Agrahayana
AgrahÄyaṇa or MÄrgaśīrá¹£a,[1] (Hindi: अगहन - agahana; मारà¥à¤—शीरà¥à¤· - MÄrgaÅ›irá¹£a) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, AgrahÄyaṇa is the ninth month of the year, beginning on 22 November and ending on 21 December. Since Vedic times, this month is known as MÄrgaśīrá¹£a after the Naká¹£atra (asterisms) Má¹›gaÅ›iras. In Tamil, the month is known as Maarkazhi.
The word AgrahÄyaṇa means the month of Ayana or Equinox (agra=first + ayana = travel of the sun, equinox). The aligning of this name with the Má¹›gaÅ›iras Naká¹£atra (lambda orionis), gives rise to speculation that this name was given when the sun was near Orion at the time of vernal equinox, i.e. around 7000 years ago.
In lunar religious calendars, AgrahÄyaṇa may begin on either the new moon or the full moon around the same time of year, and is usually the 9th month of the year.
In solar religious calendars, AgrahÄyaṇa/Maarkazhi begins with the Sun's entry into Sagittarius, and is usually the 9th month of the year.
In the Vaiṣṇava calendar, Keśava governs this month.
Festivals
Vaikuṇá¹ha EkÄdaśī, the EkÄdaśī (i.e. 11th lunar day) of this MÄrgaśīṣa month, is celebrated also as Moká¹£adÄ EkÄdaśī. The 10th Canto, 22nd Chapter of BhÄgavata PurÄṇa, mentions young marriageable daughters (gopis) of the cowherd men of Gokula, worshiping Goddess KÄtyÄyanÄ« and taking a vrata or vow, during the entire month of MÄrgaśīṣa, the first month of the winter season (ÅšiÅ›ira), to get ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa as their husband.[2]
Bhairava Ashtami falls on Kṛṣṇa Paká¹£a Aá¹£á¹amÄ« of this month of MÄrgaśīṣa. On this day it is said that Lord Åšiva appeared on earth in the fierce manifestation (avatÄra) as ÅšrÄ« KÄlabhairava. This day is commemorated with special prayers and rituals.
In tamilnadu during this month of "marghaazi" ladies make "koolams" or "rangoli" early in the morning during 4 - 5 o' clock.
[3]
Śukla Pakṣa | Kṛṣṇa Pakṣa |
---|---|
1. Pratipat | 1. Pratipat |
2. Dvitīya | 2. Dvitīya |
3. Tṛtīya | 3. Tṛtīya |
4. Caturthī | 4. Caturthī |
5. Pañcamī | 5. Pañcamī |
6. á¹¢aá¹£á¹hÄ« | 6. á¹¢aá¹£á¹hÄ« |
7. Saptamī | 7. Saptamī |
8. Aá¹£á¹amÄ« | 8. Aá¹£á¹amÄ« |
9. Navamī | 9. Navamī |
10.Daśamī | 10.Daśamī |
11.EkÄdaśī | 11.EkÄdaśī |
12.DvÄdaśī | 12.DvÄdaśī |
13.Trayodaśī | 13.Trayodaśī |
14.Caturdaśī | 14.Caturdaśī |
15.PÅ«rṇimÄ | 15.AmÄvÄsya |
See also
References
- ↑ Hindu Calendar
- ↑ ÅšrÄ« KÄtyÄyanÄ« Vrata Story Bhagavat PurÄṇa 10th Canto 22nd Chapter.
- ↑ Dr. Bhojraj Dwivedi (2006). Religious Basis Of Hindu Beliefs. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 172. ISBN 8128812394.
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