Masi Maham, or Maasi Magam, is an auspicious day in the Tamil month of Masi (February – March). In 2012, the date of Masi Magam is March 7. It is an important day and annual festival for Tamilians around the world. Makam, Mahm or Makam, is one among the twenty seven stars (Nakshatras) in the Hindu astrological system. A major ritual on the day is the bathing of Temple Idols in sea, pond or lake.
Idols of gods and goddess that are worshipped in Temples are carried in a procession to sea shores, rivers or ponds. Pujas and rituals are held here and thousands of people gather to witness the auspicious event.
It is believed that those who take bath in the seas or rivers or ponds on the Masi Magam will attain Moksha.
Once in twelve years, Masi Magam attains special significance and then it is known as Maha Maham.
The reason for observing Masi Magam varies from region to region and sometimes even from temple to temple.
The day is of great significance in Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Srirangam and in numerous other shrines associated with Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti in South India and in those regions around the world which has Tamil speaking population.
Masi Magam comes in the Tamil month of Masi (February – March),which is a very auspiceous day. It is a very important day and Tamilians around the world celebrate this festival. Magam,is one among the twenty seven stars (Nakshatras) in the Hindu astrological system called constellation.It is one of the most favorable times for spiritual purification.
This day is one of the most powerful Full Moons of the full year,sonce the moon aligns with Magha which is the birth Star of the Kings and Ancestors. This coincidence only occurs only once a year and signifies the descent of heavenly beings to the earth plane.The divine beings appear in the astral form to purify their own karma as well as the karma of the human race.
Masi Magam combines the benefits of abundance and prosperity associated with the Full Moon and the majestic quality of the Magha star,offering an unique opportunity to gain power and energy.Masi Magam is the most appropriate time to destroy our ego and surrender ourselves at the feet of the divine.
Rituals
The main feature of the festival is the ritual bath given to the deities in the waters of 'Theerthavari' or Bay of Bengal.Early in the morning, a big colorful procession of devotees with the deities is organised from the temple to the sea shore,with the accompaniment of the auspicious Nadhaswaram,a non-brass acoustic South Indian instrumentTemple idols, especially those of Lord Shiva, Shakti, and Lord Vishnu, are given a ceremonial bath in the waters of Theerthavari.
As per the traditional ritual,the temple Idols are given bath in the sea, pond or lake.Idols of gods and goddess those are worshipped in the Temples are carried in a big procession to sea shores, rivers or ponds. Poojas and rituals are held here and thousands of people participate in this auspicious event.In some temples Gaja-pooja(elephant worship) and Ahwa pooja(horse) is also performed to bring riches and happiness for the devotees.
Thousands of devotees attent this holy ritualistic procession.The devotees also take bath in the sea with the belief that the holy waters washes away all the sins.The festival of Masi Magam gives very colorful and divine look to the view at the sea shore.
It is strongly believed that those taking bath in the seas or rivers or ponds on the Masi Magam day attain Moksha.The reason for observing Masi Magam varies from region to region and sometimes even from temple to temple.There are numerous myths related to Masi Magham and each temple may use a different myth.Once in twelve years, Masi Magam attains special significance and then it is known as Maha Maham.
The day is of great significance in Pondicherry, Kumbakonam, Srirangam and in numerous other shrines associated with Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti in South India and in the other parts of the world having Tamil speaking people
Once in twelve years the Masi Magam attains even more significance and then Maha Maham is held. Apart from the full moon, during the Maha Maham there is the movement of Jupiter into Leo (singha rasi.) Maha Maham is of great importance at the Adi Kumbeswaran temple in Kumbakonam.There is sacred teerth (tank) here which is called Maha Maham
Legend
As per the Legend, King Vallala of Tiruvannamalai,was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.Once Lord Shiva appeared as a child before him.The king had no child and Lord Shiva promised to perform his last rituals.The king died on a Masi Magam day and as per the promise, Lord Shiva performed his last rites.Lord Shiva further blessed the king by saying that whoever takes a bath in the sea during Masi Magam will get ‘Moksha.’ It is believed that every year the Lord Shiva visits the sea to perform the last rites of the king Vallala.
