Amavasya

The date of Amavasya falls after the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of every month. Amavasya has special significance in Sanatan Dharma because this date is the most favorite date of our ancestors. On Amavasya, after taking bath in pure water of a holy river or at home, one worships Lord Vishnu with full devotion and makes offerings to the ancestors. It is believed that taking bath in the holy river on this day brings health and also those who perform Shraddha of their ancestors on the banks of the river on Amavasya, their ancestors easily attain salvation and get relief from the tortures in Yamalok. By donating food, money, clothes etc. to the needy and helpless people on the day of Amavasya, the ancestors remain satisfied and by this type of donation, the harmful effects of Pitra and Shani Dosh are also destroyed. Our ancestors get food by feeding cows, dogs, crows and ants on the day of Amavasya. Which gives them strength. Apart from this, many religious rituals, fasts and festivals are also observed on the auspicious date of Amavasya like Diwali, Shani Jayanti, Somvati Amavasya, Vat Savitri Vrat etc. which increase the good fortune of a person and fulfill his wishes. Amavasya falling in every month is as follows:-

1. Amavasya of Chaitra month: - Chaitra Amavasya is the first Amavasya of the year. By worshiping Lord Vishnu on the day of Chaitra Amavasya, all the troubles of human life are destroyed. Taking bath in a holy river on this day destroys all sins and bad deeds. It is considered very auspicious to perform Shraddha of ancestors on the new moon day of Chaitra month. On this day, the ancestors are satisfied by feeding cows, crows, dogs etc. Also, feeding and donating the poor and needy people is considered very virtuous.

2. Amavasya of Vaishakh month: - On the day of Vaishakh Amavasya, doing holy bath, charity, chanting-penance, Pind Daan, offering to ancestors etc. is considered very auspicious. On this Amavasya, one must fast for the peace of the ancestors' souls and by performing Shraddha and Pind Daan for the ancestors, one gets relief from the financial and mental troubles going on in life. Also, by offering Pind Daan to the ancestors, the person gets the blessings of increasing lineage from the ancestors. By donating to poor and orphan people on Vaishakh Amavasya, one also gets relief from terrible defects like Kaal Sarp Dosh. Eating and donating Sattu on this auspicious day has a special significance.

3. Amavasya of Jyeshtha month: - Jyeshtha Amavasya is considered one of the important Amavasya dates in India and this day is a very important day for fasting and performing Shraddha of ancestors. On this date, people perform Shraddha of their ancestors so that their souls can rest in peace. This date is also celebrated as Shani Jayanti, hence it is very good to worship Shani Dev with full devotion on this day, as this removes all the obstacles in a person's life. Due to Vat Savitri fast being observed on this death anniversary, the importance of this Amavasya increases even more because on this day women fast for the long life of their husbands and to get good fortune.

4. Amavasya of Ashadh month: - Ashadh month is the fourth month of the year. On the new moon day of the month of Ashadh, offering offerings to the ancestors by taking bath etc. has a different significance because this day is considered very good for charity and offerings made for the peace of the ancestors. Ashadh Amavasya is considered especially fruitful for charity and religious activities done for the peace of the souls of ancestors.

5. Amavasya of Shravan month:- It is best to worship Lord Shiva on Amavasya of Shravan month. On this day, by worshiping Lord Shiva and chanting his name as well as doing charity etc., one gets the special blessings of Lord Shiva and gets happiness, wealth, and good fortune. On the day of Shravan Amavasya, after offering Arghya to the Sun God, one gets the blessings of the ancestors by observing fast, Shraddha etc. for the peace of the ancestors' souls. Planting trees on the new moon day of Shravan month and feeding fish and ants helps in eliminating mental troubles and doing so also brings happiness in the family.

6. Bhadrapada month's Amavasya:- Worshiping Lord Vishnu and reciting his hymns on Bhadrapada Amavasya provides liberation from past and present sins for individuals. It also frees one from all obstacles in life and leads to happiness and prosperity. According to the Puranas, performing rituals such as bathing, charity, and offering Pinda dan (ritual of offering food to ancestors) in a prescribed manner on this auspicious date leads to the attainment of happiness and prosperity. Additionally, it is considered highly beneficial to gather Kusha grass (a specific type of grass) on this special day and use it throughout the year for auspicious activities.

