Magha Purnima (Maghi Purnima) is the full moon day which is the last and most important day of the month of Magh. The famous Kumbh Mela (held every 12 years) and the Magha Mela (an annual event) takes place at Triveni Sangam (a confluence of three rivers) in Prayag or Allahabad during Magh month. Magha is one of the most sacred months because at the beginning of the month the sun sets on its northern path. Magh Purnima is regarded as auspicious because the Sun is in the Capricorn sign and the Moon in the Cancer Sign. Thus, taking the ritualistic bath can cure a person from all problems related to the Sun and the Moon.
A dip in the Ganga on this day holds high religious merit. Hindu devotees take a holy bath in the Ganga or Yamuna rivers every day of the month which begins from Paush Purnima and ends on Magha Purnima. Those who cannot make it to the sacred river can take a bath in any other stream, river, tank or pond which is regarded as holy and auspicious.
On this day, a number of bathing festivals are held on the banks of holy rivers like the Ganga, Jamuna, Kaveri, Krishna, Tapti, etc. People walk for miles and miles to be able to take a single holy dip in the river. A dip in the sea at Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram also has high religious value.
Bath in the Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is also regarded as equally auspicious. In Madras at Kumbhakamaon, there are shrines of Nageshwara and Sarangpani near which there is a large tank in which devotees can take a dip on this holy day. It is believed that the water of the sacred Ganga flows into this tank on this auspicious day.
Since it is believed that Gautam Buddha announced his impending death on this day, there is a special significance of this day in Buddhism as well. There are religious ceremonies held at Viharas, prayers are dedicated to the Buddha. Religious flags are hoisted on all the monasteries at dawn and sacred verses are chanted from the Tripitaka.
The 'float' festival is celebrated at Madurai in Tamil Nadu on Magh Purnima. The ornately decorated idols and images of Lord Sundeshwara and Meenakshi are mounted on the floats and are taken to Mariamman Teppakulam Sarovar which is a large sacred tank in Madurai. The procession is accompanied by music and chanting devotional songs.
On Magh Purnima, the devotees observe a fast, pay respects to ancestors, do charity by donating alms, cloths and food, donate cow and perform Homa(Havan) at Prayag and ask forgiveness for their sins.
This day is also good for prayers for Moksh of the ancestors. As stated in Brahmavaivartpurana, Lord Vishnu himself resides in the Ganga River during the month of Magh and therefore even a touch of this holy water can cure all sins and all diseases of a devotee.
Another legend states that Lord Vishnu resides in the Kshir Sagar during the Magh month and the Ganga River is a form of Kshir Sagar.
It is also believed that Rishi Vishwamitra also performed the holy bath in the Kumbh Mela in 2382 BCE on the day of Magh Purnima.
A bath on an auspicious day as a Purnima has high significance amongst believers since it is an act of purification. It is believed that bathing in the holy waters cleanses a person of all his sins and paves the way to salvation. It is also believed that a bath on Magh Purnima helps to cure diseases and other ailments as well. One should recite/chant ‘Om Namah Bhagvate Vasudevaya Namah’ while taking bath.
A dip in the Ganga on this day holds high religious merit. Hindu devotees take a holy bath in the Ganga or Yamuna rivers every day of the month which begins from Paush Purnima and ends on Magha Purnima. Those who cannot make it to the sacred river can take a bath in any other stream, river, tank or pond which is regarded as holy and auspicious.
On this day, a number of bathing festivals are held on the banks of holy rivers like the Ganga, Jamuna, Kaveri, Krishna, Tapti, etc. People walk for miles and miles to be able to take a single holy dip in the river. A dip in the sea at Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram also has high religious value.
Bath in the Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is also regarded as equally auspicious. In Madras at Kumbhakamaon, there are shrines of Nageshwara and Sarangpani near which there is a large tank in which devotees can take a dip on this holy day. It is believed that the water of the sacred Ganga flows into this tank on this auspicious day.
Since it is believed that Gautam Buddha announced his impending death on this day, there is a special significance of this day in Buddhism as well. There are religious ceremonies held at Viharas, prayers are dedicated to the Buddha. Religious flags are hoisted on all the monasteries at dawn and sacred verses are chanted from the Tripitaka.
The 'float' festival is celebrated at Madurai in Tamil Nadu on Magh Purnima. The ornately decorated idols and images of Lord Sundeshwara and Meenakshi are mounted on the floats and are taken to Mariamman Teppakulam Sarovar which is a large sacred tank in Madurai. The procession is accompanied by music and chanting devotional songs.
On Magh Purnima, the devotees observe a fast, pay respects to ancestors, do charity by donating alms, cloths and food, donate cow and perform Homa(Havan) at Prayag and ask forgiveness for their sins.
This day is also good for prayers for Moksh of the ancestors. As stated in Brahmavaivartpurana, Lord Vishnu himself resides in the Ganga River during the month of Magh and therefore even a touch of this holy water can cure all sins and all diseases of a devotee.
Another legend states that Lord Vishnu resides in the Kshir Sagar during the Magh month and the Ganga River is a form of Kshir Sagar.
It is also believed that Rishi Vishwamitra also performed the holy bath in the Kumbh Mela in 2382 BCE on the day of Magh Purnima.
A bath on an auspicious day as a Purnima has high significance amongst believers since it is an act of purification. It is believed that bathing in the holy waters cleanses a person of all his sins and paves the way to salvation. It is also believed that a bath on Magh Purnima helps to cure diseases and other ailments as well. One should recite/chant ‘Om Namah Bhagvate Vasudevaya Namah’ while taking bath.
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