In ancient times, there was a group of saints who were arrogant of their power and began to ignore the Gods because as they gained surplus knowledge and their egos grew very large.The saints were over confident that they can guide human beings and no longer needed the blessings of the Gods.The angry Lord Shiva wanted to teach a lesson to the saints and took the form of a haggard beggar.The saints did not recognize his disguise and assumed that he was some devil who had arrived to kill human beings.
The saints started to misuse their power and mantras and attacked Shiva with various forms of deadly animals,culminating in the form of a mad elephant.As the elephant took a stance to attack Lord Shiva,he immediately disappeared from there.On seeing this Parvati was tensed up and she was worried that the entire world will come to an end with the disappearance of Lord Shiva.The elephant, however, was no match for Shiva.Shiva killed the elephant and emerged by wearing the elephant's skin as the garment. This is known as"Gaja Samhara".Soon the saints came to know their mistake and apologised Lord Shiva to forgive them.
Significance of Masi Magam 2012 – March 7
Masi Magam, an auspicious and important festival, celebrated in a special manner by the people of Tamil Nadu falls on March 7th, 2012. Masi Magam marks one of the most powerful Full Moons of the year when the Full Moon aligns with the star Magha (”Regulus”) in the sign of Leo. This alignment occurs only once a year and facilitates the descent or visit of heavenly beings to the earth plane.
Significance of Masi Magam
Masi Magam falls in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb – Mar) and is an event of great significance, as your karmic baggage gets reduced to a great extent on this auspicious day. It is considered that the divine beings come in their astral forms to purify both their own karma and the karma of the human race. Not only do divine beings come, but also as Magha is ruled by the ancestors, you can receive assistance from your departed relatives on this day.
Masi Magam 2012 is a great occasion to get rid of the negative effects of karma in you. Devotees can take this excellent opportunity to purify their karma with the blessings of the almighty and to get encircled by the rays of positive energy of the divine power!
Get Encircled By Positive Energy
Masi Magam 2012 – What’s Special?
On Masi Magam 2012, there is a strong line up from the other planets; Sun, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. Moreover, Lord Sun, Mars and Moon are amplified in a Raja Yoga configuration. Jupiter is forming a beneficial Trine, infusing wisdom, kindness and generosity. Saturn is strongly placed too. All these make the most powerful planetary waves creating opportunities for profound personal revolution on Masi Magam.
Get Blessings of Ancestors on Masi Magam
At the Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam, the energies of the Temple and the Temple Tank become increased with the Magha Full Moon influences. The waters of the holiest rivers mix to energize this “Holy Dip”. Gods and Goddesses, Rishis, Siddhas, other Celestials and even our Ancestors in the ethereal form are said to congregate at the Kumbakonam sacred temple tank for the annual bathing occasion to become re-energized. This ancient spot is considered to be the origin of the human species!
Purify Your Karma Through The Holy Water Dip Ritual
On the auspicious day of Masi Magam 2012, idols of deities are taken from their holy sanctums in a procession for a holy dip in the river. Offering prayers and taking bath in holy rivers like Ganges, Cauvery and others is believed to be a holy ritual to wash away the karma in oneself.
People have the practice of taking the holy bath in the wells of Kumbakonam – Maha Maham temple tank, to eliminate the heaviest of their karmic baggage on Masi Magam. It also presents a unique opportunity to receive karmic intervention from the heavenly beings and ancestors.
Water: The Medium the Universe Uses to Communicate With Us
Our cells contain 75 to 90% water. The cells have the ability to store and share information in particular photons called bio-photons. They are the weak electromagnetic waves in the visible range of the light spectrum that our cells emit to control vital processes.
DNA lies in the center of every living cell and is surrounded by water. It contains instructions on how the cell should behave and replicate in the form of light or energy via the surrounding water.
The energy from our DNA gradually expands out from the center of the cell, spreading throughout the whole body via the water in our bodies. It extends beyond our physical bodies to the Auric or Biophysical field due to the water molecules in the air around us. This is how, with the help of water, we and our energy field, interact and communicate with everything around us.
Ponder This...The water in the Kumbakkonam Tank is said to be a mixture of water from the Sacred Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sarayu, Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Kaveri. The water has been held as sacred and holy for thousands and thousands of year through their very means of creation and by prayers and rituals of people since their beginnings. No matter their physical purity do to pollution etc, metaphysically or spiritually they are pure and highly, Divinely charged.
