Mauni Amavasya, the word Mauni means silence, on this day any person remains silent all day and this is a kind of fast. Which is done on the day of Mauni Amavasya. Mauni Amavasya is considered the most important and auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. It is believed that on this day the water of the holy Ganges River turns into nectar and taking a bath in the Ganges on the day of Mauni Amavasya is considered holy. It is said that the creator of the universe, Manu, was also born on this new moon day. Amavasya is the most important festival of Magh month.

According to Hindu religion, Mauni Amavasya falls in the middle of the month of Magha and is also called Maghi Amavasya. In Hinduism, the month of Magha is considered auspicious because Dwapara Yuga started on this day. By the way, bathing the Ganges in the whole months of Magha is considered auspicious, but bathing on the day of Mauni Amavasya is considered special and holy.

Mauni Amavasya 2022

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Amavasya Tithi Begins – 02:18 PM on Jan 31, 2022

Amavasya Tithi Ends – 11:15 AM on Feb 01, 2022

In the scriptures, the importance of doing charity on this day is said to be very fruitful. According to a belief, this day is also believed to be the birth of Manu Rishi, due to which this day is celebrated as Mauni Amavasya.

If the day of Mauni Amavasya falls during the biggest Kumbh Mela of Hinduism, then this day is called the most important bathing day, this day is also called the day of Amrit Yoga.

Mauni Amavasya Significance

The Mauni Amavasya is an auspicious day for Hindus all over the world. On this day, hundreds of devotees reside near the bank of the Triveni Sangam, where the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet in Prayagraj. According to the Hindu Gurus, taking a bath in the Triveni Sangam on this day and truly worshipping Lord Vishnu wholeheartedly on this day shall lead to a prolonged, happy and healthy life. The Maha Kumbh Mela also welcomes lakhs of pilgrims on the day of the Mauni Amavasya or Maghi Amavasya.

Rituals

There are a few simple rituals one needs to follow in order to successfully complete the fast of the Mauni Amavasya. Let us know what these rituals are and how they should be performed:

–        Wake up during the Brahma Muhurat i.e. between 3 am to 6 am.

–        Take a bath in the River Ganga, and if you are not able to do that bathe in clean water or add some “Gangajal” in a bucket of water and then bathe with that water.

–        Chant the mantra written below while bathing with the holy water.

‘Gange cha yamune chaiva godavari saraswati. Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jal?sminsannidhi kuru.’

–        Gange cha yamune chaiva godavari saraswati. Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jal sminsannidhi kuru.’After bathing, meditate in the name of Lord Vishnu and take an oath of silence or “Maun Vrat” for the day.

–        Now circumambulate the Tulsi 108 times.

–        Donate money, food and clothes to the poor after worshipping.

–        Ensure that you remain silent right after taking the bath and chant the mantra mentioned above in your mind throughout the day.

The Story behind the Mauni Amavasya

The most popular story about Mauni Amavasya is the one with Brahmin Devaswami. Once lived a Brahmin named Devaswami, with his wife Dhanvati, his sons and a virtuous daughter in Kanchipuri. All his sons were married and he was left with an unmarried daughter eligible for marriage. He began to search for an eligible groom for his daughter and sent his eldest son with his daughter’s kundali to the city to search for a suitable groom. His son showed his sister’s horoscope to an expert astrologer who told him that the girl would become a widow after marriage.

When Devaswami heard about his daughter’s fate he got worried and asked the astrologer for a remedy. The astrologer suggested requesting a washerwoman Soma in Sinhaladweep to conduct a special “pooja” and that if the lady agreed to perform the “pooja” at his house, then his daughter’s horoscope dosha shall be removed. Devswami headed to Soma’s house but he had to cross the ocean to reach there. When he got tired, hungry and thirsty, he thought of having some rest under a banyan tree.

On the same tree lived a vulture’s family. The vulture asked Devaswami about his problem and he told them his whole story. Then the vulture assured him that he would help him reach Soma’s house and guided him throughout the journey. Devaswami brought Soma to his house and asked her to perform the pooja (worship) with all the rituals.

After the pooja, his daughter Gunvati got married to a suitable groom. Even after all this, her husband died. Then Soma, being a kind-hearted woman donated her good deeds to Gunavati. Her husband got his life back and Soma returned to Sinhaladweep. As she had donated all her virtuous deeds to Gunavati, her husband, her son and her son-in-law died. Soma went through a deeply saddened phase and began to worship Lord Vishnu sitting under a peepal tree at the bank of the river and circumambulated the Peepal tree 108 times. Pleased with her true worship, Lord Vishnu gave back life to her husband, her son and her son-in-law. And ever since the fast of Mauni Amavasya is practised.