Category:Dark Moon
Theme Analysis
The dark moon (amavasya) holds a significant place in the Vedic calendar, marking the timing for specific rituals, festivals, and cosmic events. It is the designated time for the festival of Dīpāvalī and immediately precedes the Govardhana-pūjā. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that this phase is auspicious for offering oblations to forefathers and for holy bathing in the Ganges during the Magha-mela. However, the dark moon also has a darker side; it is the prescribed time for animal sacrifices (bali-dāna) for those in the mode of ignorance, and astronomically, it is when the demon Rahu attempts to cover the sun and moon. Philosophically, the dark moon serves as a metaphor for the unmanifest or covered state of consciousness, similar to a child in the womb.
- Festivals: The Dīpāvalī festival occurs on the dark-moon night of Kārttika, followed by Govardhana-pūjā.
- Sacred Rites: It is a time for rich brāhmaṇas to offer oblations to forefathers and for recitation of scriptures.
- Tamasic Rituals: Animal sacrifices to demigods, intended to be performed swiftly and silently, are scheduled for the dark-moon night.
- Cosmic Enmity: The dark moon is the time when Rahu attacks the luminaries, trying to cover their light.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Rituals and Observances of Dark Moon.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
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Pages in category "Dark Moon"
The following 21 pages are in this category, out of 21 total.
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- A brahmana who is sufficiently rich must offer oblations to the forefathers during the dark-moon fortnight in the latter part of the month of Bhadra
- According to the opinion of others, Vallabhacarya was born in 1400 Sakabda Era on the Ekadasi day of the dark moon in the month of Caitra, and he took his birth in a brahmana family surnamed Khambhampatibaru
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- If dirt dug up by a boar is available, on the day of the dark moon one should smear this dirt on his body and then bathe in a flowing river. While bathing, one should chant the following mantra
- In Khanakula-krsnanagara there is a big fair held every year in the month of Caitra (March-April) on the Krsna-saptami, the seventh day of the dark moon
- In the bali-dana sacrifice to a demigod, it is recommended to cut the throat of an animal with one slice. This should be done on a dark-moon night, & the painful noises expressed by the animal at the time of being slaughtered are not to be heard by anyone
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- Since Rahu is an eternal enemy of the moon and the sun, he always tries to attack them on the nights of the full moon and the dark moon
- Specifically, recitation is recommended on the full moon or dark moon day, on the day after Ekadasi, on the appearance of the Sravana star, at the end of a particular tithi
- Specifically, recitation is recommended on the full moon or dark moon day, on the day after Ekadasi, on the appearance of the Sravana star, at the end of a particular tithi, or the occasion of Vyatipata, at the end of the month, or on Sunday
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura interprets this verse (Vidagdha-madhava 1.10) in two ways, for Lord Krsna and for Srimati Radharani. When interpreted for Krsna, the night is understood to have been a dark-moon night
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- The Dipavali festival takes place on the dark-moon night in the month of Kartika (October-November)
- There are two great occasions for bathing in the Ganges during Magha-mela. One is on the day of the dark moon, and the other is on the day of the full moon during the month of Magha
- This should be done on a dark-moon night, and the painful noises expressed by the animal at the time of being slaughtered are not to be heard by anyone
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- When interpreted for Krsna, the night is understood to have been a dark-moon night, and when interpreted for Srimati Radharani, it is considered to have been a full-moon night
- When one is a youth, all the ten senses and the mind are completely visible. However, in the mother's womb or in the boyhood state, the sense organs and the mind remain covered, just as the full moon is covered by the darkness of the dark-moon night