Amavasya – The Meaning and Significance of this Dark Night!

Amavasya happens on the day of the new moon which means when the moon completes all its phases of a month and goes all dark, this night is called Amavasya. As we know the moon gets its light from the Sun and what we see the luminous moon is actually because of the sun’s light.

Throughout the month the moon positions itself at different angles and receives different amounts of sunlight. On Amavasya, the Earth sets itself between the moon and the sun, and hence the moon doesn’t receive any light from the Sun. This sets the moon to go all dark, and this event is known as Amavasya.

The Meaning of Amavasya

The word Amavasya is also known as Namasya. When we break it down, it goes like "na" +"ma"+"asya." Here Na means No, Ma means Moon, and Asya means There. So the word itself defines its meaning which means “No Moon There.”

Significance of Amavasya

In Hinduism, Amavasya is considered as inauspicious since all the evil spirits and black magic are on their verge. Many people perform black magic on this night because it tends to bring better results than performed on any other night.

No one initiates new beginnings or performs any significant thing on Amavasya. People how ever to ward off evil spirits worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali. This keeps the living beings from the ill effects of Amavasya plus blesses these people with good luck.

Other than worshipping God, people also put Diyas and lights all over their place. Diwali is one such example of the Amavasya night since it is the darkest night of the year. Thus to weaken the evil and prove the supremacy of God, people light up Diyas and set up lighting all around. This way the Amavasya is seen as both auspicious and inauspicious.

Chaitra Amavasya significance and Vrat

On the day of Amavasya, people also do offerings to their ancestors, also known as Shradh or Tarpanam. According to Hindu mythology, on the day of Amavasya, the forefathers visit the Earth plane. On this event when people make offerings to their ancestors, they get their blessings in life.

It is said that during this time, the ancestors become hungry and thirsty which can only be satisfied with offerings. Those who make these offerings powered with Mantras and proper Poojas receive the utmost blessings and get the Pitra Doshas removed.

Amavasya falls in every month of the year and is known with different names accordingly. One such Amavasya is Chaitra Amavasya which happens from March to April. Performing spiritual activities on this Amavasya is considered to be highly rewarding since it is the first Amavasya of the year according to the Hindu calendar.

On this Amavasya, worshipping Lord Vishnu is highly significant. The fasting starts in the morning and it ends when the moon is sighted. People may also worship Lord Vishnu in their homes instead of going to the temple.

Fasting with complete dedication and by following all the rituals properly, this day is said to fulfill all the wishes of the devotees.

Other than making offerings to the ancestors, feeding crows and poor people also has its significance according to the Garuda Purana. The act of feeding blesses the individual and its family with happiness, peace, and prosperity.

On the Holy dip Chaitra Amavasya, if someone takes the holy dip in the Ganges, it is said to remove all the sins of the individual. One can go for the holy dip at any Kumbh Mela destinations like Hardwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Nashik, and Ujjain.

The holy dip of the Chaitra Amavasya is so powerful that one with any kind of mental illness or grief receives huge relief. This leads the devotee with mental peace and clarity which further helps him to shape a better life.

This way one can get the benefit of Amavasya in three ways: by taking the holy dip, offering to the ancestors, and keeping the Vrat. To get to know how each ritual should be performed, it is best to consult with an astrologer so you reap the goodness of Amavasya and stay protected from the ill effects.