Panguni Uthiram

Of the eight maha vratas that are mentioned in the Skanda Purana, the Kalyana Vrata is one of them. This propitious vrata is observed when the Sun shines on the Mina rashi (Pisces sign) on the Utthara Nakshatram during the Shukla Paksha (the growing phase of the moon) in Tamil month of Phalguni, that is from mid-March to mid-April. The day is the full moon of the Phalguni month. The day of Kalyana Vrata is considered to be very auspicious as it was on this special day Shakti (Goddess Parvati), Himavaan’s daughter married Lord Shiva with full pomp and show. On this very day, the marriage between Devaseenaa and Lord Muruga was also commemorated.

Kalyana Vrata is also celebrated as the festival of Panguni Uttiram. This day is very momentous for Hindus, especially the ones in the state of Tamil Nadu. The festivities can also be witnessed in the southern Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. During the festival of Panguni Uttiram, the devotees assemble at Lord Murugan temples in large numbers. The temple wherein this festival is celebrated with great austerity is in Madurai, Vedaranyam, Tiruvarur, Tinnevelly, Perur and Kanjeevaram. In most of these temples, the rituals of the Divine marriage of the Gods and Goddesses are conducted with full enthusiasm. Also the sacred day of Kalyana Vrata, that is, Phalgun Poornima is celebrated as Holi in the northern parts of India, especially in Braj, Vridavan, Mathura, Barsana and Kumaoni.

It is believed that the observer of the Kalyana Vrata will be bestowed with the divine blessings from Lord Shiva. Their life will be filled with good health, happiness and prosperity. After contentedly living their life, they will be granted liberation and reach the abode of Lord Shiva, the Kailasa Dham. Young man observe the Kalyana Vrata to get their desired female partner and young girls keep this fast to get righteous and loving husbands. Also the couples who perform this sacred vratham are blessed with good children. The glory of Kalyana vrata is such that even Hindu Gods and Goddesses kept this vrata to get befitting life partners. Lord Vishnu married Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Brahma married Goddess Saraswati, Moon wedded the twenty-seven stars, Lord Indra married Indrani and even saint Agastiya married Lobhamudra after successfully completing the Kalyana Vrata. Also Amritavali and Saundaryavalli, the daughters of Lord Vishnu also observed Kalyana vrata and were wedded to six faced lord as Valli and Devasena. Sage Satyapurana had two daughters who were married to Mahasashtha, Devi Sita got Lord Rama, Devi Jambhabhati married Lord Krishna, Lord Kama wedded Rathi and sage Saupari married several princesses. These are few examples that explicitly define the glory of Kalyana vrata.

The propitious day of Kalyana Vrata that celebrates the divine marriage of Parmeshwara and Parvati is observed as Basatotsav or Dol Poornima in Bengal, Phagwah in Bihar, Dolajatra in Orissa, Basant Panchami in Andhra Pradesh, Manjal Kuli in Kerala , Rangapanchami in Madhya Pradesh and Fagu Poornima in the neighbouring country of Nepal. The celebrations may differ in different parts of the country but the spirit remains the same.

Rituals of the Kalyana Vrata:

• The observer of the Kalyana Vrata should get up early that day and meditate about the amiable Lord Shiva in the wedding posture with Goddess Parvati. The devotees must then take a bath and wear clean clothes, before worshipping their deity.
• An idol of God and Goddesses is made from a metal, you can choose gold if it is in your affordability and then worship it devotionally with sacred substances. The devotees must beautifully decorate the idols with jewellery and flowers before observing the marriage between Lord Shiva and his consort. The divine couple is then saluted with sweet and nice offerings.
• A special feast is prepared and other followers and disciples of Lord Shiva along with their partners is marital bliss and invited. The prasad is then distributed among all. Following this, the observer of the Kalyana Vrata must visit a nearby Shiva temple and pray to the lord for His blessings. The devotees must prostrate and circumambulate thrice in front of their lord.
• After observing strict fast all day, the devotees can eat prasad in the form of sweet Payasam (a dish prepared from milk) and fruits together with other devotees of Lord Shiva. Only one meal can be eaten by the devotees on that day. As a part of the ritual, one who observes Kalyana Vrata must sleep on the dharbari grass.
• On the next day, after completing their morning chores, the observer of this maha vratham donates the golden idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma to another pious follower of Lord Shiva.

According to  Brahmanda Puranam on Panguni Uthiram every holy water joins Thumburu teertha , one of seven sacred tanks in  Tirumala.

On this day ShivaParvati Kalyanam is performed in almost all temples in Taminadu. As per Valmiki's Ramayana Lord Rama married Goddess Sita on this day.

Lord Murugan Devotees carries kavadi to the temple and most Subramanya swamy temple experiences heavy rush in this day.It is also the birthday of Lord Ayyappa,it is celebrated in Kerala and Tamilnadu.On this day Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated on earth from the ocean of milk  and hence it is celebrated as Mahalakshmi Jayanti.

2017 Date : 9th April.