Mauni Amavasya | Mauna Amavasya

Amavasya of Magh Month, Chollangi Amavasya, Darsh Amavasya

Meaning of Mauni Amavasya

Mauni is derived from the Sanskrit word Mauna which means silence. A person who practices silence is known as a Mauni. Amavasya is the no moon day of the month.

When is Mauni Amvasya

Mauni Amavasya is observed on the No Moon day of the Magh month as per the Brihaspati Mana or North Indian Calendar. The Magh month for the year 2013 is the Paush month as per the Lunar calendar.

Legends of Mauni Amavasya

It is believed that the Manu Rishi had appeared on the Mauni Amavasya day.

It is also believed that it is on Mauni Amavasya that the world was created.

Significance of Mauni Amavasya

Agh is a Sanskrit word which means “Sin” and Ma + Agh is Magh means the one that can destroy or cleanse the sin. Therefore Magh is a month on which one can cleanse his sins. On the day of Mauni Amavasya the Sun and the Moon are present in the Zodiac sign of Capricorn which would give the highest spiritual merit.

Mauni Amavasya and Kumbh Mela

Mauni Amavasya is the most auspicious day of the Kumbh Mela and all the devotees would desire to take bath in the Sangam near Allahabad. The Triveni Sangam is the point where the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati would meet. These are belived to represent the three Nadis of the human body known as Ida, Pingala and Sushmna. A balance of these three would help to reach the state of Nirvana or Samadhi. To state this people are advised to take a dip in the holy Triveni Sangam.

Shahi Snan

The bathing on the below days is considered as Shahi Snan or the Royal Bath

The bathing on the Mauni Amavasya.

The bathing on Basanth Panchami

The bathing is special to the Akhadas hailing from Varanasi, Junagadh, Nasik and Ayodhya. Out of all the Akhadas only 13 are allowed for Shahi Snan in reverence to the role played by the Sadhus of  these Akhadas in fighting the invaders. The Akhadas would take a dip in the river according to a order of precedence that was prepared 200 years ago by the British empire.

Rituals on the day of Mauni Amavasya

Devotees would observe complete silence on Mauni Amavasya and would not speak.

Devotees would take a dip in the early hours of the day in the Triveni Sangam.

Devotees would try to meditate the whole day of Mauni Amavasya

Few devotees would observe a fast on Mauni Amavasya

Significance of Silence

Being silent without talking is the first step towards spirituality which would lead to the silence of the mind, where there would not be any thoughts. A silence mind is a peace mind which every Sadhak would try to achieve and called Samadhi.

Other Names Of Mauni Amavasya

Mauni Amavasya is famous with the name of Chollangi Amavasya in Andhra Pradesh.

Mauni Amavasya is also known as Darsh Amavasya in some parts of India.