Saturday 2 July 2011

Importance of Margashirsha Maas or Margashira masam as per Bhagvad Gita

Margashirsha maas or Margashira masam is the ninth month as per traditional Hindu calendar. It is believed as one of the auspicious months for Hindus. In Puranas, Margashirsh maas is mentioned as ‘Maasonam Margashirshoham which means there is no auspicious month as Margashiram.

Margashirsh month is also mentioned in the Bhagwad Gita by Lord Sri Krishna. The below slokam tells about the significance and spiritual importance of margasheersha maas.

Bruhatsama thatha samnam
Gayatri Chandasamaham
Masanam Margashoham
Ruthunam Kusumakarna

It means – Lord Krishna says “I, myself, stay in Bruhathsama in the Samaveda, Gayatri in Chandassu or literature, Margashirsha or Margashira in months and Vasant rithu in rithus or seasons”.

It is said that performing ritual bath in the Ganga river during Margashirsh month gives the result of ten million grahan snan. Vishnu Puja during the month is highly auspicious. Lakshmi puja is observed on Margashirsh lakshmivar or Guruvar during margashira masam. Vishnu Sahasranama parayana and visiting Vishnu temples in the month is most preferred deeds.

Gita Jayanti 2010 – Bhagavad Gita Jayanthi 2010 date

Gita Jayanti or Bhagavad Geeta Jayanthi, the birthday of Bhagvad Gita, is celebrated on Margasirsha Shukla Paksha Ekadashi (November – December). Gita Jayanti 2010 date is 17 December 2010. According to prominent Hindu scriptures, on this day, Lord Sri Krishna made the glorious teachings of Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Today, Bhagavad Gita is a world-famous scripture and also used as business and communications guide for modern world.

Bhagvad Gita was first told to Arjuna by Lord Krishna nearly six thousand years ago during Kurukshetra war. Gita Jaanthi is celebrated throughout India and the world with lot of gusto. In ISKCON temples, Geeta Jayanthi is celebrated with utmost devotion and enthusiasm. Special pujas and abhishekas are offered to the Lord on this day. Mass recital of Bhagvad Geeta is performed throughout the day.

Gita Jayanti is also celebrated as Mokshada Ekadashi. On this day, devotees observed fast and on Dwadashi day fast is broken by taking ritual bath and performing Krishna puja.

Datta Jayanti 2010 – Dattatreya Jayanthi 2010 date

Datta Jayanti or Guru Dattatreya Jayanthi, the birthday of Lord Dattatreya, is observed on Margashirsha Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Margasirsha. Datta Jayanti 2010 or Dattatreya Jayanthi 2010 date is December 20. Dattatreya, the son of Anasuya and Atri Maharshi, is considered as Trimurti Avatar, an incarnation of Hindu Trinity – Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.

When Goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati came to know about Anasuyas pativrata dharma, they wanted to test her and requested their husbands Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to do so by asking her to give food with unclothed body. Anasuya made the Hindu trinity as small babies and fed them without any cloth on her body. Anasuyas huband, Atri Maharshi came and knew the whole episode, created all three babies into one. This one form of Trimurti is Dattatrya Swamy. With their powers, Atri and Anasuya recreated Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Datta Jayanthi is celebrated with lot of gusto in Sri Pada Vallabha Kshetram at Pithapuram in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. This kshetram is also known as Padagaya Kshetram, Datta Kshetram or Vallabha Kshetram. Dattatreya Jayanti is a major festival at Ganugapur Sri Kshetra Dattatreya temple in Maharashtra.

Mitra saptami – Margasira Saptami dedicated to Surya Bhagawan

Mitra saptami is observed on Shukla Paksha Saptami during Margasira masam or Margashirsh month. Mitra Saptami date 2010 is December 12. This festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagawan or Sun God. Surya Bhagwan is worshipped with different name during each month. In Margashira masam, Sun God is worshipped as Mitra, hence the Saptami day on which Surya is worshipped as Mitra Saptami.

On Mitra Saptami, Surya bhagwan is offered prayers and special naivedyam. Devotees believe that worshipping Lord Surya on this day would provide them with good health and wealth. On this day, devotees avoid using hair oil.

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