuli time for that. 1. Take a silver vessel and first perform Jalabhishekam to Shivalingam.2. The offer milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar powder.3. Offer sugarcane juice and Liperform abhishekam from that.4. Again perform Jalabhishekam and clean the Shivalingam. 5. Offer 11/21/51 leaves of bel patra along with dhatura, bhang and bael amid chanting "Om Namah Shivaye"6. If you are performing Rudrabhishek through a qualified priest then he will chant various mantras for that. If you are performing it by yourself then you must chant either "Om Namah Shivaye" or "Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra"7. Offer akshat, kamalgatta, black sesame seeds (7/11/21), ber, fruits, and dry fruits. 8. Adorn the Shivalingam with garland and janeu. 9. Offer betel leaf along with supari, elaichi and laung. 10. Offer itru and sweets and adorn the shivalingam with clothes.11. Light a diya with desi ghee and light incense sticks. 12. Offer shringar items (sindoor, bindi, bangles, mehendi, haldi, etc) to Mata Parvati.13. After completing all the rituals, perform aarti.

Mantra

1. Om Namah Shivaye..!!2. Om Trayambhakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam Urvarukmiv Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat..!!