ABOUT DHANURMASA

Piercing and shearing cold marks the transit of Sun into Sagittarius or Dhanus Rashi and that is why it is called Dhanur(s) Masa. The body refuses to get out of bed or even uncover itself from the comfort of the blanket, which is the first symptom of laziness. The body bends like a bow which is why it is called Dhanur Masa. The Rishis and Munis have therefore prescribed two important things for Dhanrmasa. One is performance of puja before sunrise and the other is consumption of Mudganna or Huggi after offering it to the Lord as Naivedya.

Dhanurmasa is the Ushahkala or the early hours of the morning for deities. When the Sun moves to Makara that marks the Uttarayana, it becomes daytime for deities. It is our bounden duty to perform puja before daybreak when it is also pre-daybreak for deities.

Mudga means green gram and a dish prepared with equal quantity of green gram and rice with spcies, prominently pepper, is called Mudganna. This is mandatorily the item to be offered as Naivedya during Dhanurmasa.

Anyone offering Mudganna to the Lord as Naivedya before sunrise during Dhanurmas attracts the Punya that is equivalent to the Punya secured through Puja offered for one thousand years.

KOdanDasThE savitari mudgAnnam yO nivEdayEt|

SahasravArShikee pUjA dinEnaikEna sidDhyati||AjnEya PurANa||

Points to remember:

Dhanurmasa puja performed at a time when stars are still glittering in the sky is highly meritorious; puja performed when no stars are seen is mediocre and that offered after sunrise is worse. However, puja performed in the noon or later is totally futile.

If Dhanurmsa Puja cannot offered for any reason, at least watching it being performed by others is meritorious or advisable. Puja can be watched after taking bath.

In unavoidable circumstances, Dhanurmasa puja can be performed first before sunrise and lather Sandhyavandana can be performed.

After performing Dhanurmasa puja, feeding Brahmin with Mudganna and consuming the same by self before sunrise is the correct or prescribed tradition.

The Vyateepata and VaiDhruti Yogas that occur during Dhanurmas are considered to be very sacred, auspicious and meritorious Parva Kala and certain special norms and tradition have been prescribed to be observed during that period.

Shall furnish details about Dhanurvyateepata and DhanurvaiDhruti in the next posting. SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT PLEASE