Amavasya अमावस्या
About Amavasya
Amavasya is the new moon day — the darkest night of the Hindu lunar month — occurring once each month at the end of Krishna Paksha (waning phase). While often misunderstood as inauspicious, Amavasya holds profound spiritual significance as a day dedicated to ancestors (pitrs), introspection, and spiritual renewal. In Vedic tradition, the dark night of Amavasya is ideal for looking inward, as the absence of moonlight symbolizes the need to find inner light. It is the primary day for performing Pitru Tarpan (ancestral water offerings) and Shradh ceremonies. Some Amavasyas carry special significance: Mauni Amavasya (Magha) is for silent meditation, Somvati Amavasya (when it falls on Monday) is for married women's well-being, and Sarva Pitru Amavasya (in Pitru Paksha) is the most important for ancestor worship. Certain temples and spiritual practices are especially potent on this day.
अमावस्या नवचंद्र दिवस है — हिंदू चंद्र माह की सबसे अंधेरी रात — जो कृष्ण पक्ष (घटते चंद्रमा) के अंत में प्रत्येक माह एक बार आती है। प्रायः अशुभ समझी जाने वाली, अमावस्या का गहरा आध्यात्मिक महत्व है — पूर्वजों (पितरों), आत्मचिंतन और आध्यात्मिक नवीनीकरण को समर्पित दिन। वैदिक परंपरा में अमावस्या की अंधेरी रात भीतर देखने के लिए आदर्श है, क्योंकि चांदनी का अभाव आंतरिक प्रकाश खोजने की आवश्यकता का प्रतीक है। यह पितृ तर्पण और श्राद्ध संस्कारों का प्रमुख दिन है। कुछ अमावस्या विशेष महत्व रखती हैं: मौनी अमावस्या (माघ) मौन ध्यान के लिए, सोमवती अमावस्या (सोमवार को पड़ने पर) सुहागिनों की भलाई के लिए, और सर्व पितृ अमावस्या पूर्वज पूजन के लिए सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण है।
Spiritual Significance
Amavasya is the sacred new moon day dedicated to ancestor worship and inner reflection. The darkest night of the month symbolizes the opportunity to turn inward and connect with ancestral energies through tarpan and prayer.
अमावस्या पूर्वज पूजा और आत्मचिंतन को समर्पित पवित्र नवचंद्र दिवस है। माह की सबसे अंधेरी रात भीतर मुड़ने और तर्पण व प्रार्थना द्वारा पैतृक ऊर्जाओं से जुड़ने का अवसर प्रतीकित करती है।
Key Rituals & Practices
- Perform Pitru Tarpan — offer water with black sesame seeds to ancestors
- Light a mustard oil lamp (diya) to dispel darkness and honor ancestors
- Observe a fast or eat a simple sattvic meal
- Avoid starting new ventures or major purchases on this day
- Meditate or practice silent contemplation during the evening
- Donate food to the poor, especially cooked rice and dal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amavasya really inauspicious?
This is a common misconception. While Amavasya is not considered ideal for starting new ventures, marriages, or major purchases, it is far from inauspicious. In Vedic tradition, Amavasya is considered extremely powerful for ancestor worship (Pitru Tarpan), spiritual practices, meditation, and inner work. Certain Amavasyas like Mauni Amavasya and Diwali Amavasya are among the most sacred days of the year. Tantric practices, Shiva worship, and certain forms of Devi worship are considered especially potent on this day. The key is to honor the energy of darkness as a time for rest, reflection, and reconnection with roots.
What is Somvati Amavasya?
Somvati Amavasya occurs when the new moon (Amavasya) falls on a Monday (Somvar). This is a relatively rare occurrence (typically 1-2 times per year) and is considered highly auspicious, especially for married women who observe it for their husband's longevity and family well-being. Women traditionally bathe in a holy river, worship the Peepal (Bodhi) tree by circumambulating it with sacred thread, and observe a fast. It is also an important day for Pitru Tarpan. In astrology, the combination of the Moon's influence (Monday is the Moon's day) and the new moon creates a powerful alignment for emotional healing and ancestral connection.
Why is Pitru Tarpan performed on Amavasya?
Amavasya is the primary day for Pitru Tarpan because, in Vedic cosmology, the dark moon period is when the boundary between the world of the living and the Pitru Loka (ancestral realm) is thinnest. The absence of moonlight creates a subtle energy field that facilitates communication with departed souls. Water offerings mixed with black sesame seeds are believed to nourish and bring peace to ancestors who may still have unfulfilled karmic connections. Regular tarpan is considered a sacred duty (dharma) that benefits both the ancestors and the living family by maintaining a harmonious connection across generations.
Festival Details
- Category
- Lunar Observance
- Regions
- All India
- Calendar Basis
- Monthly Recurring
- Importance
- normal