Purnima

The Full Moon is known as “Purnima” in Sanskrit and “Pournami” in Tamil. At the time of the Full Moon an energetic door opens wide between the material and the spiritual worlds. At this special time of the month, our Earth is situated precisely on a straight line between the sun and the moon, allowing maximum reflection of the Sun’s rays. The effect of the increased inflow of solar energy on nature and on the physical, emotional and mental aspects of the human being is well-known. Some of the important Purnima are Buddha Purnima (Buddha got enlightenment) and Guru Purnima (Sage Vyasa’s birthday).

According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, a lunar year consists of 12 lunar months. A lunar month has two fortnights, and begins with the new moon called “Amavasai”. Moon has two phases – the waxing phase and the waning phase. Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.

Significance of Purnima

It is said that the Sun God and the Moon Goddess are cooled down by the shower of the Full Moon rays which are the reflected Sun rays and in turn shower their blessings on Earth in the form of prosperity and joy. The Full Moon is an ideal time to create and manifest the material. The spiritual significance of ‘sadhana’ on full moon is quite an old tradition. The Hindus, Buddhists and Jains undertake vows, rites and rituals on full moon days for spiritual enlightenment as well as the appeasement of ancestral spirits. Married couples are advised to undertake special prayers on full moon days for begetting good progeny. When vows and prayers are observed as instructed by the Guru, noble souls could take birth through their sacred bonding on the day of Purnima (or) Pournami (Full Moon). The Moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light from the Sun. The Moon represents our inner nature and feeling, instinctive side. The Sun is the external, masculine portion of us and the Moon is the internal, feminine side, or yin principle. The Moon governs all water bodies (oceans, lakes, etc.) in earth and the 3/4th of the earth is surrounded by water. Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, the lungs are nearly 90% water and 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. The Moon controls the tides of water bodies and our mind, specifically our right brain. Cooperation of Sun and Moon is hence vital for harmony and balance in life.

Spiritual Significance of Purnima

Spiritual elevation is possible only when we get rid of the spiritual blocks as well as karmic and ancestral debts. Pournami prayers observed under the enlightened Guru helps the soul in the curing of these spiritual ills. During the waning phase of the moon, i.e. the period between full moon day and new moon day, as the size of the moon progressively reduces, the subtle basic rajas-tamas frequencies emanating from it progressively increases. This is because the darker side of the moon progressively increases. Hence to protect oneself from the adverse influence of this enhanced rajas-tamas, it is important that we step up our spiritual practice during this period. During the waxing phase of the moon, we should at least try to stabilize the increased efforts we had put in, in the earlier fortnight. This is so that we can again renew our efforts at enhanced spiritual practice in the next waning phase of the moon.