Pūrṇimā () is the word for
full moon
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°). This means ...
in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
. The day of Purnima is the day (''
Tithi
In Vedic timekeeping, a ''tithi'' is a uration of two faces of moon that is observed from earth known as ''milа̄lyа̄'' (𑐩𑐶𑐮𑐵𑐮𑑂𑐫𑐵𑑅, मिलाल्याः) in Nepal Bhasa, or the time it takes for the longi ...
'') in each month when the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two lunar
fortnight
A fortnight is a unit of time equal to 14 days (two weeks). The word derives from the Old English term , meaning "" (or "fourteen days," since the Anglo-Saxons counted by nights).
Astronomy and tides
In astronomy, a ''lunar fortnight'' is ha ...
s (
paksha), and the Moon is aligned exactly in a straight line, called a
syzygy, with the Sun and Earth. Full moon is considered the third of the four primary phases of the Moon; the other three phases are
new moon, first quarter moon, and third quarter moon. The full moon shows 100% illumination, causes high
tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon (and to a much lesser extent, the Sun) and are also caused by the Earth and Moon orbiting one another.
Tide tables ...
s, and can concur with
lunar eclipses.
Festivals
The following festivals occur on Purnima. When the Manava Purana (one of Upa Purana) narrated The festivals of full moon days.
*
Kartik Poornima, is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of
Kartik. It is also called
Tripura
Tripura (, Bengali: ) is a state in Northeast India. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a population of 36.71 lakh ( 3.67 million). It is bordered by Assam and Mizoram to the ea ...
Purnima.
*
Shravan Poornima
Raksha Bandhan Quote: m Hindi ''rakśābandhan'' held on the full moon of the month of Savan, when sisters tie a talisman (rakhi q.v.) on the arm of their brothers and receive small gifts of money from them. is a popular and traditionally Hin ...
, is the full moon day in
Shravan
Shravana Kumara () is a character mentioned in the ancient Hindu text ''Ramayana.'' He is best known for his filial piety towards his parents. He was killed accidentally by Prince Dasharatha.
Life
Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and Gyanva ...
. This day has a
number of different names.
Hayagriva
Hayagriva, also spelled Hayagreeva ( sa, हयग्रीव IAST , ), is a Hindu deity, the horse-headed avatar of Vishnu. The purpose of this incarnation was to slay a danava also named Hayagriva (A descendant of Kashyapa and Danu), wh ...
Jayanti and
Gayatri
Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, IAST:Gāyatrī) is the personified form of the Gayatri Mantra, a popular hymn from Vedic texts. She is also known as Savitri, and bears the epithet of ''Vedamata'' (mother of the Vedas). Gayatri is ofte ...
jayanti is also celebrated on Shravana Purnima. It is also known as
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan Quote: m Hindi ''rakśābandhan'' held on the full moon of the month of Savan, when sisters tie a talisman (rakhi q.v.) on the arm of their brothers and receive small gifts of money from them. is a popular and traditionally Hin ...
*
Vat Purnima
Vat Purnima (, , also called ''Vat Savitri'' Vrat) is a Hindu celebration observed by married women in Nepal, North India and in the Western Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Kumaon, Gujarat. On this Purnima (full moon) during the three days of ...
is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of
Jyeshta
Jyeshtha or Jyēṣṭha ( sa, ज्येष्ठ; ne, जेठ ''jēṭ''; as, জেঠ ''zeth''; or, ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ''Jyeṣṭha'') is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Jyestha is the third mon ...
. Women pray for their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree (''Vat'') on this day. It honors Savitri, the legendary wife of Satyavan who escaped death for her husband's life. It is the chosen day for worshipping
Yama
Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...
deva
* Guru Purnima, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru, on the full moon day of Ashadha. This is well known as Vyasa Purnima (Sanskrit. व्यास) after the birthday of Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata who is declared as the guru of all in the Shiva Purana.
Guru Pournima
/ref>
* Sharad Purnima or Kojagiri purnima, the Autumn Harvest Festival, on the full moon day of Ashvin (month), Ashvina.
* Buddha Purnima, the day of birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, on the full moon day of Vaishakha. Kurma Jayanti is also celebrated on the day.
* Holi/Panguni Uthiram, Phalgun Purnima, the Spring Festival of Colours in Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism, the full moon day in Phalgun.
* Datta Jayanti, Dattātreya Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Margashira.
* Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon of the lunar month Chaitra. However, this is celebrated on different days in different states. While Orissa celebrates this as Vaisakha Sankranti, Andhra Pradesh celebrates Vaisakha shukla paksha dashami, Kerala celebrates it in a previous month Margashira Amavasya coinciding with Mula (nakshatra), Mula Nakshatra. Chitra Pournami (festival), Chaitra Purnima is the chosen day for donation of rice to please Sri Chandra Deva, Moon god.
* Shakambhari Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Pausha
* Pitru Paksha, Shraddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Bhaadra. On this day Uma Maheswara Vrata as well as Shakra Vrata where Indra is worshiped for children .well-being.
*
References
External links
Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (PDF)
{{HinduFestivals
Observances held on the full moon
Hindu calendar
Days of the Hindu calendar