Phalguna Purnima 2023: Date, Time, Pooja Vidhi, Vrat Katha and Significance

On February 22, 2023

Full Moon day is called Purnima, Poornima, and Poornamasi in Hinduism. It is a very spiritual day for Hindus. Poornima days are also believed to be very lucky days. Many people observe a fast and worship Vishnu on this day. Phalguna Purnima 2023 falls in the first week of March.

Let us know more about Phalguna Purnima, its significance, and Vrat katha.

Phalguna Purnima occurs in Phalguna, the final month of the year, at the end of the Shukla Paksha (waxing lunar fortnight). Another name for it is Vasanta Purnima, which is one of the six Vedic astrological seasons. It falls on the same day as Vasanta Ritu. Hindus celebrate this Purnima as Kama Dahanam in states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, all in South India.

The ceremonies related to Kama Dahanam are similar to those for Holika Dahan. But the mythology behind Kama Dahanam is different. In Tamil Nadu, it is called Kaman Pandigai, and as Kamuni Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Holi is more of a North Indian festival.

Phalguna Purnima 2023 Date & Time

Holashtak concludes on Phalgun Purnima, and it also marks the beginning of the two-day Holi festival. Holika Dahan falls on this day. There are usually 12 Purnima days in a year. Each has its own significance. Many Hindus observe Purnima Vrat, hoping for wish fulfillment. Phalguna Purnima 2023 falls on Tuesday, March 7.

Purnima Tithi Begins: 04:20 pm on Mar 06, 2023 Purnima Tithi Ends: 06:13 pm on Mar 07, 2023

Importance of Phalguna Purnima

As it’s the last day of the year, this Purnima has a lot of significance. On this day, Hindus celebrate Holika Dahan. The Moon is believed to have a great impact on earth on this day. Fasting on this day and worshipping the Moon and Vishnu can supposedly absolve one’s sins.

Lakshmi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Goddess Lakshmi, who bestows wealth, fortune, and abundance, is also on the same day.

How to Observe Phalguna Purnima Vrat?

On every Purnima, the fasting and ritual customs are more or less the same. But there may be some minor differences. On Phalguna Purnima, the following rituals should be observed before the fast.

Worship Krishna with devotion.

Bathe in a sacred river, lake, or pond early in the morning before making a fasting commitment.

Fast from daybreak to moonrise and worship the Moon at night.

Donate cash or kind to the needy.

Gather firewood and cakes made from cow dung (Narada Purana). After the havan, set Holika on fire by stacking some wood.

Perform the rituals for worshipping the Moon. Chant the Chandra Mantra when you complete the Pooja. This can bestow happiness and mental peace.

Worship Shiva and offer Jal Abishekam to Shiva Linga.

Worshipping Goddess Parvati on this day is also auspicious.

Mythology behind Phalguna Purnima

The Vishnu Purana describes the story behind Phalguna Purnima.

King Hiranyakashyap was the ruler of the realm of demons during the Satya Yuga. Due to his evil actions, everyone on earth had to endure much suffering. After performing severe penance, Hiranyakashyap asked Brahma for a boon. Brahma gave him a boon which made him near invincible. Thanks to the boon, no god, demon, man, woman, animal, or bird could harm him during the day or night, and he could not be killed by any weapon within or outside his palace. Soon, he began to feel as if he were immortal. He ordered everyone to stop worshipping Vishnu and, instead, begin worshipping him. Those who refused were put to death.

However, Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap’s own son, continued to worship Vishnu as he was a staunch devotee of the god. Hiranyakashyap was furious and decided to kill Prahlad. He made many attempts, but Prahlad was not deterred by them. Finally, one day, when Hiranyakashyap tried to kill Prahlad himself when all other attempts had failed, he told him to call on Vishnu for help. Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha (half-man and half-lion) and emerged from a pillar. He took this form to kill Hiranyakashyap without violating Brahma’s boon.

Narasimha was not fully human, animal, or a God. The hour of the demon’s death was twilight, hence neither day nor night, and Narasimha killed him with his nails, which were not weapons. Hiranyakashyap was also killed on the palace threshold, which was neither inside nor outside. So, people worship Vishnu as well as Narasimha on Phalgun Purnima.

Holika Dahan on Phalguna Purnima

Hiranyankashyap tried to kill Prahlad in many ways. He pushed him off a peak (now Dikoli Parvat), tried to have an elephant trample him, and imprisoned him in a cage full of snakes. But, Vishnu saved Prahlad each time. Hiranyakashyap then sought the help of his sister, Holika.

Holika got a boon that made her immune to fire. Hiranyakashyap told her to sit on a pile of blazing wood with Prahlad on her lap. But it was Holika who burned to death while Prahlad survived.

Holika Dahan Pooja

On the day of Holika Dahan, a Pooja is performed for auspiciousness. The Pooja vidhi follows below:

Gather some firewood and dry cow manure in an open area.

Place some rice, henna, kumkum, turmeric, flowers, gulal, lachha cotton, a lotus, a coconut, roli, wheat grains, and garlands on a dish and offer it to Holika.

Set fire to the wood and cow dung. Pray to Holika’s spirit for peace and happiness.

Chant the following Mantra:

“Om Nrisimhaye vidmahe vajranakhaya dhimahi tan no simhah Prachodayat Vajra nakhaya vidmahe tikshna damstraya dhimahi tan no narasimhah Prachodayat”

Do Aarti and circle the fire 3, 5, or 7 times, carrying vessels of water. Empty the vessels after the last round.

Make the kids also circle the fire and get the blessings of the elders.

Tags

Related Topics

• Guru Purnima 2024
• Sri Garuda Panchami 2024
• Significance of Ashadha Gupt Navaratri
• Procedure for Ashadha Navratri Pooja

Share the Blog Post