Panguni Uthiram festival 2023: Skanda Purana mentions eight maha Vrats, of which Panguni Uthiram or Meena Uttara Phalguni is one. Observing a fast on this day is known as “Kalyanam Vrat,” according to mythology. Panguni’s full moon day is known as Panguni Uthiram in Tamil. Primarily, this day is celebrated with great joy by Tamilians. The Panguni month coincides with the Phalgun and Chaitra months of the Hindu calendar. Typically, this festival is observed when the full Moon rises in the sky at the end of March. The Moon enters Uttara-Phalguna or Uthiram Nakshatra on this date. (in Tamil). Panguni will be the final month of the Tamil Calendar, as the Tamil New Year begins the following month.
Panguni Uthiram History
When Uthiram Nakshatra coincides with the full moon, Tamil Hindus attach special significance to it. This day is believed to be more special than Lord Muruga and Lord Indra’s daughter Deivanai’s wedding day. Panguni Uthiram is celebrated for the wedding of Lord Muruga. Iravat, Lord Indra’s white elephant, raised Devasena. Another story, similar to Jayantipura Mahatmya, describes the wedding of Lord Muruga and his wives Deivanai and Valli. (as seen in his illustration in the temples.)
Sisters Deivanai and Valli were destined to marry Lord Muruga. They were raised as Amrutha Valli and Sundaravalli sisters. They were later reborn as Devasena and Valli. And they were subsequently adopted by two separate individuals and separated from one another. Lord Indra adopted one daughter, while another was raised by a tribal king. When Muruga slew the demons, he was destined to execute Lord Indra, whose daughter Deivanai he had married. Later, with the assistance of his brother, Lord Ganapati, he married Valli and brought her to Thiruthani.
On this full moon day, additional divine weddings between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati took place. Since then, it has been observed as the Jayanti of Lord Ayyappan at the Tirupati Tirumala pilgrimage site.
Holy Wednesday 2023: Date, History, Facts, Importance and How To Celebrate
Why Is the Panguni Uthiram Festival Important?
Panguni Uthiram is the day that teaches us the value of human connections. Without relationships, it is impossible to have a stable family life, which is essential for the development of children and the next generation. It is regarded as a sign from the god for a man and a woman to enter into the sacred bond of marriage and initiate the Grihastha for procreation.
Panguni Uthiram 2023 Date and Timings
Panguni Uthiram Date:
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Timings:
Panguni Uthiram Nakshathram Begins: April 04, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Panguni Uthiram Nakshathram Ends : April 05, 2023 at 01:53 pm
Astrological Significance Of Panguni Uthiram
Panguni Uthiram is celebrated on the day of the full moon. The full moon transits the Uttara-phalguni constellation. As the day of the full moon coincides with the Uttara Palguni or Uthiram star in the Hindu calendar’s twelfth month, known as Phalgun. This day is considered fortunate. The majority of astrologers favour Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra for marriage muhurat. Venus rules Uttara phalguni, so couples who marry on this day can expect marital bliss and peace.
Temples are used for wedding ceremonies.
According to legend, Parvati and Shiva, Devasena and Murugan, Andal and Ranganath, and Sita and Rama celebrate their weddings on this day. In fact, Goddess Mahalakshmi is also reborn from the ocean of milk on Earth. Numerous South Indian temples, including the Aiyyappa temple of Sabarimala in Kerala, the Murugan Temple of Palani, the Mangaleshwara temple of Trichy, and many others, perform the ritual of divine marriage. It is a 10-day festival in the temples of Thiruparangundram, Mylapore in Chennai, and Palani.
Panguni Uthiram Rituals
- On this day, devotees visit the temples of Lord Murugan. They clean the God idol and decorate it with fragrant flowers.
- Men who observe Pad Yatra (foot pilgrimage) to Lord Murugan’s temples cover approximately 100 kilometres in three to four days. Women distribute buttermilk and food to pilgrims.
- Kavadis (Bamboo poles) are presented to Lord Muruga by devotees who carry them on their shoulders along with pots of milk, holy water, and flowers to pay homage to the lord.
- The ten-day celebration of the Panguni festival in Mylapore, Chennai, culminates with the celestial wedding known as Thirukalyanam on the day of the full moon. Ayyappan Jayanti is observed in the Ayyappa temples of Tamilnadu and Kerala.
- On this day, devotees observe Kalyan Vrata and begin their fast immediately following an early morning bath. Then, they refrain from eating or consume only one meal per day. During the fast, devotees also visit nearby temples to worship and seek the blessings of Lord Muruga, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu.
- As a sacrifice to Lord Shiva, a special sweet dish (Prasadam) is prepared. At the conclusion of the fast, devotees also consume prasad and distribute it to family members.
Obtain Lord Shiva’s favour by performing a live Rudrabhishekam Puja.
