Agrahayana
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Infobox month Template:Hinduism Agrahayana or Margashirsha is the ninth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Mrigashīrsha nakshatra (star) on the full moon day.<ref name="Ety">Template:Cite book</ref> The month corresponds to the beginning of the pre-winter (Hemanta) season and falls in November–December of the Gregorian calendar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Vṛścika and begins with the Sun's entry into Scorpio.<ref name="Siddhantha">Template:Cite book</ref> It corresponds to Ogrohayon, the eighth month in the Bengali calendar.<ref name="Siddhantha"/> In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the ninth month of Margazhi, falling in the Gregorian months of December–January.<ref name="Siddhantha"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the ninth month of Kesava.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the Hindu lunar calendar, each month has 29 or 30 days. The month begins on the next day after Amavasya (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) as per amanta and purnimanta systems respectively. A month consists of two cycles of 15 days each, Shukla Paksha (waning moon) and Krishna Paksha (waxing moon). Days in each cycle is labeled as a thithi, with each thithi repeating twice in a month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Festivals
In the Hindu text Bhagavad Gita (10.35), god Krishna says "Among months, I am Margashirsha."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As per Bhagavata Purana, marriageable daughters of the cowherd men of Gokula (gopis) undertook a sacred vow (vrata) and worship goddess Katyayani with a desire to have Krishna as their husband.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In Tamil Nadu, during the month of Margazhi, women make kolams or rangoli early in the morning. Devotees usually go to temples each morning and recite Thiruppavai by Andal and Thiruvempavai by Manikkavacakar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Bhairava Ashtami
Bhairava Ashtami is commemorated on the Ashtami (eighth day) thithi of Krishna paksha of the Margashirsha month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Hindu mythology, god Shiva manifested in his fierce form as Bhairava on Earth on the day. The day is commemorated with special prayers, rituals, and offerings dedicated to Bhairava, who is regarded as the protector and guardian deity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Bhogi
Bhogi marks the first day of Makar Sankranti and festival. It generally falls on the last day of the month, and is celebrated widely in the South Indian states.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Datta Jayanti
Datta Jayanti, commemorating the birth of the deity Dattatreya, is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Margashira. Dattatreya is revered as the combined avatar of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Worship of Dattatreya on this day is believed to bestow wisdom, remove obstacles, and mitigate ancestral curses (Pitru Dosha).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Manabasa Gurubara and Lakshmi Vrat
The month is dedicated to the worship of god Vishnu and his consort goddess Lakshmi. People observe fasting on Thursdays of the month and do special puja to Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity. The first Thursday is celebrated as Manabasa Gurubara in parts of Eastern India such as Odisha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The observance is based on a mythological story regarding Lakshmi as stated in the 16th century Odia text Lakshmi Purana.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Sfn This festival is also known as Margashirsha Lakshmi Vrata in Maharashtra, where women perform Lakshmi Puja at home for wealth and prosperity.Template:Sfn
Vaikunta Ekadashi
Vaikunta Ekadashi and Mokshada Ekadashi is observed on the Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day) thithi of the Krishna Paksha (waxing moon) of the month as per purnimanta tradition.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vaikuntha Dvaram (gate to Vishnu's abode Vaikuntha<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is opened in Vishnu temples on the only this day of the year. Special prayers, and chanting of mantras are accompanies with pujas, and yagnas.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to the Vishnu Purana, fasting on Vaikuntha Ekadashi is equivalent to fasting on the remaining 23 ekadashis of the year, and is said to give people passage to Vaikuntha after the earthly life.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar
- Hindu astrology
- Hindu calendar
- Indian astronomy
- Indian units of measurement