HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS :1-1.

1. Chitra Purnima.


Part-1.


THE TWELVE months of the Hindu year, based on the lunar calendar, are named after that star during whose ascendency the full moon of that month occurs.

The full moon day of Chaitra month, that is, the Purnima during the ascendency of the Chitra star is particularly sacred to the Chitra Guptas, the recording angels of the Hindu pantheon.

A special worship is offered to these celestial representatives of the god of death, and an offering of spiced rice is prepared and later distributed as prasad or holy sacrament.

A fire worship is done at the close of the ritualistic worship.

By the performance of this religious observance annually, these angels of the other world are greatly pleased and judge man’s actions with more sympathy.


The psychological effect of this worship, done on the very first full moon day of every year (Chaitra is the first of the twelve months), is to vividly remind us of the higher power that maintains a constant watch over every act of ours on this earth-plane.

This memory serves as an invisible check on one’s conduct.

The conception of the Chitra Guptas as located within each shoulder is a powerful inducement to keep oneself engaged in constantly doing good actions only.


Swami Sivananda

To be continued  ....