Mauni Amavasya is also called Mauna Amavasya. As per the Hindu calendar, it occurs in Magha. However, as per the Gregorian calendar, you shall see Mauni Amavasya 2023 will be in January. But, sometimes, you may see the occasion in February too.
The word Mauni or Mauna signifies silence. Hence on this chosen day, most Hindus observe a fast of complete silence. As per mythology, people celebrate this day as the birthday of sage Manu and practice Maun Vrat to attain the quality of perfect speech. Moreover, this day is very auspicious for doing penance and praying for forgiveness from God. However, trying to avoid doing any particular work on this day directly protects people from the negative energies around them.
The Hindu calendar specifies Mauni Amavasya 2023 in the middle of the Magha month. Hence, it is also called Maghi Amavasya. Devotees often vow to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges throughout the month of Magha to attain salvation and forgiveness of their sins.
Bathing in the holy water begins on Pausha Purnima and ends on Magha Purnima. On Mauni Amavasya, the water of the Ganges helps anyone who drinks and takes a bath in it attain enlightenment.
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As per the Hindu calendar 2023, Mauni Amavasya will begin on January 21, 2023, at 06:17 AM and end on January 22 at 02:22 PM.
Another important ritual associated with this day is Ganga Snan. This practice of taking a holy bath is very prominent. The Kumbh Mela and Magh Mela are ideal for the occasion. In north India, especially in Prayagraj, it is a vital event as people bathe in the Ganga. The event is known as Kumbh Parv or the day of Amrit Yoga. In Andhra Pradesh, Mauni Amavasya, people celebrate this day as Cholangi Amavasya. Darsha Amavasya is another popular name in other regions of India.
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In Hinduism, the practice of silence or Mauna is an integral part of spiritual discipline. The word mauni comes from another Hindi word muni, meaning sanyasi (saint), one who is silent. Hence the word Mauna aptly signifies achieving unity with the Self.
In ancient times, the famous Hindu guru Adi Shankaracharya described Mauna as one of the three main qualities of a saint. In modern times, Ramana Maharshi, a Hindu guru, preached the practice of silence for spiritual attainment. For him, silence is more powerful than thought or speech. It connects the person to himself. One should practice Mauni Amavasya to calm the restless mind.
Taking a dip in the holy water is also very important to Hindu followers. According to Hindu scriptures, the water in the holy river Ganga becomes nectar on the auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya. So, devotees from far and wide take a bath in Ganga on this day. The entire Magh month from Paush Purnima to Magh Purnima is ideal for bathing. But the most important is the day of Mauni Amavasya.
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The most famous story about Mauni Amavasya is of Brahmin Devaswami. Once upon a time, a Brahmin named Devaswami lived in Kanchipuram with his wife Dhanavati, his sons, and a virtuous daughter. All his sons were married. He had an unmarried daughter fit for marriage. So, he started searching for a suitable match for his daughter.
Further, he sent his eldest son with his daughter’s horoscope to search for a suitable match in the city. Her son showed his sister’s horoscope to an expert astrologer. He predicted the girl would become a widow after marriage.
When Devaswami heard about his daughter’s fate, he became worried and asked the astrologer for a remedy. The astrologer suggested requesting Soma, a washerwoman in Sinhal Dweep, to perform a special puja. He said, “if the woman agrees to complete the puja at your home, your daughter’s horoscope defect will vanish.” Devaswami went to Soma’s house by crossing the ocean. When he became tired, hungry, and thirsty, he thought of resting under the banyan tree.
A family of vultures lived on the same tree. The vulture asked Devaswami about his problem and the whole story. Consequently, the vulture then assured him to help him reach Soma’s house by guiding him throughout the journey. Devaswami brought Soma to his home and asked him to perform puja (worship) with all the rituals.
After worship, his daughter Gunavati married a suitable groom. Despite this, her husband died. Soma, being a compassionate woman, donated her good deeds to Gunavati. Her husband got his life back, and Soma returned to Sinhaldweep. As she donated all her virtuous deeds to Gunavati, her husband, her son, and her son-in-law died. Soma went through deep sorrow.
She started worshipping Lord Vishnu by sitting under a Peepal tree on the bank of the river. She circumambulated the Peepal tree 108 times. Pleased by her sincere worship, Lord Vishnu brought her husband, son, and son-in-law back to life. Since then, the fast of Mauni Amavasya is observed.
According to the scriptures, take a bath in the holy river on Mauni Amavasya. It multiplies the virtuous results. This day has more religious importance. Bathing in the holy river on the day of Mauni Amavasya, sacrificing water, and donating it in the name of our ancestors, gives ancestors peace. One who fasts on the day of Mauni Amavasya should donate money, clothes, cow, land, gold, grains, sesame, and other deary things.
Teej and festivals coming into Indian culture have a deep connection with astrology. The importance of Mauni Amavasya is related to religion as well as astrology. Vedic astrology says the convergence of the Moon and the Sun Capricorn in the month of Magha is ideal for Mauni Amavasya.
On the day of Mauni Amavasya, the importance of this day becomes more. The effect of the combined energy of both the Moon and Sun makes it happen. Capricorn is the tenth sign of the zodiac, and the Sun is strong in the tenth house of the horoscope.
In astrology, the Sun is the factor of father and religion. So, the union of the Sun and the Moon in Capricorn is the festival of Mauni Amavasya. Hence, the donation made on this day gives many times more benefits to the donor.
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