religious info

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Amavasai

 

This marks the new moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as

CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good

health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The

Amavasai which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September

and the beginning of October, is considered of special importance and

celebrated as Mahaliya Amavasai. Fasting during this day brings peace to the

ancestors. It is a ritual to give Annadhanam (food) to Brahmins on this day.

 

 

Chathurthi &

Sankadahara Chathurthi

Chathurthi is a day of importance for Lord Vinayaga, and is considered

auspicious to initiate any new endeavour, job or project. This occurs twice

every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon

period. The main chathurthi called Sri Vinayaga Chathurthi occurs during the

month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated with pomp and

splendour all over India. During this festival large decorated idols of Sri

Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes to mark the occasion.

 

Ekadashi

Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the

eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two

fortnights in a lunar month—the bright and the dark. So, Ekadashi occurs twice

in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. The special feature

of Ekadashi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from diet. People who

are perfectly healthy and are confident, observe a complete fast. This helps in

control of mind and will. Apart from all these, there is a necessity to give

the physiological system some rest once a while. It may be over-worked due to a

little over-eating or indiscrimination in diet. These irregularities

unconsciously done during the fourteen days get rectified in one day. Thus the

observance of Ekadashi has many advantages—physical, astral, spiritual.

 

 

Kiruthikai

(or Karthikai)

This day denotes the occurrence of the Kiruthikai Nakshatram every month, as per

the Tamil Calendar. On this day a special seva and poojas takes place at all

Murugan temples.

The Kiruthikai Nakshatram is of great importance to Sri

Murugan, as it is considered as his birth star. When it falls on a Monday, and

occurs during the month of Karthigai, it is considered especially sacred, and

devotees undertake fasts and special prayers to seek the Lord's blessings.

The occurrence of Kiruthikai Nakshatram in the month of

Karthigai is celebrated as Thiru Karthigai. Hindus (predominantly in Tamilnadu)

decorate their homes and altars with little oil lamps to celebrate this day.

Various legends exist for the celebration of Thiru Karthigai.

 

Pournami

 

This marks the full moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted

as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and

good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Amavasai.

The Pournami which occurs during the month of Chithirai, that is the beginning

of May is considered of special importance and celebrated as Chitra Pournami by

South Indians.

 

 

Pradhosham

Pradhosham occurs twice a month - once during the Growing Moon Period [

Shukla Paksha - 15 moon days from New moon to Full moon] and the other during

the Waning Moon Period [Krishna Paksha - 15 moon days from Full moon to New

moon], in the evening of the thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30

p.m. to 6.00 p.m. This denotes the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a

Horizontal Line during the course of movement on their Axis.

Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying in that time

will free us from our sins and gives moksha finally (hence the name Pradhosha).

During pradosha time a special type of circumbulating called soma sutra

pradaxinam is done. A point to note here is that the

gomukhi is never crossed. gomukhi is the place where the water after anointing (abhisheka

teertam) would be flowing northwards out. By doing this way of pradaxinam one

does not step over this holy water.

 

History behind Pradhosham

Once Devas and Asuras using the serpent Vasuki

and the hill Mandhara were trying to get Amrutham (nector) from the Kseerabthi (milk ocean

). Then the terrible poison Halahalam came up. All got frightened and pleaded to

Lord Shiva for rescue. Being the peak of mercy Lord Shiva ate that poison. Then

as per His order they resumed their effort to get Amrutham. They got it on

Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Without praying and thanking the God, by whom

they got Amrutham,

Devas started dancing and celebrating their victory.

On thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they realised their sin of not praying the

God and pleaded for forgiveness. The pleased graceful Lord Shiva forgave them

and danced between the horns of the Nandhi (holy bull). That time is called

Pradhosham. Whoever prays Lord Shiva in that time, Lord Shiva fulfills

their wishes and give them mukthi.

 

 

Raaghu

Kalam & Yama Kandam

Of the nine grahas, the primary position is given to Lord Surya which is why the

first day of the week is said to be Sunday. The seven days of the week refer to

the seven grahas, including the Sani

Bhagawan. The Nava Nayakaas (Nine Lords) have been given much authority over

human life. Each day of the week is ruled by one of the first seven of the nine

lords, viz., Sunday by Soorya, Monday by Chandra, Tuesday by Angaaraka,

Wednesday by Budha, Thursday by Guru, Friday by Sukra and Saturday by Sani. The

eighth graha is Raaghu. Of the seven days in a week, 10 hours are reserved for

Raaghu, i.e., one-and-a-half hours per day. This one-and-a-half hours is what

we call as 'Raaghu kalam'. The ninth graha is called Kedhu. Like for Raaghu,

the same amount of time is reserved for Kedhu also. This one-and-a-half hours

is called 'Yama

kandam'.

Raaghu

kalam and Yama kandam are believed to be inappropriate for performing auspicious deeds.

 

 

Shashti &

Skantha Shashti

Shashti is another day of importance to Sri Murugan. It usually falls a few days

after Amavasai (new moon). Devotees undertake fasts and offer prayers on this

day every month for a period of time, usually a year or three years. Since this

day is of importance to Sri Murugan, the occurrence of Shashti during the month

of Karthigai is considered of great importance and celebrated as

Skanda Shashti. The day after Deepavali starts the 6 days of Skanda Shashti

with the culmination of Soorasamharam on the 6th day. The 6 days of Shashti

constitute the 6 days of war with Soorapadman (a demon) and on the last day of

Shashti, 'Soorasamharam', Lord Muruga conquered the demon, Suran.