Darsha Amavasya or Darsh Amavasya is the no moon night in the traditional Hindu calendar. On this night, moon is completely absent. It holds a great importance in Hindu religion. This day is the first day after no moon day. People observe fast on this day break it after sighting new moon on Chandra Darshan day.
As per the Hindu mythology, Amavasya is the moonless night of a lunar phase. Throughout the year there are many such Amavasya but among all Darsha Amavasya holds great importance. This is the day when people perform various rituals for their deceased family members.
Darsha Amavasya Meaning
Amavasya or Amavasi means a day when the moon is not visible in the sky. It is the first night of the first quarter of the Lunar month and the fifteenth day of the waning moon phase. It marks the end of the Krishna Paksha tithi. On the day of Amavasya, the moon is not fully visible at night. Therefore, tithi wise Amavasya and Darsha Amavasya can be celebrated on different days. On the day of Amavasya, the planets release extra energy and is received by the human through radiations. The most common effect of Amavasya on human is mental illness and short temper.
Story Of Darsha Amavasya
There is a mythological story about Barhishadhas, who are basically souls living due to the effect of SomRas, a kind of divine nectar. Barhishadhas are souls that live on the eternal soma juice. Once a Barhishadhas conceived a child named Acchoda who was anguished since she did not have a father and therefore very badly wished to experience the love of a physical father. Due to this desire, she started falling down from the heavens. When she cried out for help, the souls in the Pitru Loka advised her to go the earth and be born as the daughter of King Amavasu.
Acchoda followed the advice of the pitrus (inmates of the pitru loka) and was born as the daughter of King Amavasu, a highly pious and noble king. As she grew in the princely family, she received the love and care of her father and was therefore highly satisfied. She therefore wished to thank the Pitrus who gave her the good advice and therefore arranged to perform the Pitru puja to the inmates of the Pitru Loka. The day of Shradh which was a no moon day was named after King Amavas. Since then, the custom of offering Shradh to ancestors on Amavasya day came up. Thereafter the night was named as Amavasya and people started performing Shradh on this day to express gratitude to their deceased loved ones.
Significance of Darsha Amavasya
- People observe fast on this day to help their deceased ones in attaining salvation.
- It is believed that performing Shradh rituals on this day, yields many benefits in one’s life.
- Performing shradh rituals on this day soothe the souls of one’s deceased family members.
- It is believed that those who perform Shradh on this day gain blessings and positivity from their deceased family members.
- It helps in eradicating negativity from one’s life and bringing peace and harmony to the family.
Rituals performed on Darsha Amavasya
It is believed that one should observe fast on Darsha Amavasya for the salvation of their forefathers. On Darsha Amavasya, people generally wake up early to bathe in a river or pond. They also observe fast, which begins in the morning from the Amavasya Tithi. The fast lasts till the end of Darsha Amavasya which means one can break the fast only after seeing the moon also known as Chandra Darshan.
Some people also donate things to the poor to add up to their good deed so that their forefathers have a peaceful afterlife. Shradh rituals are performed with til daan and panda tarpan. According to religious belief lighting, a mustard oil lamp under peepal tree is also beneficial. People also offer blue flowers, black sesame seeds and mustard oil to Lord Shani as a part of the ritual.
Significance Of This Day People observe fast on this day to help their deceased ones in attaining salvation. It is believed that performing Shradh rituals on this day, yields many benefits in one’s life. Performing shradh rituals on this day soothe the souls of one’s deceased family members. It is believed that those who perform Shradh on this day gain blessings and positivity from their deceased family members. It helps in eradicating negativity from one’s life and bringing peace and harmony to the family.
Darsha Amavasya Vrat Katha
A princess named Acchoda initiated the tradition of performing Tarpanam or paying homage to the ancestors. She was born to a King named Amavasu and hence, the name, Amavasya. In her previous birth, she was spiritually conceived by a Barishada (a divine entity that thrives on the Soma Rasa, meaning the nectar of joy, bliss, and peace). Therefore, since she didn’t have a father figure in her life, she longed for her father’s love. As she continued to let her emotions or moh overpower her, she started losing her divine powers. One day, after losing her holy qualities, Acchoda fell from heaven and cried for help. The Pitrus (souls of the diseased) reached out to help her and saved her from falling.
The Pitrus even learned about the cause of her sorrow. Therefore, they blessed her by saying that she would be born to a king in her next birth.
The blessings of the Pitrus reaped fruits, and she was showered with love by her doting father. Hence, as a gesture of appreciation and a token of thanks, Acchoda initiated the tradition of Amavasya.
All Famous Amavasya
- Chaitra Amavasya
- Vaishakha Amavasya
- Jyeshtha Amavasya – Shani Jayanti / Vat Savitri Vrat
- Ashadha Amavasya
- Shravana Amavasya – Hariyali Amavasya
- Bhadrapad Amavasya – Pithori Vrat, Pithori Amavasya Vrat
- Ashwina Amavasya – Mahalaya Amavasya or Sarvpritri Amavasya
- Kartika Amavasya – Diwali
- Margashirsha Amavasya
- Paush Amavasya
- Magha Amavasya – Mauni Amavasya
- Phalguna Amavasya
