Holi - One of the most awaited festivals in India.
Holi the festival of colors is celebrated on Phalguna Purnima. Phalguna Purnima is the last Purnima of the Hindu Year (Samvatsar) and Holi the one of the most significant and popular Hindu festivals, observed during Phalguna Purnima. Phalguna Purnima is also known as Vasanta Purnima, as this Purnima coincides with Vasanta Ritu (six Ritus / seasons in Vedic astrology).
The day also coincides with Lakshmi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Lakshmi Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Ma Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi was born on Phalguna Purnima during the great churning of Kshir Sagara which is popularly known as Samudra Manthan.
It is significant to note that day of Phalguna Purnima mostly coincides with Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra. Hence the day of Uttara Phalguni is also associated with Lakshmi Jayanti. Lakshmi Jayanti is observed mainly in South India and it is less known in North Indian states.
The day of Lakshmi Jayanti is significant to appease the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. People perform Lakshmi Hawan on Lakshmi Jayanti. During Hawan Goddess Lakshmi Sahasranamavali (1008 names of Ma Lakshmi) and Shri Suktam are recited. To appease Mahalakshmi lotus flowers dipped in honey are used for Ahuti.
Mainly Holi festival is classified into two days, namely the Holika Dahan and the Duhlandi. In Northern states Purnima is observed as Holika Dahan but in In South Indian states, Phalguna Purnima is observed as Kama Dahanam.
The rituals of Kama Dahanam are same that of Holika Dahan but the legend associated with Kama Dahanam is different than legend of Holika Dahan.
Phalguna Purnima also coincides with the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
According to Hindu scriptures, Holika Dahan should be done during Pradosh Kaal (which starts after sunset) while Purnima Tithi is prevailing. During Bhadra, all the auspicious work should be avoided.
Muhurta for Holika Dahan is decided keeping two things in mind.
The first preference to get Holika Dahan Muhurta is during Pradosh while Purnima Tithi free from Bhadra is prevailing.
If Bhadra prevails during Pradosh but ends before Midnight then in that case Holika Dahan can be done after Bhadra is over.
If Bhadra is getting over after midnight then only Holika Dahan should be done in Bhadra and preferably during Bhadra Punchha. However, one should avoid Bhadra Mukha and in no condition Holika Dahan should be done in Bhadra Mukha.
Doing so brings bad luck for the whole year not only for individuals but for whole city and country. Many a times Bhadra Punchha is not available between Pradosh and midnight. In such situations one should do Holika Dahan during Pradosh.
In rare occasions when neither Pradosh nor Bhadra Punchha is available then one should do Holika Dahan after Pradosh.
In the Samvat 2074 (Year 2018)
Bhadra starts on 1 March at 08:58 AM & ends at 07:37PM
Bhadra Vasa - Mrityu (Earth) "Bhadra will prevail during first half of Purnima on March 1 and all auspicious work should be avoided during this period,"
Bhadra Punchha: 3:54 to 4:58 pm
Bhadra Mukha: 4:58 to 6:45 pm
It is advisable to do 'Holika Dahan' after 7:37pm. As "Ideally, the ritual should be done before midnight.
Muhurta for Holika Dahan - 6:37 pm to 8: 40 pm on Thursday 1 March.
Holi, on the other hand, is celebrated on the last full moon of the Hindu lunar month Phalguna. The festival is also known to be the harbinger of spring, fertility and vitality.
According to Indian mythology, Holi signifies the victory of good over evil and is tied to the story of Kumar Prahlad and Holika.
Dhulandi the main day, Holi, also known as धुलेंडी in Sanskrit, is celebrated next day after Holika Dahan.
RANG PANCHAMI
Five days after Holi on Panchami Tithi of Phalguna Hindu Festival of Rang Panchami is celebrated. The word ‘Rang’ signifies ‘color’ while ‘Panchami’ refers to the 5th day. Rang Panchami is symbolic of victory over ‘rajas-tamas’, which is the barrier to spiritual advancement.
It is actually celebrated by throwing the Gulal on each other on the dark fortnight of Phalguna. People widely know this month as the month of “Chet”. It is actually made so as to reduce the aura of the Rajas and Tamas. The bliss of the colors is actually believed to attract the five elements of nature which actually attracts the deities.
There is another perspective to Rang Panchami celebrations. The main objective of this festival is to activate the ‘Panch Tatva’ or the five elements that make up the universe. These five elements constitute of earth, light, water, sky and wind. It is considered that the human body is also made of these five elements. The festival of Ranga Panchami invokes these five basic elements that help to restore balance in life.
Holashtaka
Eight days from Phalguna Shukal Ashtami to Phalguna Purnima are celebrated as Holashtaka. The period of 8 days are considered inauspicious. Therefore, auspicious ceremonies like marriages, Namkaran, Griha Pravesha and many other rituals of 16 Hindu Sanskars are avoided during this period.
Moreover, with the onset of Holashtaka every day small sticks are gathered and collected at the place of Holika Dahan.
Mythologically, it is believed that Lord Shiva burnt Kamadeva on the first day of Holashtaka. This was done when Kamadeva tried to disturb the Lord Shiva’s penance.
During the period of Holashtaka, all the major planets are aligned in such a way that they (Navagraha like Surya, Chandra, Buddha, Guru, Mangal, Shani, Rahu and Shukra) undergo transformations.
Moon on Ashtami, Sun on Navami, Saturn on Dashami, Venus on Ekadashi, Jupiter on Dwadashi, Mercury on Triyodashi, Mars on Chaturdashi and Rahu on the Purnima takes a furious transformation. In 2018
23 February Ashtami Tithi - Chandra gets furious
24 February Navami Tithi Surya,
25 February Dashami Tithi Sani,
26 February Ekadashi Tithi Shukra,
27 February Dwadashi Tithi Guru,
28 February Triyodashi Buddha,
01 March Chaturdashi & Purnima - Mangal & Rahu
It is also believed that helping (offering something) the needy during Holashtaka is very rewarding for your personal well-being.
It is also believed that if someone dies during Holashtaka, then a ‘Shanti Kriya’ should be most definitely done before the incineration of their body.
Energy levels are at an all-time high during Holashtaka and the Sadhana (rituals) done during this time help attain wishes and goals like never before and that is the reason Holashtaka is very significant for the Tantric.
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#Jyotish_Gurukul,
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