ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 8: Phalguna Shukla Paksha Festival
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
A Festival was celebrated in Kashmira during the first half of the Phalguna Month. By the evening of the first day, the whole of Kashmira would come alive with decorations and illuminations all over, new clothes, new ornaments, good food with sweets / savouries etc and all the persons experienced joy and satisfaction irrespective of their social standing. By the evening, earthen lamps would be lit up and kept on ice slabs near houses, temples, markets etc. After a day long fast, the nights would be devoted to Celebrations by way of excellent meals, night long dances and music enjoyed by men, women and children. The next day as also on the other days of the Festival, gifts are given to Brahmanas, family members, relatives, friends, craftsmen, service providers to one’s own homes etc. On the Pournima night, pujas would be performed to Chandra Deva and Aryama / Surya Deva followed by night-long sessions of group singings and dances, and merry-making.
These festivities would in fact continue till the fifth of the Krishna Paksha of the month, as that day signified the first menstruation of Kashmira Kanya. For the next three days, there would be no offerings of flowers, incense, scent materials and even milk. On the eighth day of the Krishna Phalguni, Kashmira would be bathed, worn new dresses and ornaments and provided healthy food along with special preparations of cow’s milk and triangular-shaped preparation of rice called ‘mudga’ which should be distributed to one and all while the sonorous instrument of ‘Tantri’ would be played to indicate that the Kanya was getting ready with decorations. But this special function would be performed only by women; however men would organise Agni homas to propitiate the Kashmira Kanya. There would be ‘Daanaas’/donations and good meals to Brahmanas and close relatives and friends in this connection.
As this phase of Kashmira Kanya would be over, that would be the time for Kashmira’s conception to bear a child and that propitious time would be the symbolic commencement of sowing seeds on Earth by way of preparation of the crops. The specific time and day of the initiation of farming should be fixed by the astrologers:
Diney Daivajna nirdhushtey Kshetram krutwaa krutwaasuhudbhutah sahrudhrutah, Pujyayet Pruthivem Deveem Goyugam Surabhim hayam/
Baladevam Mahadevam Vamadevam Diwaakaram,
Aoushadheesham Nishaanaatham Parjaneyindro Prachetasam/
Ramam Salakshmanaam Seetaam Sesham cha Dharanidharam,
Brahmaanaam Kashyapa Vahnim Vaayum Gaganameyvacha/
Maalyergandhaistathaa dhupai naivedyascha pruthak pruthak,
Vahni Sampujanam kaaryam tatho Brahmana Pujanam/
(The specific time and day for Bhumi Puja might be determined by ‘Daivajnas’/ astrologers; worship of Bhu Devi, Cows, Surabhi, horses, Baladeva, Mahadeva, Vamadeva, Diwakara, Aoushadheswara, Chandra Deva, Parjaya Deva, Indra Deva, Prachetaas, Shri Rama, Sulakshana, Devi Sita, Sesha Deva, Brahmanas, Kashyapa Prajapati, Agni, Vayu, Gagana / Sky, etc. might be performed with Pushpa maalaas, Gandha, and Naivedya. There after, Agni Puja and Brahmana Puja should be done.) After the Pujas, the first hit of the plough with the seed would be celebrated in the presence of the family members, amid Vedic hymns and prayers. The Festival would conclude with the rejoicings of the families concerned.
These festivities would in fact continue till the fifth of the Krishna Paksha of the month, as that day signified the first menstruation of Kashmira Kanya. For the next three days, there would be no offerings of flowers, incense, scent materials and even milk. On the eighth day of the Krishna Phalguni, Kashmira would be bathed, worn new dresses and ornaments and provided healthy food along with special preparations of cow’s milk and triangular-shaped preparation of rice called ‘mudga’ which should be distributed to one and all while the sonorous instrument of ‘Tantri’ would be played to indicate that the Kanya was getting ready with decorations. But this special function would be performed only by women; however men would organise Agni homas to propitiate the Kashmira Kanya. There would be ‘Daanaas’/donations and good meals to Brahmanas and close relatives and friends in this connection.
As this phase of Kashmira Kanya would be over, that would be the time for Kashmira’s conception to bear a child and that propitious time would be the symbolic commencement of sowing seeds on Earth by way of preparation of the crops. The specific time and day of the initiation of farming should be fixed by the astrologers:
Diney Daivajna nirdhushtey Kshetram krutwaa krutwaasuhudbhutah sahrudhrutah, Pujyayet Pruthivem Deveem Goyugam Surabhim hayam/
Baladevam Mahadevam Vamadevam Diwaakaram,
Aoushadheesham Nishaanaatham Parjaneyindro Prachetasam/
Ramam Salakshmanaam Seetaam Sesham cha Dharanidharam,
Brahmaanaam Kashyapa Vahnim Vaayum Gaganameyvacha/
Maalyergandhaistathaa dhupai naivedyascha pruthak pruthak,
Vahni Sampujanam kaaryam tatho Brahmana Pujanam/
(The specific time and day for Bhumi Puja might be determined by ‘Daivajnas’/ astrologers; worship of Bhu Devi, Cows, Surabhi, horses, Baladeva, Mahadeva, Vamadeva, Diwakara, Aoushadheswara, Chandra Deva, Parjaya Deva, Indra Deva, Prachetaas, Shri Rama, Sulakshana, Devi Sita, Sesha Deva, Brahmanas, Kashyapa Prajapati, Agni, Vayu, Gagana / Sky, etc. might be performed with Pushpa maalaas, Gandha, and Naivedya. There after, Agni Puja and Brahmana Puja should be done.) After the Pujas, the first hit of the plough with the seed would be celebrated in the presence of the family members, amid Vedic hymns and prayers. The Festival would conclude with the rejoicings of the families concerned.