Margashira Purnima

In the Bhagavad Gita (10.35) Lord Krishna says – Of the months, I am Margashira. This shows the auspiciousness and power of this Vedic month where the full moon falls in the Nakshatra of Mrigashira. 

Margashira is the 9th month of the Hindu calendar and the Sun is in the 9th sign of Sagittarius during this time.

The full moon in Margashira is celebrated as Dattatreya Jayanti. This is the day when Lord Dattatreya was enlightened. This year it falls on Tuesday – December 29th, 2020. For local timings download the align27 app.

Lord Dattareya is the combined energy of Lord Brahma (Creation), Lord Vishnu (Sustenance) and Lord Shiva (Transformation).

For personalized rituals based on your own birth chart, download the align27 app.

Story of Lord Dattatreya 

Dattatreya was the son of the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya.  Anasuya, an archetypal chaste and virtuous wife, did severe Tapas (austerities) to beget a son equal in merits as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the Hindu male trinity (Trimurti). Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati, the goddess trinity (Tridevi) and consorts of the male trinity deputed their husbands to test her virtuousness. 

The three gods appeared before Anasuya in the disguise of sanyasis (ascetics) and asked her to give them alms naked. Anasuya was perplexed for a while, but soon regained composure. She uttered a mantra and sprinkled water on the three mendicants, turning them into babies. She then breast fed them with her milk naked, as they wished. 

When Atri returned to his ashram (hermitage), Anasuya narrated the event, which he already knew through his psychic powers. He hugged the three babies to his heart, transforming them into a single baby with three heads and six arms. The Trimurti then appeared in their true form, before Atri and Anasuya, and blessed them with a son Dattatreya.

Full Moon in Margashira (Dattatreya Jayanti) Rituals

  1. Chant the mantra – Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya as many times as you possibly can. 
  2. Read a few chapters from Avadhuta Gita and Jivanmukta Gita (Discourses given by Lord Dattatreya).
  3. Chant the mantra – Dattatreya Hare Krishna 108 times during Moon or Jupiter hora preferably. 
  4. You can do Japa of the mantra Aum Namo Bhagavate Dattatreyaya 108 times. 
  5. You can meditate on the Bija or seed sound of Lord Dattatreya which is daaM
  6. If you are able you can fast today and recite the Satya Narayan Katha which will help to remove all obstacles in your life. 
  7. Charity and donation done on this day gives 32 times more benefits as compared to other days.

For personalized rituals based on your own birth chart, download the align27 app.