Bhoga-Moksha Pradayaka- a fast that brings material and spiritual abundance is the Shivaratri vrata. In the Koti Rudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana, the importance and method of doing the vrata are mentioned, as narrated by Shiva himself to Vishnu, and by Suta ji to the sages.
Shiva Ji says- “Among all the fast or vrata done by my devotees, the Shivaratri vrata is the most powerful and those who seek Bhoga and Moksha should most certainly do this fast.”
Though Maasik Shivaratri that falls on the Krishna paksha Chaturdashi of each month is a powerful day to perform the vrata for Shiva, Maagha Krishna paksha Chaturdashi is an especially divine tithi, on which the vrati (the person whose is taking the vow of completing the fast) should start preparations from early morning.
The intelligent ones should wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and go to a Shivalaya (temple of Shiva) to do the Sankalpa (vow) in front of Mahadeva. They should say- “O Mahadeva, I am going to perform the Shivaratri vrata. Please bless my efforts and ensure that this fast is safe from enemies or external obstacles.”
After the Sankalpa, one should collect the Puja samagri (articles of worship) and go to a place where a Shivalinga mentioned in the sacred texts (Shaastra) is established. In the nighttime, the devotee should keep the samagri near the Shivalinga and take a bath again.
Having worn clean clothes, and doing the aachaman thrice, the devotee should start the Puja. Each offering should be given to Shiva along with the utterance of the mantra designated to that (flower, incense, lamp, etc). Song, instrument, and dance should be included in the worship of Shiva.
A Parthiva Linga should be made ideally for the worship and then revered various Stotra and rituals. The Chaar Prahar (four segments) Maha Puja of Shiva for Shivaratri is to be performed during the sacred night.
One should start the first segment by worshipping the Shiva Linga, offering the Pancha Dravya पञ्चद्रव्य (Dhoopa or incense, Pusha or flower, Gandha or scented paste, Deepa or ritual lamp and Naivedya or food offerings). Later, all the offerings should be dispersed with sacred water. One should perform 108 chants of Om Namah Shivaya, and recite the mantra received from their Guru. Akshat (unbroken rice), Til (black sesame seed), and Jal (water) should be offered with “Om Namah Shivaya”.
The 1000-petaled lotus flower, chants of the 8 names of Shiva (Bhava, Sharva, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahana, Bheema, and Ishan) and Dhoopa, Deepa, and Naivedya should be offered. Pakavan (cooked food) along with Sri Phal (coconut) and Arghya (water offering) with Taambul (betel leaf) should be offered to Shiva.
Finally, making the Dhenu mudra with hands, the devotee should do the Tarpan (special water offering marking the end of the ritual) of the Shiva Linga. They should sing hymns and rejoice till the end of the Pratham Prahar of Shivaratri and in the end, should offer the fruit of these rituals to Shiva’s feet.
In the second segment, the devotee should perform the Abhisheka of the Shiva Lingam and worship Shiva with the Pancha Dravya as done in the Pratham Prahar. They should chant the mantra twice as many times as they did in the previous segment.
Til (sesame seed), lotus flower, Bilva patra, Yav (barley), and Bijora (citron fruit) should be offered to Shiva, and Kheer (milk and rice sweet dish) should be given as Naivedya. The devotee should take the vow of Brahman Bhoja (feast for Brahmanas) in this segment and should wait till the Triteeya Prahar while singing the praise of Shiva.
Worship of the Shiva Linga should be done in a similar way to the previous Praharas. Goodhum or wheat and Aak flower should be offered in this segment. Various incense, lamps, Maal Pua (a traditional bread dipped in sugar syrup), and different Shaaka (plant foods) should be offered. Aarati should be performed with Kapoor (camphor) and chants of “Om Namah Shivaya”, twice as many as the last segment should be done. This Prahar should end with the vow of Brahman Bhoja and Dakshina (donation).
Rituals and offerings as done in the previous segments should be repeated in this Prahar as well. Udad daal, Kanguni (Jyotishmati seed), Saptadhanya (seven types of grains), Shankhapushpi, and Bilva patra should be offered on the Shiva Linga.
Sweet food offerings or dishes made with Udad daal should be offered as Naivedya. Bananas and other fruits should be offered with the Arghya. “Om Namah Shivaya” should be chanted twice as many times as the last segment. Joyously chanting and singing the name and glories of Shiva, the devotee should wait for sunrise.
After sunrise, the devotee should perform worship of Shiva with various articles and rituals as mentioned in the Shastras. They should get their Abhisheka (consecration) done by Brahmanas and offer them food and Dakshina as vowed during the Puja.
Then, with flowers in hands, one should bow in front of Shiva and say- “O benevolent one, I am yours, my Praana (life) and Chitta (consciousness) are yours, do with me as you please”. “O Bhutanatha, I performed your worship according to my knowledge (or lack thereof), so with your kindness, accept it and be pleased with me”. “Be pleased with the fruit of this Upavasa. Bless my kin so that they eternally worship you and do not let me take birth in a kin where you are not worshipped.”
Place the Pushpanjali (a handful of flowers) in the feet of Shiva and receive blessings and Tilak (forehead mark) from the Brahmanas, and consider Shivaratri vrata completed thus.
Shiva says- “Anyone who even unknowingly performs this excellent Vrata, sprouts the seed of Moksha in their heart.”
ॐ नमः शिवाय/ Om Namah Shivaya
Reference
Puja Vidhi as mentioned in the Shiva Maha Purana, Koti Rudra Samhita
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