Today 6Aug 2013 Celebration Bheemana Amavasya and also Known as Hariyali Amavasya in Rajasthan Udaipur.
Bheemana Amavasya or Jyoti Bheemashwara Vrata is popularly celebrated at Pathi Sanjeevani Puja is celebrated on the no moon day or amavasya of the ashada month according to the Hindu calendar. The legend behind this festivity dates back to Skanda purana times. Devotees of the Divine couple- Shiva and Parvati observe this vrata to prove their dedication.
Bheemana Amavasya is observed mainly by the women. Unmarried girls keep this fast in expectation of a good life partner. Married women perform all the rituals with great enthusiasm and fervour for the welfare of their husband, brother or father. The fasting on this auspicious Bheemana Amavasya day is kept for nine consecutive years. The last year is marked by the donation of a pair of diyas to the brother or Brahmin.
Bheemna Amavasya Vrata Story
Bheemna Amavasya Vrata observed in Karnataka on the Amavasi (new moon day) in Ashada month is based on an unparalleled devotion of a young girl for Lord Shiva and Parvati. Women and girls conduct special puja on the day for a happy and prosperous life and for the wellbeing of brothers and husbands. The popular story, or Katha, associated Jyoti Bhimeshwara puja is known as Bhagirati Nadi Hogi.
Legend has it that once a Brahmin couple decided to travel to Kashi to pray to Lord Shiva. But they had a daughter, a young girl, and the couple was not ready to take her with them as they did not want to risk her life. The journey was long and they were not sure whether they will make it safely.
So the Brahmin couple decided to leave the young girl with their elder son. The elder son was married and they left the daughter with him and said that if they did not return he should get her married.
The parents did not return after a year and the brother and his wife was worried that they would have to marry her off. He did not want to spend money on her and instead he had an eye on the property and money that the father had left for this daughter.
The brother one day happened to hear a strange announcement made by the King of the region. The son of the King died yesterday and he would like to have him married before he is taken to pyre.
No one was ready to take the offer but the greedy brother did. He and his wife dressed up the young girl and took her to the King and got her married to the dead prince in exchange of gold.
After the marriage ceremony, the king, the soldiers and the young bride carried the corpse to Bhagirathi River to burn it. But suddenly there was a heavy rain and all the people except the young bride left. The King asked her to come with him as she is now a princess but she did not go with him. Instead, she decided to stay with the dead prince.
Looking at the dead body of the prince she thought this would not have happened had her parents were here.
The night passed and next day was Ashada Amavasi and the puja day.
She remembered her parents observing the Vrata. She took bath and dug up clay from the riverbank and made two kalikamba lamps. She made wick from fiber of a fallen tree and did the rituals as her parents used to do. She also made mud balls instead of the kadubus.
While she was performing the puja, a young couple appeared there and asked her what she was doing with the corpse and what was this puja for. She explained her fate and said she was now alone and there was no one to break her Bhandara or mud balls.
The young man agreed to break it. He smashed the balls and blessed her – Dheerga Sumangali Bhava (Have a long and happy married life).
The young girl smiled and said how can that be, my husband lies there dead.
The couple looked at the dead prince and asked her why she has not woken him up. Go and wake him up. Hesitantly she shook the prince and he opened his eyes. She could not believe her eyes. Soon she realized who the couple were but when she looked up they were gone.
She prayed to the divine couple – Shiva and Parvati – and narrated to the prince all that happened.
When the king and the courtiers returned to burn the corpse, they found the young girl and prince praying to Shiva and Parvati. The word soon spread and from that day people started strictly observing Bheema Amavasi in Ashada month with the kalikamba lamps – lamps made from mud.
Bheemna Amavasya Pooja
Preparation for the Puja
Kadubus or dough balls with coins stuffed inside are prepared. Some people hide coins inside idili or kozhakattai. The main idea is to have the ‘bhandara’ hidden with coins.
Make or buy a pair of Kalikamba lamps – it represents Shiva and Parvati and it is worshipped on the day. (Instead of Kali kamba lamps people also use idol or image of Goddess Parvati and Shiva or a pair of silver lamp or a single lamp).
Kalikamba lamps are cleaned and decorated – with sandalwood, turmeric paste or other similar items.
A yellow thread is used to tie turmeric root and it is tied to one of the lamps. This is Goddess Parvati.
Kalikamba lamps is placed on rice or grains in a tray and is placed facing East.
A garland is created using cotton and is used to decorate the Kali kamba lamps.
A sacred turmeric thread or yellow thread is placed in front of both the lamps or tied in the center.
Tie a yellow thread in nine places along with a flower. Keep the tied thread, betel leaves, and betel nuts in front of the lamp. It can also be arranged in a pot.
The normal lamps in the puja room are decorated in the normal way.
One pair of kalikamba lamps and the pooja accessories are used by all the women present. In some cases all participants make there own separate sets.
The Puja
The Kalikamba lamps are worshipped on the day. An archana with turmeric and kumkum is performed. Any shlokas dedicated to Shiva and Parvati is recited.
Gowri Puja performed chanting the ‘Diva Shri Gowri’ chant. You can also lit the traditional lamps.
Special prayer for the occassion – Shalabaranam kala deepika – maadi; Naaru batti neeru ennai nerudhalu.
Nivedya is offered and it includes coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, fruits, bananas. An arati using Karpura is performed while offering the Naivedya.
Nombu sacred thread is tied on the right hand wrist.
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