MAGHA POURNAMI : STORY, RELEVANCE AND TIPS

Maghi Purnima is a Hindu festival that falls on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Magha (January/February). It is also known as Magha Purnima or Maghi Poornima. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion in various parts of India and is considered auspicious.

According to Hindu mythology, Maghi Purnima marks the day when the gods and demons churned the ocean of milk (Samudra Manthan) to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrit). It is also believed to be the day when the great sage Vyasa was born. In some parts of India, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Significance of Maghi Pournami:

According to mythology, Magh Purnima is considered a holy day to perform various spiritual and religious rituals and ceremonies. It is also believed that during this month the deities descend from heaven to spend some time on earth and stay on the banks of the river Ganges. The popular ‘Magh Mela’ and ‘Kumbh Mela’ are also organised during this month, where hundreds of devotees from all over the country come to take the auspicious plunge in the holy river of the Ganges in the beaming rays of Maghi Purnima.

According to the Hindu texts and scriptures, it is said that bathing in the holy river on the eve of Maghi Purnima is considered really auspicious. After taking the bath and then giving alms is considered to wash away all your sins of the present life and past sins.

Benefits of Maghi Purnima:

1. Spiritual purification: Maghi Purnima is considered to be a highly auspicious day for spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and prayer. It is believed that by observing fasts and performing these practices, one can attain spiritual purification. Bathing, charity and chanting on this auspicious day of Purnima, are said to be very virtuous and fruitful. Magh bath is also very important on this day.
2. Good health: Fasting on Maghi Purnima is believed to cleanse the body of toxins and improve digestion. It is also believed to promote mental clarity and overall well-being.
3. Charitable acts: Giving donations and performing acts of charity on this day is believed to bring good karma and blessings.
4. Family harmony: It is believed that performing rituals with family members on Maghi Purnima can strengthen family bonds and bring peace and harmony in the household.

Tips for observing Maghi Purnima:

1. Fasting: Many people observe a fast on Maghi Purnima. This involves abstaining from food and water for the entire day. Some people may consume fruits or milk.
2. Charity: Giving donations to the poor or performing acts of charity on this day is considered auspicious.
3. Rituals: Many people perform rituals such as puja, yajna, and aarti on Maghi Purnima. These rituals are performed to seek the blessings of the deities and to attain spiritual purification.
4. Bathing: Taking a bath in a holy river or a sacred pond on Maghi Purnima is considered to be highly auspicious.
5. Meditation: This day is considered to be highly auspicious for meditation and yoga practices. Meditating on this day is believed to bring peace and clarity of mind.

Story of Maghi Pournami:

Maghi Purnima Vrat Katha

According to the legend, a Brahmin known as Dhaneshwar used to reside in Kantika Nagar. He used to beg for dakshina and donations for his livelihood. In spite of sheer poverty, both husband and wife were happy in their own little world. The only thing that made both Brahmin and his wife unhappy was that they didn’t have any kids. One day his wife went to the city to beg for alms, but everyone refused to give alms to her as she did not have any children, which broke her heart and made her very sad and gloomy. Seeing her grief and distress, someone told her to worship Maa Kali for 16 days. The Brahmin couple worshipped Maa Kali for continuous 16 days. Seeing their penance and severe devotion, goddess Kali blessed them and gave a boon to Brahmin’s wife that she will conceive and she became pregnant. But, told the Brahmin’s wife that according to her capacity, she should light a lamp on every full moon day and she should go on adding one lamp on every full moon day.

In this way, she should keep on increasing the number of lamps on every full moon day till there are at least 32 lamps. The Brahmin brought raw mango fruit from the tree for his wife to worship. His wife performed the puja as a result of which she became pregnant. On every full moon, she kept lighting the lamp as per the instructions of Mother Kali. By the grace of Mother Kali, a son was born to her, who was named Devdas. When Devdas grew up, he was sent to Kashi to study at his maternal uncle’s house. An accident happened with mother and nephew in Kashi, due to which Devdas got married by fraud.

Devdas did not want to marry so requested to stop this marriage as he was young but still he was forced to get married. After some time Yamraj came to take his life in the form of Kaal, but on that day the Brahmin couple had kept a fast of Purnima, so Kaal could not harm Devdas. Since then it is said that fasting on the day of Maghi Purnima leads to freedom from all troubles and fulfils all wishes.

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