Introduction
Pournami in Sanskrit refers to the Full Moon Day. This day denotes the Full Moon day in each month and demarcates the two Lunar Paksha (phases) of the month. On this day, the Moon aligns in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth. The Full Moon offers complete illumination and causes high tides. According to the Hindu religion, Pournami is one of the Thithis of auspicious nights. The Moon has feminine power, and the bright day defines auspiciousness.
Pournami concurs with lunar eclipses. The Pournami Vrat and the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja are conducted on the Full Moon day and should be one day before the Pournami Thithi. The Full Moon day is very auspicious for Goddesses. People offer worship and seek their blessings.
The Goddesses have the power of the Moon that illustrates the power of the mind. The Moon is tranquil, and its radiance reflects beauty. Pournami is also called Poornima.
Pournami Dates in 2020
January 10, 2020, Friday
Pausha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 02:34, Jan 10
Ends – 00:50, Jan 11
February 9, 2020, Sunday
Magha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 16:01, Feb 08
Ends – 13:02, Feb 09
March 9, 2020, Monday
Phalguna, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 03:03, Mar 09
Ends – 23:17, Mar 09
April 7, 2020, Tuesday
Chaitra, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 12:01, Apr 07
Ends – 08:04, Apr 08
April 8, 2020, Wednesday
Chaitra, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 12:01, Apr 07
Ends – 08:04, Apr 08
May 7, 2020, Thursday
Vaishakha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 19:44, May 06
Ends – 16:14, May 07
June 5, 2020, Friday
Jyeshtha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 03:15, Jun 05
Ends – 00:41, Jun 06
July 4, 2020, Saturday
Ashadha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 11:33, Jul 04
Ends – 10:13, Jul 05
July 5, 2020, Sunday
Ashadha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 11:33, Jul 04
Ends – 10:13, Jul 05
August 3, 2020, Monday
Shravana, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 21:28, Aug 02
Ends – 21:28, Aug 03
September 1, 2020, Tuesday
Bhadrapada, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 09:38, Sep 01
Ends – 10:51, Sep 02
September 2, 2020, Wednesday
Bhadrapada, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 09:38, Sep 01
Ends – 10:51, Sep 02
October 1, 2020, Thursday
Ashwina Shukla Adhika Purnima
Begins – 00:25, Oct 01
Ends – 02:34, Oct 02
October 31, 2020, Saturday
Ashwina, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 17:45, Oct 30
Ends – 20:18, Oct 31
November 29, 2020, Sunday
Kartika, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 12:47, Nov 29
Ends – 14:59, Nov 30
November 30, 2020, Monday
Kartika, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 12:47, Nov 29
Ends – 14:59, Nov 30
December 29, 2020, Tuesday
Margashirsha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 07:54, Dec 29
Ends – 08:57, Dec 30
December 30, 2020, Wednesday
Margashirsha, Shukla Purnima
Begins – 07:54, Dec 29
Ends – 08:57, Dec 30
Rituals of Pournami
Pournami is considered auspicious for Shiva and Vishnu, and people offer worship to the Gods. People observe the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja at home. The Vrat (fast) begins early in the morning during the Brahma Muhurtham (4.00 A.M. to 6.00 A.M.) and ends after the Moon is sighted. People also take dips in sacred rivers before sunrise.
At night, people offer prayers to Chandra Deva. During the Full Moon day, devotees observe a partial fast of milk, fruits, water, and juices. While keeping the Pournami Vrat, they abstain from the intake of wheat, grains, pulses, rock salt, and rice.
On the day of Pournami, people worship Vishnu as he is the Preserver of the universe, and perform the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. They worship Ganesha before the Pooja, as he is the Param Poojya Devata. After completing the Pournami Vrat, people take Prasad (sacred offering) and eat light food, after watching and praying to the Full Moon. People visit Vishnu temples and offer prayers. One important ritual is the Maha Mrityunjaya Homam, where they chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra for conquering death. People perform the Homam to invoke Vishnu and other Gods.
Belief of Pournami
People believe that those born on Pournami day are considerably more intelligent than people born on other days. Such people have more attractive personalities. On the day of Pournami, it is vital to chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and receive the blessings of Shiva.
Celebration of Pournami
People across the country celebrate Pournami or Poornima and offer worship to Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations). People observe the Pournami Vrat, and in South India, they dedicate the day to Goddess Gayatri. They perform special poojas and chant the Gayatri Mantra across temples and homes.
Significance of Pournami
The Moon completes one cycle around Earth and returns to the original position on Full Moon day (Pournami). Human beings similarly close old chapters and initiate fresh, new beginnings. They shed wrong-doings and evil. People pray to Vishnu to end their misery and difficulties.
Pournami coincides with twelve special occasions and festivals over a year. On a Full Moon day, the Moon illuminates the earth in full glory and removes darkness. Myth has it that several gods were born on this day.
Curse: Waxing and Waning of Moon
According to mythology, there are several stories associated with the waxing and waning of the Moon. The Moon loses and gains illumination through the course of a month. Myth has it that Chandra Deva once approached King Daksha to marry his 27 daughters, the Nakshatras (stars). He promised King Daksha that he would treat them all equally, without favoring anyone. But he broke his promise and started spending more time with Rohini. When he came to know of this, Daksha cursed Chandra Deva and made him dark. The Moon God performed severe penance and worshipped Shiva, who mitigated the curse to some extent. Hence, the Moon continues to wax and wane, and on Pournami, he regains full glory.
Benefits of Pournami
People perform the Pournami Vrat and the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja that brings good health, happiness, and prosperity to their life. People conduct the Pournami Katha Pooja before or after marriage, on purchase of property, or any substantial achievement. People perform the Pooja to thank God and gain sustenance.
People gain mental peace and physical wellness after performing Pournami Pooja. On Full Moon day, people pray selflessly to Vishnu, and they receive God’s blessings. The Full Moon is considered a symbol of fullness, abundance, and prosperity. According to the Vedas, the change in the Moon phases has effects on the human body, like behavioral changes. When one observes the Pournami Vrat, these changes lessen. People attain blessings for good health, prosperity, and divinity under the auspices of the Full Moon.
Festivals Celebrated on Pournami
Devotees observe the Satyanarayana Vrat Pooja on all Full Moon days. They follow the Kartik Poornima on the Full Moon day of Kartik. It is also called Tripura Poornima. People observe Shravan Poornima in the month of Shravan. People celebrate Raksha Bandhan on this day. They celebrate Hayagriva Jayanti on Shravan Poornima. It is also called Narali Poornima.
Women celebrate Vat Poornima on the Full Moon Day in the month of Jyeshtha. Wives tie a sacred thread around the Vat (Banyan) tree on this day and honor Savitri, the wife of Satyavan, who prayed for her husband’s escape from death. People worship Yama, God of Death. On the Full Moon called Guru Poornima, devotees worship the Full Moon. They call this day Vyasa Poornima.
People celebrate the festivals of Holi, Buddha Poornima, Holi, Dattatreya Jayanti, and Sharad Poornima, the autumn harvest festival.
People celebrate Hanuman Jayanti on the Full Moon day in the month of Chaitra. The month of Pausha marks Shakambhari Poornima. People celebrate the Maghi Poornima, also called the Magha Poornima, the Full Moon day in the month of Magh. The Kumbh Mela is held just once in twelve years during this auspicious period.
