Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram is a popular festival celebrated by Hindus in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India and other parts of the world where Tamilians reside. It is celebrated on a full moon day (Purnima) in what is known as the Tamil month of Panguni, in March or April.

The festival is dedicated to Lord Muruga, also known as Kartikeya or Subramanya, who is regarded as the God of War and Victory in Hindu mythology. As per legend, on this day, Lord Muruga got hitched to Devasena, the daughter of Indra, the King of Gods.

Date and Muhurtam of Panguni Uthiram

The festival of Panguni Uthiram in 2023 will be celebrated on a full moon day. As the auspicious day coincides with Uttara Palguni or Uthiram star in the twelfth month of Phalgun or the Hindu Panchang. The Panguni Uthiram date includes.

Panguni Uthiram on Monday, March 25, 2024

Uthiram Nakshathram Begins - 07:34 AM on Mar 24, 2024
Uthiram Nakshathram Ends - 10:38 AM on Mar 25, 2024

History Of Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram has been celebrated for years in Tamil Nadu, and it has a great cultural and religious impact on the people of Tamil Nadu. As per Hindu mythology, this day marks the auspicious occasion when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Lord Murugan, Goddess Deivayanai, Lord Rama, and Goddess Sita are bound together in holy matrimony.

This is the day when Mahalakshmi emerged from the ocean full of milk. It is said that on Panguni Uthiram, all the sacred waters combine at Thumburu theertham in the holy place of Tirupathi Tirumalai.

Significance Of The Panguni Uthiram

The festival holds key social significance, as it is a time for families and friends to gather together and celebrate the joyous occasion. People exchange gifts and sweets, and there are processions and cultural events held in many parts of Tamil Nadu.

The festival is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of Panguni, which usually falls in March or April. During this Hindu festival, people participate in the festival in different parts of India, performing fasts and performing various rituals and ceremonies to honor divine marriages. Devotees flock to the Murugan temples to offer their prayers and seek blessings from Lord Murugan and Goddess Deivayanai. They also practice other rituals including shaving the head and inserting needles (ALAKUs) into their bodies.

Story Of The Panguni Uthiram

While there are different variations in the stories surrounding Lord Ayyappa's birth and role in defeating the demon Mahishi, the enduring truth is that Lord Ayyappa is a venerable being who is worshipped by devotees with great devotion.

On the day of Panguni Uthiram, people in different states of India, including Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. On this day, unmarried men and women keep fast to get their dream partner. The puja is also beneficial for married couples if they want a child. Even, in ancient times, Hindu Gods and Goddesses observed this fast to seek their dream life partner.

After completing the Kalyana Vrata and the rituals of the day, Lord Vishnu married Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Brahma married Goddess Saraswati, Agastya married Lobhamudra and Indra Dev married Indrani.

Rituals Of Panguni Uthiram

There are some key rituals and customs associated with Panguni Uthiram, which honors Lord Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Here are the rituals that devotees observe on the day of the festival.

• Visiting Lord Murugan Temples: Devotees visit the temples of Lord Murugan on this day and offer their prayers and seek his divine blessings. The idols of God are first cleaned and the deity is decorated with flowers and fragrances.
• Pad Yatra: Men go on Pad Yatra, or a foot pilgrimage to the temples of Lord Murugan, and cover a total of 100 kilometers within a spate of three to four days. Women also travel barefoot and offer buttermilk and food to the pilgrims to signify their devotion.
• Kavadis: Devotees offer Kavadis to Lord Murugan to pay homage to divinity. Kavadis are bamboo poles that they carry on their shoulders, along with other puja stuff including milk, sacred water, and flowers.
• Thirukalyanam: The ten-day celebration of Panguni also celebrates the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, also known as Thirukalyanam.
• Ayyappan Jayanti: Ayyappan Jayanti is celebrated in Ayyappa temples situated across Tamilnadu and Kerala.
• Kalyan Vrata: Devotees begin their fast on this auspicious day after bathing in the early morning. Either they would completely abstain from any kind of meal or they would have one meal. They also visit the nearby temples to worship the deities, Lord Muruga, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu.
• Prasadam: A special sweet dish is prepared for Lord Shiva, which is distributed around Prasadam among the devotees. Devotees eat Prasadam and share it with other family members.

Thiruvananai Temple – The Seat Of Celebrations

In the Thiruvanani temple, the Panguni Uthiram is celebrated in spring with a lot of fanfare. During the celebrations, devotees perform rituals and seek the Lord's blessings. The celebrations are marked by colorful processions, traditional music, and dance performances. The temple is decorated with flowers, lights, and other festive decorations, creating a beautiful and joyful atmosphere.

At the temples, the main deities Lord Murugan and Devayanai are carried in a golden palanquin. Special poojas are also held at Tuticorin's Thiruchendur Murugan temple and Murugan temple at Solaimalai in Madurai.

Significance to couples on Panguni Uthiram

It is said that Parvati and Shiva, Andal and Ranganath, Devasena and Murugan, and Sita and Rama, celebrate this day as their wedding date. Many temples in South India such as the Murugan Temple of Palani, Aiyyappa temple of Sabarimala in Kerala, Mangaleshwara temple in Trichy, and conduct the ritual of divine marriage.

Significance to Business and Property on Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram is believed to be an extremely auspicious, divine, and powerful day. However, the month is all about divine activities, and social activities including marriage, purchase of property, or house-warming ceremonies are not performed during the auspicious month of Panguni Uthiram.Overall, the Ayyappa Jayanti is a key festival for devotees of Lord Ayyappa, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness at temples all over India.