7. Ashwin month's Amavasya:- Ashwin Amavasya is known as Sarva Pitru Amavasya because on this day, known and unknown ancestors' rituals are performed. It is considered highly significant for performing ancestral rituals because it marks the last day of the Pitru Paksha (fortnight dedicated to ancestors) when ancestors return to their respective realms. Additionally, worshiping Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi on this day holds special importance. Worshiping Lord Vishnu on this day bestows special blessings, leading to happiness, prosperity, and mental peace in life. It is mentioned in the Puranas that performing rituals like Shraddha (ritual for ancestors), Tarpana (offering water to ancestors), and charity on this month's Amavasya leads to liberation (moksha).

8. Kartik month's Amavasya:- Kartik Amavasya holds great importance as it marks the celebration of Diwali across India with immense joy and enthusiasm. This is why its significance surpasses that of other Amavasya dates. According to mythology, on Kartik month's Amavasya, people light lamps in holy rivers, homes, temples, gardens, and other religious places, and donate food and clothing to the needy and helpless. By donating with faith and devotion, diseases, faults, and mental distress are alleviated, and all sins are destroyed. On this day, one should worship Goddess Lakshmi with complete devotion and adherence to rituals. Through proper worship, Goddess Lakshmi becomes pleased and bestows immense wealth, prosperity, and a happy life, fulfilling all desires. It is clearly stated in the scriptures that on this Amavasya date, one should worship cows by applying colors on their horns and other body parts, offering them grass and food. Serving cows in this way on this auspicious date destroys all sins and sorrows of the individual.

9. Margashirsha month's Amavasya:- Like every month's Amavasya, Margashirsha Amavasya also involves rituals such as performing ancestral rituals, offering Tarpan (offering water to ancestors), and charity. Through the worship and rituals conducted on this special day, peace is bestowed upon the souls of our ancestors, and their blessings are received. Observing fasts and performing Tarpan and other rituals for ancestors on Margashirsha month's Amavasya can appease all ancestors, hence Tarpan and Pindadan (offering food to ancestors) hold special significance on this day. Observing fasts on this day not only relieves mental anguish but also brings an end to ancestral afflictions and all obstacles in life, leading to happiness and prosperity.

10. Amavasya of Pausha month: - In the Puranas, the date of Amavasya is considered to be the favorite of the ancestors and the one that grants them salvation. Many religious rituals are also performed on this special date. On Amavasya Tithi, there is a tradition of bathing, chanting, penance, worship and donating to poor and helpless people. On this day, it is considered auspicious to perform Shraddha and offer prayers to ancestors along with bathing and donations. Along with this, it is considered best to worship Sun God and Lord Vishnu on this day. By chanting, meditating, and doing charity etc. on this death anniversary, one gets the blessings of ancestors and gods and one can also get rid of various serious health related problems and terrible defects like untimely death.

11. Amavasya of Magh month: - Amavasya of Krishna Paksha of Magh month is called Mauni Amavasya. There is a tradition of observing a fast of silence on this day. Being in the month of Magh, it is also called 'Maghi Amavasya'. Maghi Amavasya is considered very auspicious, taking bath, and donating silently on this day destroys all the disorders inside a person and develops self-confidence and the power to control the senses. Donation, bathing etc. have special significance on the day of Mauni Amavasya. Along with this, by offering offerings to the ancestors on this day, one receives their special blessings. It is believed that on this Amavasya date the first man Manu was born and in his name this Amavasya came to be called Mauni Amavasya.

12. Amavasya of Phalgun month: - During this last Amavasya, special importance has been given to charity, worship, chanting and penance. During Phalgun Amavasya, tarpan is also mainly done for the ancestors. Worshiping Shiva on Phalgun Amavasya is considered best because worshiping Lord Shiva is effective in preventing untimely death, fear, pain, and disease. By worshiping on this death anniversary, one gets relief from difficulties and complications. On this day, one should worship the Peepal tree and light an oil lamp under the Peepal tree, along with this, one should worship Shani Dev. According to the Puranas, performing Shraddha and charity on this date is more fruitful than Gaya.

13. Somvati Amavasya:- Amavasya occurs once in a month, but the one that falls on a Monday is called Somvati Amavasya. It occurs once or twice a year. Somvati Amavasya is dedicated to worshipping the peepal tree and Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Observing this fast is believed to bring the merit equivalent to donating a thousand cows. Married women perform puja to the peepal tree on this day. They encircle the peepal tree 108 times while tying a sacred thread or raw cotton thread around it. Observing this fast is believed to alleviate household troubles and eradicate sins. Married women pray for the longevity of their husbands.

Writer:- Ruchi Tewari

Related Amavasya topic-

• Mauni Amavas 
• Somvati Amavasya