Masi Magham
Masi Magam is a major Hindu festival falling in the Tamil month, Masi. The month overlaps a few days with February and March Gregorian months. The Masi Magam festival is widely celebrated by the Tamil-speaking Hindus with great pomp and vigor.
Usually, in the Masi month, the Magham star falls during Full Moon Day / Pournami, but that is not always the case; the Magham star might also fall on a non-full moon day of Masi month. The Makam star is also spelled as Magam and Magham.
On Masi Magam, the processional idols of the temples are taken to the seashore, pond, or lake, given a ceremonial bath, and taken back to the temple as a procession. Many devotees follow the processional idol and take a dip after the ceremonial bath of the deities is over.
It is believed that the act of taking a dip in the holy water body this day will absolve a person of their sins.
The legend of Masi Magham
As per the Hindu lore, the Masi Magham festival goes back to the days of the creation of the Universe. Once the whole creation perished and Brahma, the creator, set on to create the worlds afresh. However, during the process of recreating the Universe, Brahma forgot the creation process and prayed to Lord Shiva.
Moved by Brahma’s prayers, Shiva appeared before him and promised to help him in the task of creation. So Brahma requested Shiva to commence the process of creation.
Shiva asked Brahma to fill the elixir (Amrit) and the seeds of creation inside a pot (Kumbh), seal it, and place it on MountMeru, a sacred mountain. The Kumbh fell into the river and washed ashore at Kumbakonam. On a Magha star day falling in the Tamil month of Masi, Shiva took the form of a hunter and shot an arrow on the Kumbh filled with Amrit.
Hit by the arrow, the pot burst, and the Amrit and the seeds of creation were released, and the creation process commenced successfully.
The Importance of Masi Magham
Masi Magham is one of the significant Full Moon days of the year. It will happen only once a year and signifies the descent of heavenly beings to the earth.
Masi Magam represents abundance, and prosperity provides an excellent opportunity to obtain positive power and energy. Therefore, it is a perfect time to get rid of your petty ego and be immersed in the grace of the Almighty.
How is Masi Magham celebrated
On Masi Magham, the temple’s processional idols are decorated and taken to the seashore or ponds for the holy bath ritual. Processions from various temples converge at sea with the idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The idols of Goddess Parvathi also reach the seashore.
The priests perform special pujas, and other rituals are performed to the idols at the seashore. Thousands of devotees gather at the seashore to have a darshan of the Gods and offer their prayers.
As per traditional rituals and customs, the Idols are given a dip in the sea, pond, or lake. The Idols of gods and goddesses of the Temples reach the water bodies in a big procession.
After the holy dip ritual of the deities is over, the devotees take a dip in the water body as it is believed that the sacred waters where the Gods had their dip will wash away all the sins.
Masi Magham 2022
This year (2022), Masi Magam falls on Feb 16 (Wednesday). The exact time of the festival is below.
Magam Nakshathram Begins – 03:14 PM on Feb 16, 2022
Magam Nakshathram Ends – 04:11 PM on Feb 17, 2022
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