SOMVATI AMAVASYA - IMPORTANCE AND LEGEND ASSOCIATED WITH IT
Somvati Amavasi, or Somavati Amavasya, is no moon day that falls on a Monday (Somvar) in traditional Hindu calendar. In 2015, Somvati Amavasya date is on October 12, 2015 (Monday).It is considered a highly auspicious day and millions of people take a holy dip in sacred Rivers like Ganga and Yamuna on the day. If someone is not able to perform Shraddha on all Tithis then single Shraddha (for all) on this day is enough to appease all deceased souls in the family. If death anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraddhas can be performed on this Tithi. That's why Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya. Also Mahalaya Shraddha for those who died on Purnima Tithi is also done on Amavasya Shraddha Tithi and not on Bhadrapada Purnima.
Married men and women also perform different pujas and rituals and also undertake Somavara Amavasya Vrat.
Though Amavasya occurs every month, Hindus believe it to be most auspicious when it occurs on a Monday. Married women on this day should observe fast on this day for the long life of her husband. Women who want a good match for them should also keep this fast. They should worship Lord Shiva and offer milk and milk mixed water to Shiv Linga. This day is also very auspicious for performing Pitra Tarpan (offering to the ancestors) as it provides peace to their souls. People suffering from Pitra Dosha should also observe this fast as it frees them from this dosha. It is believed that observing this helps us get rid of all the sorrows and problems. People who are suffering problems in their life as well as profession should observe this fast. If they cannot fast at least they should do the things advised below for getting happiness in their life.
The significance of Somvati Amavasya was narrated to Yudhisthira by Bhishma Pitamaha in the epic Mahabharata. It is believed that we can bring peace to our ancestor’s soul by taking a Holy Dip on this day in the sacred River Ganga. Also, the Holy Dip wears away all our sorrows and helps us progress and prosper. The Peepal tree is considered as a sacred tree as per the Indian traditions and on the auspicious day of Somvati Amavasya women tie a sacred thread around its trunk for 108 times. Parikrama around the tree is performed for 108 times and it is offered with milk, sandal paste, flowers and vermillion. Devotees sit under the Peepal tree and chant Mantras to please the Almighty.
Legend associated with Somvati Amavasya
Once upon a time there lived a money lender who had seven sons and one daughter. He married all his sons but could not find a suitable match for his daughter. A monk visited their house regularly and blessed the money lender’s daughters-in-law but never blessed the daughter. The daughter told her mother about this and she confronted the monk with this question. The monk did reply and left quietly. This really worried the mother and she called a Pandit.
The Pandit told her that her daughter was destined to become a widow. The girl’s mother asked the Pandit for a solution to the problem. He told them that there was a washerwoman who lived on the island of Singhal. If that woman agrees to apply vermilion (Sindoor) on the forehead of the girl, her fate will change. The Pandit also told them that observing fast of Somvati Amavasya will also be instrumental in reversing her fate.
The mother sent her daughter and her youngest son to that island. On their way to the island they came across sea shore and wondered how to cross it. Sitting under a tree they saw a vulture’s nest. A male and female vulture lived there with their babies. One day when both vultures had gone out of their nest to fetch some food, a snake entered their nest and attacked the babies. All this was being witnessed by the girl who was sitting there. She immediately jumped to help the vulture babies and saved them from the attack.
When the vultures returned they were really pleased to know what had just happened. As a token of their gratitude they helped the girl to reach the washer woman’s house. After reaching her destination she started living with the washer woman. After a few months the woman was really pleased with the girl and applied vermilion (Sindoor) on her forehead. While returning back to her house she also observed Somvati Amavasya. This reversed her fate and then she lived a happy married life with her husband.
Special Importance of Somvati Amavasya for Pitra Dosha Shanti
Somvati Amavasya is a special day for getting rid of Pitra dosha in your horoscope. I would advise you to consult a good astrologer for knowing specific remedies pertaining to their horoscope. Until then you can do the following remedy for solution of Pitra Dosha.Crows and the ‘Peepal tree’ are the symbols of forefather. So, you must offer water to the “Peepal tree” on this day. You can offer sweet water, sweets (white) or kheer and Janeu to the Peepal tree on this day and recite the Mantra `OM NAMOH BHAGWATE VASUDEWAY’. Circumambulate the Peepal tree 108 times and then apologize to God for your known and unknown sins.Giving bread to the crows also gives a lot of benefit on this day.
According to the “Shastra” our forefathers come to our house on “Amavasya”, so every person must donate according to his or her capability. Keeping food under the “Babool tree” makes our Forefathers happy.
On every Amavasya we must give five fruits to the cow. No matter what religion you are following, after preparing food you must offer the first bite to a cow in the name of our forefather, so that the family could be blessed by them.
What to do on Somvati Amavasya/Spiritual Significance of this day
Apart from above remedies for Pitra Dosha you can also do the following on Somvati Amavasya:You can donate food to poor kids.
Fast on this day and worship Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu
Doing Maun (remaining silent) is considered to be very fruitful on this day.
Devotees observing Somvati Vrat must revolve around 108 times around Peepal tree in the morning.
You should chant Lord Shani Mantra “Om Nilaanjana Samaabhasam, Ravi Putram Yamagrajam. Chaya Martanda Samhubhutam, Tama Namami Shanescharam.”
Worship of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu on this day would eliminate all your sufferings.
Taking bath in the holy rivers (Like Ganga and Triveni) on Somvati Amavasya is considered to bring prosperity, make you free from diseases, grief and sorrow and help the ancestors to attain salvation.
You can also do parikrama (circumbalate) Basil tree (Tulsi tree) 108 times. It results in elimination of poverty.
You can offer 11 (Eleven) Abhimantrit Gomti Chakra on Shiv Linga on this day to grab favorable opportunities in profession. For getting Abhimantrit and Energised Gomti Chakra, you can contact Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC) by visiting lalkitabastro.comI wish all of you a very happy Somvati Amavasya 2015
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
lalkitabastro.com
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