Magha Day 2023- Magh one of the most pious month in Hindu calendar , starts every year during the Jan/February month of Gregorian and Julian calendar and is celebrated through out India in various ways .
Why is the month of Magha important?
This month of Maagh, in lunar calendar begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year,because in Hindu Calendar, there are two methods to mark the lunar month. In one, lunar month is marked from Purnima to Purnima (known as Purnimanta calendar) and in other lunar month is marked from Amavasya to Amavasya (known as Amanta calendar)
Maagha is usually the tenth month of the year. It is named thus because, in this month, the full moon is usually found nearby or within the star cluster called “Magha”.
In lunar calendar the month in which Moon will be at or nearer to the constellation of Makhah (Maghah) nakshathra on the full moon day that month is calculated as Maagha maasam.This occurs during the calendar months of January/February.
Makhah also means Yagna and Lord Vishnu is referred to as Maha Makhah (Sri Vishnu Sahasranama sthothram sloka # 47) is the presiding Deity of Yagna. The Lord is also worshiped through the medium of Yagna.
In solar calendars,Maagh begins with the Sun’s entry into Capricorn (Makar), and is usually the eleventh month of the year.This month marks the end of chilly weather as the Sun turns towards Uttarayan in this month.
Uttarayan means north movement. This is six month period which indicates a semantic of the northward movement of the Sun on the celestial hemisphere. In this period days are bigger than night. The arrival of summer starts from this month as the days become longer and nights become shorter.
In Magha month, bathing in rivers is considered auspicious.
Meaning of Magha : Maagham is a Sanskrit word Ma+Agham. Ma means not present and Agham means sin, evil, suffering, grief therfore Maagha masam is the month which is highly meritorious, auspicious and free from any sin or suffering.
Lord Maha Vishnu in the name of Maadhava is the presiding deity who governs Maagha Masam and to be worshiped during this month.
The month of Madha was known as the month of Madha, which later became Magha. The word “Madh” is related to “Madhav”, a form of Shri Krishna.
This month is considered very holy.There are many religious festivals in this month. Also at the same time, nature also starts becoming friendly.
This is the month when “Kalpvas” is performed at Sangam, in Prayagraj.
As per holy scriptures when Sun enters enter into Makar Rashi, at that time ritual of “Kalpvas” starts in Prayagraj .This is month period. It is believed that the participants during this time must take dip in holy river Ganga 3 time in a day, sleep on floor, eat either one time or fast on grains.It is said that one gets the punya of one “Kalp” ( i.e. one day of Lord Bhrahma,and one day of Brahma is 4.32 million * 1000 = 4.32 billion human years. Each such day of Brahma is called a “kalpa”.-).
Hence, taking a bath in the morning during this month provides a person with power and strength. This proves that if a person keeps his soul pure and indulges in religious activities, he becomes more powerful so that he face all problems easily.
Scientific Relevance:
Maagha month has also been considered to be important from a scientific point of view. Maagha month is when a body is adjusting to the changing seasons. Maagha month is the transition from winters to spring . The winter solstice marks as the beginning of spring. New plants and flowers can be seen all around.
Stories of Magha:
- According to the legend, in the month of Magha, Gautam Rishi cursed the god Indra. Realizing his mistake, Indra Dev apologized. In order to atone, Gautam Rishi asked him to take a bath in the Ganges. Indra Dev took bath in the Ganges in the month of Magha and got freedom from that sin. That is why bathing in the Ganges in this month is of great importance, especially on the occasion of Maghi Amavasya and Maghi Purnima, it gets more merit.
- According to the legend, a brahmin named Shubhavrat lived on the banks of the Narmada. He had a lot of knowledge of Vedas and Shastras but the tendency to earn money was dominant in him. In his old age, when he started suffering from many diseases, he realized that he devoted his whole life only in collecting money. In the event of losing his life, he remembered a verse telling the importance of the month of Magha. While reciting this verse ‘Maghe Nimagna: Salile Sushite Vimuktpapaastridivm Prayanti’, he took a bath in the Narmada river. After taking bath continuously for 9 days, on the 10th day he got freedom from all diseases and troubled life and attained salvation. That is why bathing in the month of Magh is considered so significant.
Magha Day 2023- Magh one of the most pious month in Hindu calendar , starts every year during the Jan/February month of Gregorian and Julian calendar and is celebrated through out India in various ways .
Why is the month of Magha important?
This month of Maagh, in lunar calendar begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year,because in Hindu Calendar, there are two methods to mark the lunar month. In one, lunar month is marked from Purnima to Purnima (known as Purnimanta calendar) and in other lunar month is marked from Amavasya to Amavasya (known as Amanta calendar)
Maagha is usually the tenth month of the year. It is named thus because, in this month, the full moon is usually found nearby or within the star cluster called “Magha”.
In lunar calendar the month in which Moon will be at or nearer to the constellation of Makhah (Maghah) nakshathra on the full moon day that month is calculated as Maagha maasam.This occurs during the calendar months of January/February.
