🌼 Somvati Amavasya 🌼

🌼Somvati Amavasya 2024: Puja Vidhi 🌼

1. Wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath.
2. People are advised to go to religious places to take a holy bath in Ganga River.
3. Offer prayers to Lord Surya by offering him water.
4. Perform Jalabhishekam to Lord Shiva.
5. Those who are at home, they can prepare the sattvik food and invite the Brahmin or priest at home.
6. Perform Pitru Tarpan through a qualified Priest or Brahmin.
7. People can do the same thing near Ganga Ghat also where they can perform this procedure.
8. Organise a Gayatri Paath that helps to remove Pitru Dosha.
9. People must give clothes, food and Dakshina to Brahmins.
10. Chanting Mnatra related to Lord Surya, Lord Shani, Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman would be beneficial on thgis day as it will conincide with Surya Grahan.
11. In Indian customs and rituals, the Peepal tree is revered as a sacred tree. Women should tie a sacred thread around the tree’s trunk for 108 times. This way, a parikrama 108 times is done around the Peepal tree. 
12. Then, they should offer milk, flowers, sandal paste, and vermilion or sindoor to the tree.
13. Fasting is carried out for the whole day.
14. It is considered auspicious to donate things of white color or white food such as rice, curd, sugar, milk, etc. to the poor. 

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Somvati Amavasya Vrat Katha or Story

     There was a monk who used to stop by a moneylender’s home regularly. All the seven sons of the money-lender were married but not his daughter. The monk used to take alms from them and in return, he would bless all daughters-in-law to have a great marital life. But he never blessed the daughter about tying the marital knot and this saddened the girl and her mother. The anxious mother summoned a Pandit who could see the Kundali of the girl. The Pandit informed about the unfortunate Dosha wherein the girl could become a widow. To resolve this trouble, the daughter was asked to go to the island named Singhal where a washerwoman lived. 

     The girl was asked to fetch Sindoor from that woman, which needed to be applied on her forehead. Additionally, observing the Somvati Amavasya fast was also required in order to nullify the unfavorable Yoga from her horoscope. The youngest son went with her to the island, and they reached the seashore. But there was a sea to be crossed ahead. 

     Wondering how to cross the sea, they rested under a tree where a vulture lived with his female vulture and their babies. One fine day, when both male and female vultures had gone out to search food, a snake came near the babies. The girl and her brother saved the babies from that snake, after which the vulture duo offered help. They showed her a way to reach the washer woman’s house. The girl served the woman for months. The lady was pleased, and in return, applied vermilion or Sindoor on the girl’s forehead. The girl without drinking water left from there, and on her way back also observed the Somvati Amavasya fast. This way, her ill-fated Dosha got neutralized. 

     May the Lord bless you all with health, wealth, and prosperity. 

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Pithori Amavasya Vrat:

     Pithori Amavasya is observed on the day of No-moon day in the Bhadrapada (August-September) month, according to the Hindu calendar. The devotees worship Goddess Durga on this holy day. The fast on this Amavasya is observed by the married mothers for the prosperity and the health of their children. The meaning of ‘Pith’ is flour by which the name of the festival came into existence. 

     On the eve of Pithori Amavasya, the married women and primarily the mothers worship sixty-four goddesses for the wellbeing and long life of their children. In earlier times, the idols of 64 Goddesses were made with Pith (flour) and special meals were presented to them. On Pithori Amavasya, Ashtamatrukas and Saptamatrukas are also worshipped. 

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Kushagrahani Amavasya Vrat Katha:

     It was a long time ago. There were seven brothers in a family. Everyone was married. Everyone had little kids too. The wives of the seven brothers wanted to observe the fast of Pithouri Amavasya for the safety of the family. But the first year when the elder brother’s wife fasted, his son died. The next year another son died. The same thing happened in the seventh year. 

     Then this time the elder brother’s wife hid the body of her dead son somewhere. Maa Poleramma, the family goddess of the village, was guarding the villagers at that time. When he saw his mother this sad he wanted to know the reason. When the elder brother’s wife told him the whole story, Goddess Poleramma felt pity. 

     He asked the grieving mother to sprinkle turmeric on the places where her sons were cremated. Mother did just that. When she returned home, she was very happy to see her seven sons alive. Since then, every mother in the village started observing the fast of Pithouri Amavasya to wish long life to her children. 

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🌻Significance of keeping a vrat on Bhadrapada or Pithori Amavasya: 

     On this day, people buy, use, and store the sacred Kusha grass for performing the puja. The Kusha grass finds a mention in the holy texts and is deemed auspicious. Apart from having healing properties, the Kusha grass is also believed to be the abode of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. People often wear a twirled strand of the Kusha grass as a ring on their right ring finger. And mats made of Kusha grass are also used while performing puja or penance.  

     This grass is of great significance for performing the Shraadh, Tapanam and other Pitru Paksha rituals. And since the Kusha grass is an integral part of this Amavasya Tithi, it is also called Kushopatini Amavasya.  

     On this day, women pray to the 64 Yoginis for a child, and mothers worship the Goddesses for their children’s wellbeing. 

     Men perform the Shraadh rituals and pay obeisance to their deceased ancestors.  

     Last but not least, those who have Kal Sarpa Dosha also keep a fast on this day. 

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Somvati Amavasya Siddha Mantra:

Om Kula Devatabhyo Namah. 

Om Gram Devatabhyo Namah. 

Om Grah  Devatabhyo Namah. 

 Om Lakshmipati Devatabhyo Namah. 

 Om  Vighnavinashaka Devatabhyo Namah. 

 Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaaya. 

Om  Pitrabhya: Namah. 

Ayodhya Mathura Maya Kashi Kanchi Avantika. 
Puri Dwaravati Chaiva Saptaita Mokshadayika:॥ 

gaṅge ca yamune caiva godāvari sarasvati। 
narmade sindhu kāveri jale’smin saṃnidhiṃ kuru॥ 

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