Importance of Margashira Masam, Importance of Margasira Month, Margasira Masam importance, Auspicious days of Margashirsha Masam, Festivals in the month of Mragasira, Vrat in the month of Margasira, Margasira masam Vrat
The ninth month of the lunar calendar is observed as Margasira Month. The star on the full moon day of this month is Mrugasira hence this month is named as Margasira Month.
Other names of Margasira Month:
The other name of this month is Agrahayana, which translates to a month of equinox. Agra in Sanskrit means first and ayana is travelling. In ancient times the start of the year was Margasira Month. The sun in Margasiramasam would enter into Dhanu Rashi which is called as Dhanur Sankramanam and from the day of Dhanur Sankramanam it is known as Dhanur Masam.
Ritu of Margasira Month:
The weather or Ritu of this month is known as Hemanatha Ritu.
Presiding God of the Margasira Month:
The lord for the month of Margasira month is Keshava. The sun God is worshipped in this month by the name of Mitra.
Lord Sri Krishna, in Bhagawad Gita describes himself to be present in various things describes as follows
Which means “in the months Iam Margasira Month”
Keshava in Sanskrit means hair (Kesha) which means to say one with a beautiful and long hair, Ray of light which means to say the one who is responsible for the light. Keshava is also the name given to the one who killed the demon Keshi.
Whom to worship in the Month of Margasira:
Worshipping of Lord Maha Vishnu. Goddess Maha Lakshmi and Sun God in the month of Margasira is highly meritorious. Wroshipping of Lord Hanuman and Lord Subramanyam is considered as auspicious.
Festivals in Margasira Month:
Subramanya Shashti or Champa Shashti:
The sixth day of waxing phase of the moon of the Margasira month is observed as Subramanya Shashti or Skanda Shashti. It is a very auspicious day for the devotees of Lord Subramanya or Lord Murga or Lord Karthikeya.
Sun God is reffered to as “Mitra” in the month of Margasira. Hence on the sukla Saptami or the seventh day of the bright moon phase of the month of Margasira is observed as Mitra Saptami. During Mitra Saptami Sun God is worshipped.
Vaikunta Ekadasi or Mukkoti Ekadasi or Mokshada Ekadasi:
The eleventh day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Margasira is observed as Mukkoti or Mokshada or Vaikunta Ekadasi. Devotees throng the temples of Lord Vishnu to have the famous Uttara Dwara Darashanam. It is believed that all the Gods would visit Vaikuntam to have the Uttara Dwara Darshanam on Lord Vishnu. All the temples of Lord Vishnu celebrate Vaikunta Ekadashi as a big festival. Devotees observe the Vaikunta Ekadasi Vrat on this day.
It is believed that Bhagwad Gita was explained by Lord Krihsna to Arjuna on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day and hence celebrated as Gita Jayanti.
Margasira Purnima or Datta Jayanti:
The full moon day of the month of Margasira masam is the day on which Lord Dattatreya was born. Hence Margasira Purnima is celebrated as Datta Jayanti or Dattatreya Jayanti.
The eleventh day of the waning phase of the moon of the month of Margasira or Margasira Bahula Paksha Ekadasi is observed as Saphala Ekadasi. Devotees of Lord Vishnu would observe the Ekadasi Vrat and visit the temples of Lord Vishnu.
Vrat in the Month of Margasira:
Hanumad Vrat or Hanuman Vrat:
Devotees of Lord Hanuman would observe the Hanumad Vrat on the thirteenth day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Margsira or Sukla Paksha Trayodasi of Margasira Masam. Devotees would worship Lord Hanuman and tie a Thoran to their hand. Thoran is a yellow coloured thread with thirteen knots on it. This vrat was performed by Draupadi for health, wealth and prosperity. This Vrat was narrated to Dharmaraja by Veda Vyasa and eventually Draupadi performed it.
Guruvara Lakshmi Vrat or Lakshmivar Vrat:
Guruvara Lakshmi Vrat is observed on the Thursday s of the month of Margasira Masam. In Orissa Guruvara Lakshmi vrat of Lakshmivara Vrat is known as Manabasa Gurubar Vrat.
Auspicious days of Margasira Month:
Dhanurmasa Dwadasi :
The twelfth day of the waning phase of the moon of margaisra month or Margasira Krishna Paksha Dwadashi is an auspicious day. Devotees belived that performing a bath in the Pushkarani in Tirumala during the sun rise time would fetch the virtue of performing bath in all the sacred rivers.
The Krishna Paksha or Bahula Paksha Saptami, Ashtami and Navami or the seventh, eighth and ninth days of the waning phase of the moon of the month of Margasira Masam as known as Poorvedya, Ashtaka and Anavashtaka, which are considered sacred for performing the Pitru Tarpanas.
What to recite or read in the Month of Margasira:
It is adivsed to recite Vishnu Sahasranama every day in the month of Margasira.
Temples to vist during Margasira Month:
It is advised to visit the temples of Subramanya, Surya and Lord Vishnu in the month of Margasira.