Masi Magam 2023: Date & Time, Significance, Story behind Masi Magam Celebration

Masi Magam 2023 is being celebrated on Monday, 6th March 2023. Check story behing Masi Magam, its significance and Magam nakshatra timing.

Masi Magam is an important Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Tamil Nadu. This festival is celebrated annually during the Magam nakshatra of Tamil month Masi. On the occasion of Masi Magam, there is a tradition of taking tip in holy rivers as it is believed that by doing this, all the sins and bad karma of a person are eliminated and they can also attain salvation after death. Once in twelve years, when Jupiter enters the Simha or Leo constellation, Masi Magham is celebrated as Maha Magham. Masi Magam is also celebrated as a day of receiving blessings from the ancestors by taking a dip in the water. Apart from Tamil Nadu, this festivals is also observed in places with large population of Tamil-Hindus. Complete details related to Masi Magam 2023 such as date and time, story, significance, etc can be found in this article.

Masi Magam 2023 Overview

Masi Magam 2023 Date

Masi Magam is celebrated on Purnima of Masi month when the Magam nakshatra coincides with the full moon. The date Masi Magam is calculated according to the Tamil calendar and falls in the month of February or March in the Gregorian calendar. In the year 2023, Masi Magam is being observed on 6th of March.

Story behind Masi Magam Celebration

According to the Hindu legends, there are many stories related to the festival of Masi Magam. One such legend mentions a time when Brahma learned about Shiva’s plan to recreate the universe after its destruction. Lord Brahma requested Lord Shiva to began the recreation from Kumbakonam (a sacred temple city in Tamil Nadu state). Shiva asked Lord Brahma to fill a pot called as kumbha with amrit and the source energy to recreate the world and place it at the top of Mount Meru. The pot was found on the Purnima of Masi month (Masi Magam) and the recreation of universe began from Kumbakonam.

Another story of Masi Magam is related to King Vallala of Thiruvannamalai, who was a devotee of Lord Shiva. The king had no children and therefore he requested Lord Shiva to perform his last rites after his death. It was the day of Masi Magam when the king died and as promised, Lord Shiva performed his last rites on the river side and provided him salvation. Lord Shiva also announced that if anyone takes a dip in holy rivers on the day of Masi Magam, he will attain salvation and be free from the cycle of life and death. It is believed that every year on the day of Masi Magam, Lord Shiva visits the river side and performs the last rites of king Vallala.

Significance of Masi Magam

Taking a dip in holy rivers on the occasion of Masi Magam is believed remove all the sins and effect of the bad karma of a person accumulated in seven births. Since the festival is associated with the recreation of the universe, it is also considered the best day to begin new things and brings new hopes, eliminating all the negativity from person’s life.

Masi Magam Celebration

Masi Magam is celebrated with high pomp and joy by the devotees and has many rituals and traditions related to it. On the day of Masi Magam, devotees gather near holy water bodies and take a dip in the water to remove the sins of present and past life. Dipping in holy water is also believed to remove Pitra Dosh by earning the blessings of the ancestors. Idols of deities are taken from their temples to river side or sea side and are offered a ceremonial bath.

This ritual is known as Theerthavari and is joined by thousands of devotees who carry the idols to the seashore and offer them a bath. The ritual is performed early in the morning and is accompanied by recitation of prayers, chanting of mantras, etc. Many other pujas are also performed on the occasion of Masi Magam in which Gaja-Pooja where elephant is worshiped and Ashwa pooja where horse is worshiped are highly prominent.

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