This is known as Padmanabha Masa/Aswayuja maasa and is equivalent to September-October month in the English calendar.
Aswayuja Masa is named after the star or Nakshatra Ashwini. Aswayuja Masa is the seventh month in the Lunar calendar and this month is glorified as “ESHA” in Vedas. The Ashwini star/Nakshatra represents the Divine Twins, who are considered as medical healers.
Lord Padmanabha is the presiding Lord or the Masa Niyamaka who governs Aswayuja masa. Padmanabha means, one who has a Lotus like navel or the one who has Lotus in the navel; one whose navel is in the form of a Lotus that has given birth to the creator of the Material world; the one whose lotus like navel is the source of the universe. We find reference to the word Padmanabha in sloka # 6; 38; and also in Dhyaana sloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama stotra – Saantaakaaram BhujagaSayanam Padmanabham. Lord Vishnu resides not only in the lotus called universe (Brahmaanda Kamala) but also in our Hrudaya Kamala, i.e. in our heart of hearts.
Padmanaabho’ravindaakshah Padmagarbhah Shareerabhrit |
Maharddhir Riddho Vriddhaatmaa Mahaaksho Garudadhvajah ||38||
He is the sweet, soft, attractive, fascinating, beautiful, fragrant; and extraordinarily bright Lotus. He has eyes that are like pure and sacred petals of a lotus. His charming eyes are that of a lotus. Associated with the name Padmanabha is a very popular Vratha (austerity) Anantha Padmanabha Vratha that is held every year during Bhadrapada masa known as Anantha Chaturdasi. In the name of Ananta Sayanam, there is a temple in Thiruvananthapuram
The Ananta Padmanabha temple in Thiruvanantapuram is considered as one among the 108 Divyadesham temples and is also one of seven moksha sthalas and is one among the six narayana sthalas. This holy place was visited by Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananada and even Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord is in Ananta Shayana posture, i.e. yoga nidra. This holy city got its name from the presiding deity, and came to be known as Thiruvananthapuram. It is also known as Syanandoorapuram, as the Lord is reclining on Ananta Shesha. The deity holds a lotus flower in His left hand and is thus enjoying the aroma from the lotus. The right hand is seen blessing Lord Shiva. The Lord can be seen from three doors. The first door will give us the darshan of the Lord’s face. From the second door we can have the darshan of his navel and the Lord’s lotus feet which can deliver us from this material world and is the real and only shelter can be seen from the third door.
Also with the Lord are seen His two consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. From the navel emanates the lotus flower seated on which is Lord Brahma. The great sages like Bhrigu, Markandeya and also Narada and other divine celestial beings are seen. This temple is also one of the seven Parashurama Kshetras. Texts from Puranas especially the Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Vayu Purana, Varaha Purana and Brahmanda Purana have references to this holy dhama.
This temple is mentioned in the Padma Purana as Ananta sayana. The most important places of piligrimage are indicated in the Skanda Purana, Sethu Mahatmya, Brahmakhanda Chapter-52, verses 102 to 105, this clearly mentions the Ananta Padmanabhaswamy temple. In Srimad Bhagvatham (10.79), it is mentioned that Balarama visited Syanandoorapuram during his piligrimage. In the Brahmanda Purana, an entire chapter named Anantapura Mahatmyam is dedicated to this Lord. The Lord gave His darshan to sages like Divakar Muni and Bilvamangala Thakur in this holy land.
Chaitanya Charitamrita mentions that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came over to Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple during his south india piligrimage tour. (Madhya Lila 9.241-242). Mahaprabhu spent a couple of days in the blissful darshan of Lord Anantapadmanabhaswamy by chanting and dancing to the kirtan of the holy name – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
The Sun god, traverses this Seventh month with his associates by entering the seventh zodiac sign – Tula or Libra and is known as;
Pusha as the sun-god, Dhananjaya as the Naga, Vata as the Raksasa, Susena as the Gandharva, Suruci as the Yaksa, Ghrtaci as the Apsara and Gautama as the sage rule the month of Tapas.
Festivals of the month
Indira Ekadashi
Ashwin Shukla Paksha Ashwin-Sharad Navratras will begin from the Pratipada of Ashwin Shukla Paksha.
Vijaya Dashami (Dushehra). The festival of Vijayadashami is celebrated as a victory of truth over lie, Gods on demons and justice on injustice.
Papamkusha Ekadashi. The Ekadashi of Ashwin Krishna Paksha is called Papamkusha Ekadashi. In this Ekadashi Lord Vishnu is worshipped.
Ashwin-Sharad Poornima. The Kartik month begins on this day.
Naraka Chaturdasi- This Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi is celebrated as the first day of Deepavali to commemorate the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna.
Amavasya: This Amavasya of Krishna Paksha is the second day of Deepavali. On this day, Lakshmi devi is worshipped by some and some celebrate by offering worships to Ishwara known as Kedareshwara.
Festivals at Holy Dhans
At Puri Jagannath
Sahasra Kumbha Abhiseka: On Aswina Krushna Astami Tithi i.e. the 8th day of the dark fortnight of Aswina (September-October) and sometimes on the 7th day abhisek of Durga Devi image is done.
Dasahara: On Aswina Sukla Dasami Tithi i.e. the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Aswina (September-October), the Raja Besa of the deities takes place and the ayudhas (weapons) of the deities are worshipped.
Kumara Purnima: On Aswina Purnami i.e. the full moon day of Aswina (September-October), this festival is observed. On this day a gambling competition is held between Jagannath Mahaprabhu and Devi Lakshmi in which Jagannath Mahaprabhu loses and the Madhabaimage representing Jagannath Mahaprabhu stays in the Goddess Lakshmi Temple for a period of seven days.
At Dwarka
Ashwin [Asho]: The 10th day is celebrated as Dushera, it is a victory day. Subsequently, very important celebration and Darshan of Deepavli Festival will be from the 20th day from Dushera.
At Tirupati
This ceremony is performed after annual Brahmotsavam on the asterism of Sravanam which also happens to be the birth star of Lord Venkateswara, usually in the month of Krittika as per Hindu calendar which falls during October or November. Ankurarpanam is done prior to the Pushpayagam. On this day, after the daily pujas, Sri Malayappa Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi are seated on a special golden platform in Sampangi Mandapam. After offering Tirumanjanam to the utsava murtis worship is done to them with tones of varieties of flowers. Later procession takes place in the evening. As per the scriptures, this festival is usually performed to save the earth from natural calamities such as quakes, cyclones, epidemics and appease the Lord to save the life of humanity, flora and fauna from all the catastrophes.
