What is Masi Magham
One of Hinduism’s most important festivals, Masi Magham is held in the Tamil month of Masi, which falls between February and March on the Gregorian calendar. Every year, Masi Magham takes place. Masi Magham is celebrated as Maha Magham every twelve years when Jupiter enters the Simha or Leo constellation. One of the twenty-seven stars, or Nakshatras, is Magham. The cleansing ceremony that people perform on this day to purge themselves of their sins is associated with this festival. During the festival, it is believed that bathing in holy waters or rivers will bring salvation. This is well-known not only throughout Tamil Nadu, but also in the numerous locations where Tamil-Hindus have settled.
Mythology of Masi Magham
The legend of Masi Magham is interesting. It is believed that the world will be destroyed by Armageddon every four Yugas, and the planet has experienced numerous such apocalypses. After that, a new world would be created from scratch. The Creator, Lord Brahma, once learned about Lord Shiva’s plan to rebuild the universe after it had been destroyed. Following that, Lord Brahma sought Lord Shiva’s direction. In order to recreate the world, Lord Shiva asked Lord Brahma to fill a Kumbha (pot) with Amrit (an elixir) and the source energy and set it atop Mount Meru. He was asked by Lord Brahma to begin his work of re-creation from the sacred city of Kumbakonam in southern India. The pot was discovered here on a Magha star day in Masi month.
The history of King Vallala of Thiruvannamalai, a fervent devotee of Lord Shiva, is another fascinating aspect of Masi Magham’s connection to this spiritual practice. It reveals how to invoke Lord Shiva, release painful karma, and reclaim your life. King Vallala prayed to Lord Shiva to carry out his final rites because he did not have a child. The king died on the day of Masi Magham, and Lord Shiva performed his final rites in accordance with the promise. He also said that anyone who takes a bath in the sea on Masi Magham will get “Moksha.” According to popular belief, Lord Shiva visits the coast each year to carry out the final rites of the king Vallala.
A group of saints once displayed extreme arrogance. They had a lot of power, started to ignore the Gods, and were not doing what they were supposed to do for the people. Lord Shiva assumed the form of a beggar in order to impart wisdom to the saints. He was misidentified by the saints, who mistook him for a devil. Additionally, the Saints sent an insane elephant to attack Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva saw this, tore the elephant, and he dressed in the elephant’s skin. The historical event that took place on the day of Masi Magham is referred to as “Gaja Samhara.”
Significance of Masi Magham
The throne, the symbol of the Magha star, represents royalty and the consciousness it inspires. The Moon transits Magha, which is ruled by Ketu, and is in Leo. Additionally, the conjunction of the Sun and Moon, the King and Queen of the Planets, with the Leo sign is ideal for enhancing prosperity, fame, royal blessings, and establishing lofty life objectives. The conjunction of the planets on this day also aids in the elimination of negative ego and the development of leadership and decision-making abilities.
Rituals of Masi Magham
The ritual bath that the deities take in the waters of “Theerthavari,” or the Bay of Bengal, is the main part of the celebration. In the early morning, devotees would congregate near the coast to pray. On this day, the deities’ idols in the temple get a ceremonial bath near the water and are carried in a procession. Here, thousands of people gather for this auspicious occasion for poojas and rituals that are celebrated with utmost piety. The Gaja-Pooja to honor the elephant and the Ashwa-Pooja to honor the horse stand out among them.