Margashira Poornima
The full moon day in the auspicious month of
Margashirsha of the traditional Hindu calendar, is celebrated as ‘Margashirsha
Purnima’. Hindu devotees worship the Moon God as it is believed that on this
day, Moon was blessed with ‘Amrit’. Margashirsha Maas is the 9th month of the
Hindu calendar and as per the Hindu scriptures this month is considered to be
the month of dedication. In the Puranas, this month was referred as ‘Maasonam
Margashirshoham’ implying that there is no month that is more propitious than
Margashirsha. On this day devotees perform ritualistic bath in the sacred
rivers and worship Lord Vishnu devotedly.
Margashirsha Purnima is also known
as ‘Dattatreya Jayanti’. Lord Dattatreya is known to be an avatar of the
Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). As per the legends, in the Pradosh Kaal,
on Margashirsha Purnima, Lord Dattatreya was incarnated on Earth and since then
this day is observed as His birth anniversary. In South India particularly,
special rituals are held in several temples dedicated to Lord Dattatreya. In
some regions of India, Margashirsha Purnima is also referred as ‘Battissi
Purnima’, ‘Korala Purnima’, ‘Naraka Purnima’, or ‘Margashirsha Poonam Udyatithi
Purnima’.
Significance
:
The month of Margashirsha is
considered very auspicious in the traditional Hindu calendar. In the Hindu
religious scriptures, this month is also referred as ‘Magsar’, ‘Agahan’ or
‘Agrahayan’. It is believed that young girls who take a holy dip in the River
Yamuna on Margashirsha Purnima will get desired life partner. Just like the
lunar months of Vaishakh, Kartik and Magha, taking a bath in the holy rivers on
Margashirsha Purnima is very important. Pundits and scholars believe that by
performing charitable activities on this sacred day, all the sins will be
relieved. On Margashirsha Purnima, Lord Vishnu is worshipped as ‘Narayana’.
Also, fasting on the day of Margashirsha Purnima grants fulfilment of all
desires or wishes.
Rituals during Margashirsha Purnima:
- On Margashirsha Purnima, devotees wake up
very early and perform the ceremonious bath with the roots of Tulsi plant.
While taking bath, one must chant ‘Om Namo Narayana’ or the Gayatri
mantra. It is believed that taking a holy dip in the Ganga River on
Margashirsha Purnima is considered very beneficial.
- Devotees also keep a fast on this day to
please their ‘Ishta Devatas’. By fasting on Margashirsha Purnima and
reciting the ‘Satyanarayana Katha’ one can remove all obstacles in life
and acquire success. The fast continues for the day and devotees refrain
from eating or drinking anything. The observer of the Margashirsha vrat
must spend time in bhajans and kirtans.
- On the occasion of Margashirsha Purnima,
Hindu devotees worship Lord Vishnu with immense love and affection. They
also perform ‘yagya’ or ‘havan’ at home. Special Prasad is prepared and
distributed among all the other devotees, after doing ‘aarti’.
- Offering charities and donations on
Margashirsha Purnima gives 32 times more benefits as compared to any other
day, hence the name ‘Battissi Purnima’. Donations can be in the form of
money, clothes or food. On Margashirsha Purnima there is also a ritual of
giving away new clothes to daughters and other women in the family.
2016 date : 13th
December, Tuesday.
2017 Date : 3rd December.
2017 Date : 3rd December.
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