Aghora Chaturdashi – Kush Grahani Amavasya – Aghora Chaturdashi Festival

Aghora Chaturdashi is celebrated on the Chaturthi Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapad. This is a two day festival and celebrated with people around the country with full faith and fervor. The first day celebration is also known as Choti Dagyali, and the second is Badi Dagyali. It is known as Kusha Grahini Amavasya or Kushoptatini Amavasya in shastras and various vedic scriptures. It is an important festival for Lord Shiva devotees.

Kushagrahani Amavasya Puja Rituals

To perform Kushpatani Amavasya puja, the grass is collected throughout the year for auspicious ceremonies. There are ten types of grass according to ancient scriptures used in puja rituals. Grass in its original form having seven leaves, dark green in colour, and without any damage is considered appropriate for worshipping the lord. While plucking the grass, the person should chant, “ Hum Phat” mantra continuously.

Tarapan ceremonies are also performed on Aghora Chaturdashi. It is believed that Shiva’s possessions get freedom on this day. People living in Solan, Sirmour and Shimla put thorny bushes on their windows to prevent bad evils.

Aghora Chaturdashi Significance

Apart from Himachal region, Aghora Chaturdasha is also celebrated in Uttarakhand, Assam, Sikkim, and Nepal. Plucking the grass on this day is considered to be auspicious. Performing holy bath, charity, donation, pitra dan. homas are considered fruitful. The person observing the fast, should wake up early in the market and worship the lord after completing daily routine. Keep a water pot beside the bunch of grass in the south direction, and offer the water to the ancestors.

Kusha Grahani Amavasya Results

Visiting pilgrimage, holy bath, homas, fast on this day gives relief from liabilities and sins to a person. This is the reason it is considered to be an auspicious day for homas and meditations.

Lord Vishnu is worshipped on this day. This fast is observed for one continuous year. It gives relief from the mental, as well as physical and financial.

Kusha Grahani Ancient Significance

Ceremonies for dead ancestor’s peace is performed on Aghor Chaturdashi. People observe fast in dedication of their dead ancestors, along with other ritual practices for the peace of their soul. As per the shastras, Pitra Deva is the lord of Amavasya tithi and hence performing deeds for in the name of ancestors is considered to be auspicious. Amavasya on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lying on Anuradha, Vishakha or Swati Nakshatra is believed to be very pure and auspicious.