Makhah also means Yagna and Lord Vishnu is referred to as Maha Makhah (Sri Vishnu Sahasranama sthothram sloka # 47) is the presiding Deity of Yagna. The Lord is also worshiped through the medium of Yagna.
In solar calendars,Maagh begins with the Sun’s entry into Capricorn (Makar), and is usually the eleventh month of the year.This month marks the end of chilly weather as the Sun turns towards Uttarayan in this month.
Uttarayan means north movement. This is six month period which indicates a semantic of the northward movement of the Sun on the celestial hemisphere. In this period days are bigger than night. The arrival of summer starts from this month as the days become longer and nights become shorter.
In Magha month, bathing in rivers is considered auspicious.
Meaning of Magha : Maagham is a Sanskrit word Ma+Agham. Ma means not present and Agham means sin, evil, suffering, grief therfore Maagha masam is the month which is highly meritorious, auspicious and free from any sin or suffering.
Lord Maha Vishnu in the name of Maadhava is the presiding deity who governs Maagha Masam and to be worshiped during this month.
The month of Madha was known as the month of Madha, which later became Magha. The word “Madh” is related to “Madhav”, a form of Shri Krishna.
This month is considered very holy.There are many religious festivals in this month. Also at the same time, nature also starts becoming friendly.
This is the month when “Kalpvas” is performed at Sangam, in Prayagraj.
As per holy scriptures when Sun enters enter into Makar Rashi, at that time ritual of “Kalpvas” starts in Prayagraj .This is month period. It is believed that the participants during this time must take dip in holy river Ganga 3 time in a day, sleep on floor, eat either one time or fast on grains.It is said that one gets the punya of one “Kalp” ( i.e. one day of Lord Bhrahma,and one day of Brahma is 4.32 million * 1000 = 4.32 billion human years. Each such day of Brahma is called a “kalpa”.-).
Hence, taking a bath in the morning during this month provides a person with power and strength. This proves that if a person keeps his soul pure and indulges in religious activities, he becomes more powerful so that he face all problems easily.
Scientific Relevance:
Maagha month has also been considered to be important from a scientific point of view. Maagha month is when a body is adjusting to the changing seasons. Maagha month is the transition from winters to spring . The winter solstice marks as the beginning of spring. New plants and flowers can be seen all around.
Stories of Magha:
- According to the legend, in the month of Magha, Gautam Rishi cursed the god Indra. Realizing his mistake, Indra Dev apologized. In order to atone, Gautam Rishi asked him to take a bath in the Ganges. Indra Dev took bath in the Ganges in the month of Magha and got freedom from that sin. That is why bathing in the Ganges in this month is of great importance, especially on the occasion of Maghi Amavasya and Maghi Purnima, it gets more merit.
- According to the legend, a brahmin named Shubhavrat lived on the banks of the Narmada. He had a lot of knowledge of Vedas and Shastras but the tendency to earn money was dominant in him. In his old age, when he started suffering from many diseases, he realized that he devoted his whole life only in collecting money. In the event of losing his life, he remembered a verse telling the importance of the month of Magha. While reciting this verse ‘Maghe Nimagna: Salile Sushite Vimuktpapaastridivm Prayanti’, he took a bath in the Narmada river. After taking bath continuously for 9 days, on the 10th day he got freedom from all diseases and troubled life and attained salvation. That is why bathing in the month of Magh is considered so significant.
This time the month of Magh will be from 7th January to 05th of February.
Festivals of Magha and their significance:
# Sankashti Chaturthi – By doing this one gets a child and the worries of the child go away.
# Shathtila Ekadashi – Special use of sesame seeds gives health and prosperity.
# Mauni Amavasya – By remaining silent in this day,it helps to do the sadhana for the destruction of sins and the purification of the soul.
#Vasant Panchami – In this we worship Goddess Saraswati for knowledge and wisdom.
#Jaya Ekadashi – Special experiment on this day gives freedom from debts and faults
# Maghi Purnima – On this day the combined blessings of both Shiva and Vishnu are received.
Changes to be made in the diet and lifestyle in the month of Maagha
# Leaving hot water slowly, one should start bathing with normal water.
#Sleeping till late in the morning and not taking bath will not be good for health.
#From this month heavy food should be left and light food should come.
#Use of sesame and jaggery is especially beneficial in this month.
#If only one meal is eaten in this month, then health and concentration are attained.
What to do in Maagha for happiness, peace and prosperity?
#Offer yellow flowers and Panchamrit ( made with cow milk,curd,ghee,honey,gangajal) to Lord Krishna every morning
# Recite “Madhurashtak”, or chant the following mantra –
“Shri Madhav Daya Sindho Bhaktakam Pravarshan.
Magh snanavratam medya safalam kuru te namah ॥”
# Feed a poor person daily
# If possible, eat only one meal
# Engage in some holy activity and do daan
