Skip to content Pausha Purnima: Significance and Rituals Explained
Winter, shishir ritu, is in full swing. In north India, it is the coldest month of the year. In the south, the nights are steadily becoming cooler even if days are warm or even hot, especially towards the afternoon. Early morning mist is common in many places, sometimes dense enough to reduce visibility.
It is Pausha (Pushya masam in Telugu), the tenth month of the Hindu calendar and the Indian national calendar, equivalent to December-January partly overlapping with dhanurmasa, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.
The month is generally considered unfavourable for marriages and other auspicious events; on the other hand, the focus is on worship. In many places in south India, (during dhanurmasa) at dawn one hears the voices of small groups of people reciting Tiruppavai as they walk through the streets with house fronts beautifully decorated with complex kolams.
Hot Pongal – rice cooked with moong dal (pesaru pappu), with ghee and flavoured with pepper and jeera is what is made at home and given as prasadam in the temples. On special days, Sakkarai pongal – pongal with jaggery is made.
Pausha month has several important days. One of the most important days for Sri Vaishnavites usually falls in this month. As is well known, for all Vaishnavaites, ekadasi is important, being sacred to Lord Vishnu. People fast and offer worship to the Lord. Pausha month has Saphala Ekadasi and Putrada Ekadasi.
Putrada Ekadasi is considered especially important for those desiring sons. It also coincides with Vaikunta Ekadasi, also known as ‘Mokshada Ekadasi’ and ‘Mukkoti Ekadasi‘.
On Vaikunta Ekadasi, the paramapada vasal, also known as the swarga dwaram vaikunta dwaram or the entrance symbolizing the door to heaven is opened. In various temples where there is such a gateway, the Lord is taken in procession through it followed by thousands of devotees. Ten days before and ten days after Vaikunta Ekadasi are devoted to reciting from the Divya Prabhandham.
Saphala Ekadasi occurs during Krishna paksha or the dark phase of the moon. Meaning successful, it is believed that those who observe this Ekadasi faithfully will see their work bear fruit.
Simhachalam
At Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamyvari Temple in Simhachalam (Visakhapatnam, A.P.), on Bahula Amavasya day, Theppotsavam (Float festival) is celebrated. Jagadaananda Kaarakaa – Jaya – Jaanaki Praana Naayakaa reverberates on the bahula panchami day this month when the annual Tyagaraja Aradhana is held not just in ‘Tiruvaiyaru’ but also in many other places in India and abroad and Tyagaraja’s pancharatna keertanas are sung.
This is to commemorate the day the great saint and composer achieved Samadhi.
During Pausha month, in addition to Sriman Narayana, we also worship Surya Bhagavan, the Sun god. Some of the dietary suggestions for this month are the use of jaggery, ginger, cloves, sesame etc. that give warmth to the body and also provide immunity from chills.
This month also sees the festival of Makara Sankranti. This is the day when Surya Bhagavan transits into the Makara rashi or zodiac Capricorn and the sun starts moving northward. This is the Uttarayana punya kalam. It is a huge pan-India social festival and is celebrated in other countries also.
Pausha Purnima – Shakambari purnima
As the month progresses, people look to the end of the cold winter days. It is believed that bathing in the Triveni Sangam on ‘Pausha Purnima’ will assure salvation. Pausha Purnima is also celebrated as ‘Shakambari purnima’, celebrating the Goddess Shakambari, who ensures our food security.
It is the culmination of Shakambari Navaratri or Banshankari Navaratri. Goddess Shakambari, an aspect of Shakti is mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. She is the bearer of greens and is believed to have come forth after a huge drought bringing in her body fruits, flowers and vegetables to satiate the hunger of the people.
Final Word
Let us pray to Surya Bhagavan to keep us warm and be gentle on us with his rays as the days go by. Let us also pray to Shakhambari devi thanking her for her bounty and requesting her to keep our farms and fields green and fill our plates with enriching food for the days to come.
